The monochrome nursery trend is inspired by simple Scandinavian style. A modern fresh look with clean lines of warm wood and crisp white walls. Comparatively simple furniture is complimented with black, white and a few minimally coloured accessories.
It is essential to start with a blank canvas and build on it. White is the pre-requisite colour for the walls of a Scandinavian style nursery. Start with this as a base and then build upon it.
Essential elements of the monochrome nursery
- A minimalist palette with a base of white. Likewise neutral furniture and accessories in black, natural wood and one other neutral accent colour
- Think modern clean lines. Furniture specifically should be minimalist and functional.
- Textures, especially natural materials, bring softness to a room. Use cosy woollen blankets alongside sheepskins. Equally rugs and curtains should be natural fibres.
- Natural wood for flooring and furniture.
- Rugs add softness to a room while including pattern and texture
- Pattern added with black and white accessories as well as wall decals and prints
- Outdoor influences – particularly decor inspired by nature, plants and animals
Key interior design trends for a monochrome nursery
Aside from the essentials such as furniture, there are some key design features and accessories that complete the look. Great examples are to be found in these blog images. Interior design tip – look for the following combinations:
- Floating wall shelves with collections of books and typographic prints
- Geometric shapes – vinyl decals on walls and fabric patterns on bedding, curtains and rugs
- Chalkboards – a place for kids to get creative without damaging your decor
- Tee-pees – a cosy place where kids can hide away and play
- Sustainable toys – eg. wooden toys which are passed on through family to reuse and recycle
- Cut out lettering and acrylic signs – taking typography onto the walls in 3D with names and quotes
Photo by LaLaLovesDecor.com
- Soft pastel accent colours including pink, yellow, mint and light blue – essentially traditional nursery colours.
- Bunting and cotton globe fairy lights
A monochrome nursery for baby’s development
As well as being very on trend, the monochrome nursery is good for a baby’s development. Traditional nurseries, together with toys are calming pastel colours. This is aimed at helping babies to sleep. However in fact at birth, a baby’s sight is one of their least developed senses. Although research has proved, that black and white images can help babies develop faster visually. Up to six months of age babies respond best to bold contrasting patterns. Significantly, these include black and white geometric shapes or lines. Firstly these are more engaging. This in turn encourages brain development, helping to increase concentration and attention span. In addition physical development is stimulated. For example this could be as a baby reaches to grasp an object. Furthermore a baby who is engaged with regular mental and physical stimulation will naturally sleep no matter what the colour of their surroundings.
A place to grow and play
A cosy place to play. In this case bold patterned cushions fill a cosy play tent together with nature inspired cactus decals on the walls.
From nursery to child’s room
Whereas traditional nurseries were based on pink or blue, a monochrome nursery has the added benefit of being gender neutral. In contrast to traditional nurseries this is a style that is easy to update as children grow older. In this room the cot is replaced with chunky natural wooden beds together with a selection of patterned cushions for older kids. Despite the changes the elements of monochrome scandinavian design including the neutral colour scheme remain in place.
Black triangular stickers are a popular design feature which will certainly last the test of time as seen in these children’s rooms. Note the natural textures used on the hard wearing floor covering together with natural wooden furniture and toys.
Black triangles on the wall in addition to large triangles on the black and white floor covering.
From dream design to reality
Having your perfect nursery design in mind is one thing, however getting around to creating it – possibly whilst heavily pregnant is another. Rudy’s room over on the CotswoldCreate blog is an inspiring story of how one mum put together this perfect nursery, even though she was surprised by a long awaited arrival which came five weeks early!
Photo by CotswoldCreate
Where to buy key items for your monochrome nursery
As this is a popular trend with home makers and interior decorators and there are so many great items available to help you create the look. Furthermore there is a great choice of furniture and accessories available at everyone’s favourite Nordic superstore – Ikea.
On the floor
On the wall
- Cloud set of wall decals from £16 – Inkmillvinyl.co.uk
- Star set of wall decals from £16 – Inkmillvinyl.co.uk
- Triangle set of wall decals from £16 – Inkmillvinyl.co.uk
- Print £13.95 – Mini Learners
- Dot set of wall decals from £16 – Inkmillvinyl.co.uk
- Banner Height Chart – Inkmillvinyl.co.uk
- Lack shelf – Ikea
- Make your own messages banner – Trouva.com
On the bed
- Riceberry Medium Cushion – £25 BearandBear.com
- Lapplung Ruta Cushion – £9 Ikea
- Cloud Cushion – £25 MadebySkoo.co.uk
- Organic Cotton baby Blanket – £30 LuksLinen.com
- Stars Charcoal bedding – £65 SecretLinenStore.com
- Printed Bunny toy – £2.99 TheBonnieMob.com
There are endless combinations of black and white nursery designs to use to create your perfect Scandanavian style monochrome nursery. We’d love to see your monochrome nursery designs, especially if you’ve used our kids shape wall stickers, so tag us with your room pictures @inkmillvinyl #monochromenurserydecor
Inkmill Vinyl is an online retailer of vinyl wall stickers. Choose from a wide range of ready made patterns and custom designs or upload your own designs to create your own bespoke wall art.
