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How Color Affects Your Baby
How much color should I put in the nursery? Will it be too bright? Will there be enough stimulation? These are some of the most common questions we hear from our clients. While there is still much scientific debate about how color affects infants, there is endless evidence showing how color affects adults – marketing execs have poured millions into this research. It’s no coincidence that most fast food restaurants are red and yellow – these colors can make you feel more hungry.
Why not take advantage of all this research and use it in your nursery? While your baby may not perceive colors correctly for awhile, they will when they get older and as those marketing execs have proven – color does affect us. Here’s a quick rundown of some color theory:
RED – Passion, Excitement, Emotional – Red is bold and attracts a lot of attention. It can work in a nursery as an accent, but should be avoided wall to wall. Red is the “hottest”color and may invoke volatile personality traits to stand out.
ORANGE – Warm, Comforting, Cozy – Orange is a very comfortable color. It promotes a welcoming feeling and inspires interpersonal conversation. Orange is friendly and puts reservations at ease. Use a darker orange for a super-cozy atmosphere or bright orange for a punch of modern!
YELLOW – Lively, Energetic, Cheerful – Yellow is sunny and bright, but use with caution. Too much or too bright yellow can agitate a baby. Subtle yellow (think legal pads) promotes concentration and emotive thoughts.
GREEN – Calming, Refreshing, Nurturing – Green is the best color to use in a learning environment. It promotes calmness of thinking and concentration. It is also very serene,calming and natural. Green is one of the best colors in decorating because it is so abundant in nature – you can’t go wrong!
BLUE – Healing, Subtle – Blue is calming, but be careful with the shade. Gray-blues can lean towards sadness. Blue increases productivity, but should not be used around food. If you have a child who refuses to eat, avoid blue plates! In the nursery, use warm or bright blues and avoid overusing navy or dark shades. Blue is also cooling, which is good for a baby who gets warm easily.
PURPLE – Dignified, Mysterious, Luxurious – Purple has long been associated with royalty, and that still holds today. Jewel tone purple is as regal as it gets. Pastel purples, like lavenders and lilacs are more calming and serene, but still have that luxurious feel. Purple is rare in nature therefore it is the most“unnatural” color.
PINK – Romantic, Loving, Feminine– It’s no coincidence that little girls love pink. It is the universal color of female and all things girly. Pink is very calming as well –particularly with children who are prone to throwing fits or tantrums. Feel free to go nuts with pink in a girl’s nursery – the only ill effect may be a bit of a princess attitude!
WHITE – Clean, Pure, Innocent – White is angelic and sweet, but can also promote secretiveness. Stay away from all white – use splashes of color to evoke emotion and openness. And beware – white is definitely prone to stains!
GRAY – Introspective, Intuitive, Emotional – Gray inspires you to contemplate – the same way you may feel a bit down on a cloudy day (which is why raincoats are yellow). Be careful with gray. It’s advantages are that it promotes thought and emotion, but that includes sadness and loneliness. Many famous poets and writers have been known to retreat to overcast locations to write, like Seattle. If you want to use gray, use a warm tone and mix in some brighter colors.
BROWN – Earthy, Grounded – Brown is the color of our earth, which makes it a great choice for a nursery. However, brown is also the color of, er, other things, so use with caution. Go with a dark chocolate brown or a very light beige/tan. Avoid any of the middle shades as they can tend to look,well, poopy.
BLACK – Authoritative, Powerful – Black is another color to use in moderation. It is strong and dark – make sure to use in a room with big windows and lots of natural lighting. Black should be used as an accent color – black walls are a nightmare to repaint!
There is an endless amount of information on color out there. If you’re planning your nursery, take a few minutes and do a little research. After all, your baby will be in this room until you decide to repaint.
How to Use Heirlooms in Your Nursery
Your baby’s nursery is much more than cute patterns and a thoughtfully placed diaper genie. Your nursery is where you will create the first memories of your new family. You will spend hours feeding, burping, cooing and bonding inside those four walls. At Little Crown Interiors, we think it is important to incorporate family heirlooms and sentimental items into your nursery. Adding sentimentality to your space will give you a daily reminder of what you loved about your own childhood, and what you want to create for your own little bundle. We all have a variety of hand-me-downs, special knick-knacks and crumbling photographs of Great Grandma, but how do we make use of them in the nursery?
In the nursery below, there is a beautiful hand-knitted prayer from baby’s Great Grandma framed above the changing table. The cloth itself is very traditional while the nursery decor is contemporary. To make the two flow together, we had the prayer matted and put into a more contemporary frame. It also sits on a modern metal shelf. Dangling below the shelf are five vintage toys that each belonged to Mom or Dad.
In the glamorous nursery below, the homeowner had her family and friends each decorate a onesie at her baby shower. Instead of throwing them in a closet, she opted to have them framed as artwork in the nursery. To make them fit with the design, we backed each piece with the fabric we used on the crib bedding. The onesies were especially important to her because many of her family members live far away. Now she has a daily reminder of all the people she loves and how much they all love her new baby!
If your hand-me-down is a bit more substantial, like furniture, you can still make use of it in your nursery! The dresser in the nursery below was a family heirloom and the homeowner wanted to re-purpose it as a changing table. We had the old scratches buffed out, added some whimsical handles and voila! – a vintage yet kid-friendly dresser.
Remember, heirlooms are invaluable, so treat them with care. If something is breakable, put it far from baby’s reach. Take old photos to a professional framer to ensure the proper framing materials. Be careful about placing original watercolors or prints near a window that gets sunlight. Make sure any old toys are clean and don’t have any broken or missing parts.
Happy memory making!
Little Crown Interiors Partners with Project Nursery!
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A few months ago, we were asked to join the Project Nursery team as a blog contributor. We were thrilled! We have been following Project Nursery for a long time and they are definitely an authority on baby trends and decor. One of our nurseries is even featured on the top of Project Nursery's Home Page, and you can find pics of our rooms throughout the site by searching for "Little Crown Interiors". We have completed several posts now and decided to re-post them on our own blog as well for all of our followers.
Our blogs will be appearing the first and third Wednesday of every month on Project Nursery and re-posted on our blog the following Monday- be sure to check them out! You can subscribe via our blog as well so you don't miss a beat...
Thank you Melisa and Pam for inviting us to be a part of your wonderful site! We are thrilled to be a part of your team!
Vintage Modern Nursery
Client: Baby Girl
This vintage nursery is truly one-of-a-kind. The back wall is covered in hot pink and silver damask wallpaper, accented by picture frame molding, a large custom cut monogram and two stunning lucite sconces. Silhouette style artwork and the custom monogram are repeated throughout the room. The Empire Rocker by Nurseryworks is upholstered in navy with a custom made pillow with an embroidered monogram. A lucite chandelier hangs down, completing this amazing and modern nursery!
Yellow Nursery
Client: Baby Girl
About This Nursery:
This sunny yellow nursery was inspired by a beautiful set of "Wren" crib bedding by Serena & Lily. Green bird and branch decals were used on the walls with sweet antique playing cards dangling down. A bright coral chair rail adds punch and fun to this colorful nursery, while the classic white Bonavita furniture is versatile and clean. A chocolate brown Little Castle glider, custom toy box and adorable artwork finish off this unique nursery!
Retro Nursery
Client: Baby Boy
See this designer nursery design in the newly released book, "Design Ideas for Baby Rooms"! Available HERE.
This modern nursery was featured on Project Nursery. See it HERE.
About This Design:
The homeowner asked for a designer nursery with a color palette of aqua and orange with a highly customized look. This modern nursery features a custom made upholstered crib in a sturdy microsuede fabric and an entirely custom changing table and bookcase. To add even more personalization to this nursery design, we added a large-scale "name" art creation using wood wall letters and metal wallpaper, and a DNA artwork canvas showcasing Mom and Dad's DNA in this unique retro nursery.
Glamorous Nursery
Client: Baby Girl
This designer nursery was featured on Project Nursery. See it HERE.
About This Nursery:
This glamorous nursery was inspired by the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas. The homeowner saw a fabric draped ceiling there and wanted to create a similar look in their lavender nursery. A dazzling crystal chandelier hangs down and gives the room such glamour! The custom changing table was designed with a fold-down changing tray, pop-up storage and a pull-out diaper genie for extreme efficiency. The front panels are even upholstered and tufted with rhinestone buttons to truly add sophistication and beauty.
Nautical Nursery
Client: Baby Boy
See this designer nursery in the newly released book, "Design Ideas for Baby Rooms"! Available HERE.
This nautical nursery was featured on Project Nursery. See it HERE.
About This Nursery:
This nautical nursery was designed by the celebrity nursery desingners of Little Crown Interiors with sea-creatures, boats and starfish in mind. Adorable sea-theme artwork, a row-boat wall shelf and a splash of starfish adorn the blue nursery walls! A cozy glider and ottoman sit in the corner and a custom painted toy box adds character and whimsy to this classic nursery. A large, colorful rug and tall boat-shaped bookcase give this nautical nursery a complete and sophisticated look.
Ballerina Bedroom
Client: Little Girl
About This Bedroom Design:
Any little girl would be lucky to grow up in this beautiful pink bedroom for for a princess! Vintage-inspired furniture (Young America by Stanley Furniture) and custom twin bedding help set the stage for a budding ballerina. A completely custom built stage is draped in pink crushed velvet with a set of hand-painted curtains that serve as a whimsical background for endless hours of make-believe in this ballerina princess bedroom!
Beach Nursery
Client: Twin Baby Boys
This beachy nursery was featured on HGTV.com! See it HERE.See this designer nursery in the newly released book, "Design Ideas for Baby Rooms"! Available HERE.
About This Nursery:
This beach nursery for twins started with a sunny color palette of aqua and orange. Two white Bonavita cribs are adorned with classic blue and orange striped custom crib bedding. A vintage-inspired dresser, white wainscot paneling and colorful accessories add a casual and comfy feel to this chic beach cottage nursery!
Pink Nursery
Client: Baby Girl
See this designer nursery in the newly released book, "Design Ideas for Baby Rooms"! Available HERE.
About This Nursery:
This luxe nursery was inspired by a photo of the Delano Hotel in Miami Beach. The homeowner absolutely loved the way the outdoor cabanas had draped fabric and sleek furniture. The look was recreated in this perfectly pink nursery by using white satin for the fabric ceiling and creating a custom micro-suede sofa. Stunning custom-made embroidered crib bedding for the elegant round crib (Stokke furniture), a dramatic beveled mirror and pink crystal knobs help make this nursery as glamorous as can be!
Green Nursery
Client: Baby Boy
See this designer nursery in the newly released book, "Design ideas for Baby Rooms"! Available HERE.
About This Nursery:
This homeowner wanted to create a colorful and soothing environment in her designer nursery where her little one can play and learn. This fresh green nursery started with the masculine espresso crib from Young America by Stanley Furniture and bedding from Pottery Barn Kids with a one-of-a-kind bedskirt. With custom built-in storage, a hand-painted tree mural and personalized wood wall letters, this little boy is sure to grow up inspired!
Hot Pink Bedroom
Client: Tween Girl
About This Bedroom:
This fun hot pink children's bedroom is an absolute fantasy for any budding tween girl. A hot pink armoire, leopard print custom twin bedding and whimsical wall decals make this room a perfect hideaway for dress-up and slumber parties! A matching draped window treatment with hot pink bows and a girly pink lamp add femininity to this funky tween bedroom.
Organic Nursery
Client: Baby Boy
See this designer nursery in the newly released book, "Design Ideas for Baby Rooms"! Available HERE.
About This Nursery:
This organic nursery was inspired by all things natural. An heirloom dresser with new twig-like handles and rich stained finish help ground the room. Tree branch decals that bloom into real branches sprout up all over this organic nursery, bringing the outdoors in! An antique white crib by Vintage Kids and subtle striped corduroy custom crib bedding make this natural nursery warm and personal.
Contemporary Nursery
Client: Baby Boy
See this designer nursery in the newly released book, "Design Ideas for Baby Rooms"! Available HERE.
About This Nursery:
This contemporary nursery and toddler room was designed for a Little Crown repeat customer. We recently converted their nursery (photos below) into a shared bedroom for their two sons.
The original room started with gray accent paint and a little “edge”. Old English custom made wall letters are a bold statement in red while a cozy custom glider from Little Castle Furniture adds a casual touch. Rich cinnamon furniture from Young America by Stanley adds balance against the cool grey nursery walls, and a big shaggy rug on a diagonal creates the perfect spot for the children to play. Tiny red stars light up the window treatment for a final punch of whimsy.
To make it work as a shared bedroom, we moved the furniture, added a few touches to the decor and created new custom textiles, all on a moderate budget.
Here's how it used to look:
