Nursery paint colors
Top picks for the nursery
6 editor's picksAll nursery colors at every brand
75 colors · 5 families15 colors per family, spread across the LRV range so each section has tonal variety. Tap any swatch with a curated guide for full spec and cross-brand matches.
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About nursery paint colors
Nurseries are picked early in pregnancy and lived in for the first three years of a child's life. Color choice tilts soft, calming, and slightly more grown-up than the cartoon-pastel nursery of decades past. The 2020s nursery is a softer, more sophisticated room: blushes, sages, soft blues, and the gender-neutral neutrals that grow with the kid.
The picks below skew light, soft, and easy to live with. Avoid saturated brights (overwhelming for small spaces and small humans) and skip the literal pink/blue divide if you're going for a room that ages well past toddler.
Nursery paint colors — frequently asked questions
What is the best paint color for a nursery?+
A soft calming color in the LRV 70+ range — soft sage, pale blush, blue-gray, or seafoam. Benjamin Moore First Light (2102-70, BM's 2020 Color of the Year) was specifically chosen for nursery applications. Skip saturated brights and pure pastels; modern nurseries lean adult-friendly so the room ages past the toddler stage.
Is paint safe for a baby's room?+
Yes, if you pick a zero-VOC or low-VOC paint and let it cure properly. Benjamin Moore Natura and Aura, Sherwin-Williams Harmony, and Behr Premium Plus are all zero-VOC tinted in any color. Paint at least 4–6 weeks before the baby moves in, with windows open during application and several days after.
Should I paint the nursery before or after the baby is born?+
Before, by 4–6 weeks. Even zero-VOC paint releases some compounds during curing, and the room benefits from a long ventilation period. Picking colors during the second trimester gives you time for samples, decision-making, and the actual painting without rushing.