If crayon brights and powdery pastels don't appeal to you, consider decorating your baby girl's nursery in classic black and white. It complements almost every decorating style--from formal to cottage to contemporary. Use mostly white with black accents to keep the look light, airy and restful. You won't tire of black and white as fast as you would trendier color schemes, and it adapts easily to a little girl's room as your baby grows.
Step 1
Paint your nursery walls with soft white paint in a flat or eggshell finish, depending on how much sheen you like. Paint the trim in glossy white.
Step 2
Select a crib with black painted finish, and perhaps a black chest or changing table. Add an upholstered rocking chair in a soft black and white print, or cover it with a washable white slipcover. Choose additional furniture--perhaps open shelving or an armoire and a chair-side table next to your rocker--in white or natural wood finishes.
Step 3
Make or buy curtains in a black and white printed fabric--such as a toile, damask or ticking stripe. Hang them from a white curtain rod with rings. Tie a bow made from black chiffon ribbon on each ring for a sweet, girlish touch.
Step 4
Dress your baby bed with bumpers and pillows made from a black and white printed fabric. Choose a bedskirt in the same fabric, or use solid white with a black ribbon applique. Add a solid white bed blanket and sheets so they're easy to wash, and to keep the bed treatment from looking too busy.
Step 5
Frame a collection of black and white photos, old bookplates or other artwork. Interior designer Stan Carpenter likes vintage silhouettes. Use extra-wide white mats and black frames. Hang the collection together in a grouping for the most impact.
Step 6
Add a lamp to the table next to your rocking chair. Choose a lamp base made of alabaster, painted wood, black or white porcelain or a fanciful animal shape. Top it with a simple white silk or paper shade. Consider hanging a sparkly chandelier overhead, or try a pendant light with opaque glass shades if the rest of the furnishings look contemporary.
Tips and Warnings
- Remember that your black and white room is a design choice, not a law. It's perfectly fine to add bits of color with your artwork and accessories. It won't detract from the overall look.
- If you use several different fabric patterns, vary the scale so the patterns don't compete. For example, if you choose a large-scale damask for the chair, a small scale floral on the curtains complements it. A floral of equal scale to the damask detracts and competes.
Things You'll Need
- White paint, flat or eggshell finish
- White paint, glossy finish
- Black baby bed
- Black chest or changing table
- Upholstered rocker
- Armoire or open shelving unit
- Chair-side table
- Curtains, black and white fabric
- White curtain rod and rings
- Black chiffon ribbon
- Bumpers, pillows and bedskirt, black and white fabric
- White baby bed sheets
- White bed blanket
- Black and white photos or bookplates
- Black picture frames with white mats
- Table lamp
- Chandelier or pendant light
References
- Stan Carpenter; Carpenter & Carpenter Designs; Memphis, Tennessee
- "Children's Spaces: From Zero to Ten"; Judith Wilson; 2008
- "Room for Children: Stylish Spaces for Sleep and Play"; Susanna Salk; 2010
