Are you interested in painting the nursery? Here we are sharing our top tips and tricks you'll want to know before you paint the nursery.
If you are decorating a nursery and want an easy, inexpensive way to add color, interest, and even a bit of drama, look no further. Painting the nursery is at the top of the list to breathe new life into a plain room and transform the space into a beautiful nursery.
Tell us your style, existing colors, and vibe — get a professional 5-color palette with exact hex codes, paint recommendations, and usage guidance.
Ahead are the best tips you'll want to know when painting the nursery to bring your dream nursery walls to life yourself without hiring a pro.
First, take a look at some of these stunning nursery designs where nursery painting techniques and hues capture our attention.
Tell us your style, existing colors, and vibe — get a professional 5-color palette with exact hex codes, paint recommendations, and usage guidance.
Tell us your style, existing colors, and vibe — get a professional 5-color palette with exact hex codes, paint recommendations, and usage guidance.
10 HELPFUL NURSERY PAINTING TIPS
1.FIGURE OUT THE COLOR PALETTE
Don't rush in and start painting the nursery right out of the gate. Instead, first come up with your nursery design plan and color palette for the nursery.
2.CONSIDER THE LRV
When choosing the nursery paint color, consider the LRV or Light Reflective Value. It is how light or dark paint color will look on a scale of 0 (black) to 100 (white). Remember, the higher the LVR, the more reflective the paint, meaning the glare can bother your little one.
3.TEST ON THE WALLS
Before painting the nursery, grab a few of the shades you are drawn to and test them on the nursery wall. Get paint testers from your local paint store and apply them onto sheets of white paper. Hang them onto each of the nursery walls you intend to paint. Observe them for a few days under different lighting conditions to help pick the best paint color for your baby's nursery.
4.PREPARATION IS KEY
Finding the perfect nursery paint color is one thing, but getting ready to paint the room is another story. Make sure the walls are clean and dry. If you added a wood accent wall, apply primer before painting.
5.FIND A PAINT THAT IS LOW-VOC or VOC
As always, when decorating a nursery, safety comes first. When buying paint for the nursery, look for low VOC or no VOC paint. Paint contains VOCs, which are emitted into the air and can cause harm.
6.CHOOSE THE RIGHT FINISH
When painting the nursery, choose the right sheen to avoid having to repaint the space. So higher the sheen of the paint, the more durable it is. Go with an eggshell finish that's durable and has a higher stain-resistance. Though it can be a bit shiny, you'll have an easier time keeping the walls clean.
7.GATHER THE RIGHT TOOLS
Having the right tools on hand makes painting the nursery a lot easier. Look for good brushes and rollers. Check to ensure the bristles work with the paint you are getting.
8. KEEP THE ROOM VENTILATED
Keep the room ventilated when painting the nursery. Make sure you open up any windows in the nursery to get the air to flow through the room. Bring in a fan or two to help push the fumes out.
9. START THE NURSERY PAINTING EARLY
No need to rush, but the sooner you start painting the nursery, the more time you have to air it out and get rid of any fumes before the baby's arrival. Generally, most expectant parents are busy decorating the nurseries by 20 weeks or so. Read this post for the complete nursery decorating timeline.
10.PAY ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS
As with all things, the details are what ultimately elevates the design. Take your time when painting to finish out all the little details from edging and baseboards and doors.
NURSERY DESIGNS FROM OUR NURSERY LOOKBOOK
Find these nursery designs and 100's more on our Nursery Lookbook- Industry's Most Coveted Lookbook.