When envisioning a nursery for your newborn baby girl, you probably imagined a dreamy, feminine room to make her feel like a little princess. Avoid expensive remodeling by personalizing your baby girl's nursery with a creative paint scheme. Depending on the paint design, you can make the nursery room look whimsical, classic or sweet and ethereal.
Sentimental Mural
Share a personal sentiment with your new daughter by painting a mural inspired by your favorite childhood book or movie on one of her bedroom walls. If you don't have the artistic skills to personally do the job, many professional faux finishers offer mural painting. Additionally, you can check with a local university art department about hiring a talented student to paint the mural. Let the mural be the focal point of the room. Keep the remaining walls simple by painting them in a neutral color that appears in the mural.
Sky Full of Clouds
If your decorating style leans toward the simple and elegant, try combining soft white walls with a ceiling faux-finished to look like a sky full of clouds. This design works particularly well if your nursery has deep cornice molding or a tray ceiling, both of which frame the painted ceiling. Choose a white paint that's soft rather than stark. Use flat paint on the wall surfaces and glossy paint for the moldings.
Harlequin Diamonds
Try a simple, two-toned pattern of harlequin diamonds for a painted design that isn't too busy. Use similar colors for a quiet and restful look, or use contrasting colors to create a bolder design. The lighter of the two colors is your base color and should be used to paint the entire room. Once the paint dries, mark out diamonds on the wall with painter's tape. Paint the diamond sections with your second color. For the moldings, white always looks good. Additionally, you can use the glossy version of your base color if it's light and neutral.
Art Nouveau
If sugary-sweet baby girl decor doesn't suit you or the rest of your home, consider stenciling some Art Nouveau designs on the walls or ceiling. The colors are soft and soothing, but not overwhelmingly pastel. Historical designs feature gold, robin's egg blue, lilac, peach and numerous shades of soft green. The designs--stylized florals, nature-inspired motifs and striking whiplash curves--are feminine, but not precious.
Add just a touch of style with a corner or border stencil, or cover the entire wall area above a wainscoting. Study Art Nouveau fabrics, stained glass and tiles for inspiration.
References
- "The Art of Faux: The Complete Sourcebook of Decorative Painted Finishes"; Pierre Finkelstein; 1997
- Better Homes and Gardens: Baby Room Details
- The Stencil Library: Stencils from Our Art Nouveau Range
