20 Best Modern Nursery Designs

When designing a nursery for a baby on the way, you're likely looking to create a space that serves as a snug, safe home for your little one. Filled with elements that will delight them, your modern nursery design can also be clean and cohesive to fit your own aesthetic. After all, you'll be spending plenty of time there, too—so if your style leans toward the minimalist side, designing a nursery can be a tricky space to navigate. Equip your space with comforts to help your baby thrive happily, and incorporate a clean design with no tolerance for clutter or too many extravagant colors.

Below, get inspired with modern nursery ideas from top designers to make a cozy oasis suited for parent and baby alike.

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Use Minimal Pops of Color

A minimalist approach to design doesn't mean the results can't be dynamic. Smart use of color in a well-chosen shade like this soft, airy blue nursery helps to pare back accent furniture for a simple finish. Plenty of neutral and white shades keep the design clean, deliberate, and purposeful.

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Be All Grown Up

Grown-up décor sensibilities aren't off-limits for children's spaces. Incorporate design elements you already love—like rattan, black-and-white prints, and elegant wallpaper in relaxing hues. The gentle green shades of this nursery are undeniably calming, while plenty of mixed patterns create depth in the overall room.

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Stay Soft in White

A nursery doesn't need colors to be a cozy place for your little one. Whites, creams, and light earth tones make for a gorgeous palette—especially with warm textures like plush rugs and cozy bedding. The bright shades of this space are offset by minimal pastel colors in the rug and wall décor, while a white pouf adds a cozy element of seating for those late nights spent by the crib.

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Be Elegantly-Bright

A natural beechwood crib in an elegant floral design instantly becomes the focal point of this modern nursery. Paired with matching bedding, playful décor, and a fur area rug, we'd be happy to curl up in this space all day. Sheer white curtains over the large windows allow plenty of natural light to filter into the room while keeping plenty of privacy.

For a cohesive look, match your baby's bedding to similar shades of the crib and wallpaper accents to tie your nursery together.

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Add a Touch of Greenery

Working with natural wood, white, and greenery instantly brings together any room with a modern vibe that's also bohemian. Add more touches of color with comfortable accent chairs and a traditional rug. Here, a large indoor plant brings plenty of texture to the space (and it doesn't hurt that it cleans the air, too).

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Style a Creamy, Airy Retreat

Keep things light with different shades of cream, which can help smaller nurseries feel more open and airy. This dynamic design feels blended and uniform, but mix-matched patterns bring in added texture. From the floral wallpaper to the white-and-pink bedding, embroidered blanket, and geometric tufted rug, this clean space is styled with plenty of visual interest.

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Keep It Clean and Modern

The furniture you choose can be enough to instill a modern look all on its own. A sleek white crib frame and geometric wall art create clean, angular lines, and modern décor comes out in the leaning wall ladders. Statement elements modernize the space while an oversized area rug, accent chair, and floor pillows keep it functional (and comfortable).

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Stay Cohesive With Geometrics

With pops of faded color, this modern nursery comes to life without becoming too busy. Geometric patterns create cohesion throughout the space, while black-and-white motifs pare back the otherwise playful palette. Minimal color is highlighted on the large traditional area rug, styled with a natural wood crib to warm up the sleek color palette.

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Use Playful Patterns

An especially fun part of decorating your nursery is the ability to incorporate patterns that may not work in other areas of the home. Here, gentle prints on the wallpaper bring an airy feeling to the space with shining golden birds, and natural wood shelves paired with a woven light fixture keep the vibe inviting. The lighter colors are offset by a black crib and deep green chest of drawers for a pop of contrast with functional storage.

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Get Printed

For a fun, eclectic flair of personality, incorporate bold prints into your nursery design. This bedroom is undeniably soft and gentle with its light pink walls, white curtains, feathered décor, and white furniture—but a zebra-print rug brings out a bold character all its own. Small accents of gold in the hardware, from the accent chair legs to the curtain rods and light fixture, add bits of color without overwhelming the clean space.

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Bring Out the Wallpaper

Wallpaper can make a difference in any room of the home, but it's especially suited for nurseries. Here, a white-and-gray design highlights the barely-there trees, which blends into the room's white walls and soft artwork. This soothing room is finished with light natural accents like the simple photo frame and wooden crib.

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Contrast Vibrant Hues

For a bolder design, opt for striking colors that contrast against each other. This pretty-in-pink room is filled with unique accents from its flamingo cushion to its midcentury modern accent chair and fur rug, but the star of the space is its curtains: With plenty of patterns, the window dressings bring out an artsy vibe for a playful finish.

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Dream in the Clouds

To get a truly dreamy nursery vibe, incorporate soft accents like this cloud-themed rug that matches the accent chair's upholstered ottoman. Simple stripes in the rug contrast white walls, while the deep blue accent color ties the space together. Finished with patterned gold wallpaper, the color scheme in this nursery is intentional and soothing.

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Keep It Chic

If you're a lover of grown-up design, incorporate elements from your personal style into the nursery to make it all your own. This elegant space is simple and clean with a mostly white design. Paired with various patterns in the rug and leather pouf, a chic character comes out in the vintage mirror and dangling décor.

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Make a Calming Retreat

We can't get enough of the colors in this calming nursery retreat. Not only is it styled with various patterns (and that incredible floral wallpaper), but it all comes together by sticking to a cohesive palette. Deep blue colors paint the space and match the chic crib blankets, which complement striped throw pillows and a traditional rug.

For a personalized touch, add decals of your baby's name or initials on the wall to match design accents in the crib.

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Mix Modern and Traditional

If your style is more traditional, it's still plenty possible to mix in modern elements without losing your original design elements. This nursery finds a balance between classic and new-age décor with polished wood floors, a traditional crib, and woven window blinds. Modern touches come out in the fur throw, sleek angular rug, and rounded accent chair.

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Make Space for Seating

One of the most essential items of a nursery isn't just the crib for your little one, but also nursery furniture for yourself. After all, you'll be spending plenty of time and late nights in this space—so don't forget to make it comfortable. Add a plush accent chair near the bed to give yourself room to cozy up with your baby and make the space functional for all members of your family.

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Blend Soothing Neutrals

Soothing colors are perfect for a nursery, as it's a space for your baby to feel safe and at home. Incorporate calming hues with earth tones like this clay-themed space, which pairs neutral walls with simple floral décor in a matching shade. Modern lighting contrasts the room's boho style, while long curtains complement the statement color.

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Paint a Minimalist Mural

Childhood is filled with plenty of crafting projects, so get a head start by indulging your artsy side in nursery design. This minimalist, Scandanavian-inspired mountain mural isn't just stylish, but it's also easy to recreate: Simply arrange painter's tape along the wall in the shape and height that you'd like, then choose a neutral color a few shades off from the walls to keep the airy look in your space.

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Embrace Your Inner Child

One of the best parts of decorating a nursery is embracing your inner child. Don't be afraid to have fun with it—this space is as much your own as your baby's, and it's a place for you to learn and grow together as you embrace a new chapter. Incorporate playful elements like baby toys, clothing, and accessories into the design itself to make the room feel cohesive and purposeful.

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