Remember the viral video of the ‘Sad Beige Mom’ who repainted her children’s sandbox to make it less colorful? Yeah, don’t be that mom. Our children need colors, but that doesn’t mean vintage is out of the question here (colors existed in the past too). After all, you’re creating a living space for a tiny human being who will soon be learning colors, and you don’t want them to be exposed to just beige and brown.
Clearly, I love vintage decor and a vintage-inspired nursery is a lovely idea. But decorating a nursery in the old-fashioned style can be tricky because you can easily overdo it and get caught up in the beige & brown trend. So let’s see how we can maintain balance between a lively space and vintage-inspired items.
In this post, I will take a look at ways to create a cozy vintage-inspired nursery that retains that old-fashioned quality yet has some color to it.
Source: Domino
When designing a vintage nursery, it’s good to choose a specific era or theme that resonates with you. There is a vast selection of vintage themes and eras to pick from, some examples of which are:
Once you have your theme, all the other pieces of the puzzle should fall into place. Picking a theme or era will help you decide the pieces you’ll be searching for and how to incorporate them into the nursery.
A Victorian nursery will probably use a lace or flower-patterned mobile, while in vintage farmhouse decor, the mobile would be made from plaid or gingham fabric.
Now, for a pop of color, you can always mix a less colorful theme with a more colorful theme. Regardless of the theme or era you pick, throw in one, two, or three related items that aren’t beige, brown, or gray.
For example, if the theme is vintage farmhouse, choose gingham fabrics with a vivid main color (such as red and white). When going for Victorian nursery decor, opt for colorful lace or a colorful Victorian-inspired lamp or chandelier. Sprinkling just a couple of such items will soften the room’s appearance.
The non-negotiables when decorating a nursery – mobiles and soft magical lighting – can also be used to add a pop of color.
Or, if it goes with your theme, you can add a fun vintage gallery wall using ornate gilded frames for that extra allure.
Source: @johanakrasinski_
Source: Pinterest
Now for those who do not want the stress of choosing a theme, there is also the option of winging it. When you are winging it, the possibilities are endless.
First, you need to gather pieces that have sentimental value to you, incorporate pieces from various themes and eras, and buy old furniture (or refurbish your old furniture).
If you decide to wing it, know that it is easy to get carried away and become overly enthusiastic with your shopping. So to help prevent that, you should have an inspo picture. This will serve as a guide so you do not go overboard or get sidetracked.
Similarly to working with a specific theme though, when winging your nursery’s decor, pick at least some vintage or vintage-inspired items that are colorful.
This one should go without saying – one of the most obvious ways to add color to a room is to paint the walls. The options are plentiful as you can choose pink, yellow, purple, or any other color that feels right for your baby’s nursery.
Source: @inwiththeoldhome
You can also just paint one accent wall and either pair it with patterned wallpaper or leave the remaining walls white. If your walls feature wainscoting – even better.
An antique nursery is incomplete without stacks of children’s books and wooden toys. These items hold a large amount of childish charm that every nursery needs.
Source: Pinterest
To make incorporating books and toys into your vintage nursery easy, you can carefully arrange them on shelves according to color. Because they should be colorful, well, at least some. If you’re incorporating a brown wooden duck, then the wooden horse should be painted a color like purple, pink, blue, yellow, or whatever else suits the rest of the decor.
Source: ETSY
I know that realistically it’s not easy to stick 100% to natural-materials when it comes to toys (I’m a mom myself!). However, where possible, try to go for wooden toys. It’s clearly a healthier option for your baby, plus, paint just looks better on wood (and definitely retains a vintage quality).
Yellow is a super vintage-friendly color. Picture the nursery below without this antique desk:
Source: Pinterest
It would look like just another beige vintage-inspired baby room that lacks color and liveliness. The yellow piece of furniture makes a lovely focal point, giving the room a fun twist.
Art has always been a big part of each era or culture. A gallery wall of vintage-inspired art can serve as a focal point in your nursery. Choose prints or paintings that reflect your chosen theme, and arrange them in a way that tells a story. This not only adds visual interest but also gives the room a curated, personalized feel.
Source: Pinterest
Mix some color prints with other ones that are more subdued. You can go for a giclee print of a pencil drawing combined with other bolder prints of animals.
You can also frame vintage children’s book illustrations, postcards, or vintage photos. As long as they’re vintage or vintage-looking, fit the rest of the decor, and add a pop of color, they will certainly enliven the space.
Source: ETSY
Source: ETSY
Get vintage-inspired fairy lights to add some more spice to the decor. Many vintage-style toy lights are bound to bring extra warmth into the nursery. They won’t add a super colorful boost, but soft yellow fairy lights can make a huge difference.
Source: AMAZON
Another idea for adding color with lighting is through a bold-colored statement hanging lamp like this amazing piece from Etsy:
Source: ETSY
This is one of my favorite points on this list. I’m a huge fan of vintage and antique wallpapers, and especially those with whimsical designs.
As we can see in the example below from Historiska Hem, this otherwise subdued vintage nursery is beautifully enlivened by a blue wallpaper sporting a British Colonial-inspired pattern:
Source: Historiska Hem
I just love how it stands out from the rest of the earth-toned decor. An otherwise subdued and boring room is perfectly enlivened with a fun patterned wallpaper:
Source: Historiska Hem
I think a William Morris wallpaper would be wonderful for a vintage-inspired nursery, for both girls and boys.
Source: AMAZON
If everything else in your baby’s room is vintage-y beige or brown, add a statement item sporting a fun, bold vintage-inspired pattern. This could be a patterned:
Source: Pinterest
Candy stripes are surely a big thing in vintage decor and they are not to be missing from a vintage nursery. This lovely striped pattern can appear on pillows, a canopy, bed skirt, or bedsheets.
Source: Domino
Let’s answer a couple of questions about decorating a vintage-inspired nursery.
Pick vintage elements and toys that feature a pop of color, for example a colorful vintage mobile, rocking horse, custom name sign, or hanging lamp. Match the color to your nursery’s theme. If the nursery mostly features toned-down pinks, pick a statement piece with a livelier shade of pink.
For vintage nursery decor, you can either follow a specific theme or create a unique look by mixing elements. If you choose a theme, you can go with colorful options like mid-century modern or vintage carnival for added vibrancy. Alternatively, if you prefer to wing it, focus on incorporating sentimental pieces, blending various themes, and using inspirational images to guide your creativity.
Vintage nursery decor for baby girls often features various shades of pink and mirrors the cottagecore style. To achieve this look, incorporate cute vintage accessories, ruffled bedding, and a miniature vintage-inspired play/teatime set in pastel or floral patterns, complete with a lace or gingham tablecloth. Enhance the theme with framed vintage illustrations, a wooden wall hanger for accessories, and toys like vintage bunnies or themed dolls.
For vintage baby boy decor, use soft, muted colors like dusty blue and sage green, with darker accents such as navy or burgundy. Choose vintage-style wooden furniture with spindles or distressed finishes, and select quilts or blankets with patchwork or floral bedding designs. Add linen or cotton curtains and rugs in neutral tones with simple patterns, and incorporate vintage toys like wooden cars or trains.
While it’s tempting to go all out with charming antiques and timeless details when decorating a nursery in the vintage style, too much can overwhelm the space. Keep it simple, sprinkle in a few statement pieces, and let the room breathe. After all, you want your little one’s nursery to feel like a cozy, nostalgic retreat—not a museum! And don’t forget to add a pop of color, whether with a colorful vintage rug, a yellow vintage-style canopy, or a vintage-inspired red hanging lamp.
