How to Create a Pastel Nursery: Soft, Playful Ideas for a Calm Space
Pastel nurseries remain a popular choice for creating a calm, gentle space for a new baby. Soft pinks, muted greens, warm neutrals and delicate tones bring a sense of lightness and tranquillity — while still feeling playful and full of character.
The key to using pastels beautifully is not simply choosing soft colours, but understanding how to layer them in a way that feels cohesive, balanced and easy to live with.
How to style pastels in a nursery
Perfect Pastels
Using varying shades of the same colour creates a nursery that feels calm, serene and quietly sophisticated.
Starting with a neutral base — such as soft beige, warm white or gentle grey — allows pastel tones to sit naturally within the space. From there, layering different textures adds depth without overwhelming the room.
This approach works particularly well for those looking to create a more understated, timeless nursery.
Playful Pastels
Pastels naturally share soft undertones, making them easy to combine in a more relaxed, expressive way.
Mixing different pastel shades — from soft blues and pinks to mint greens and warm creams — creates a nursery that feels light, playful and full of personality, while still maintaining a sense of calm.
The result is a space that feels joyful, but never overpowering.
Our top tips for creating a pastel nursery
✔ Layer different pastel shades
Soft blues, pinks and greens can be combined to create depth without heaviness
✔ Add warmth with neutrals
White, beige and taupe provide a calm foundation that balances softer tones
✔ Play with texture
Linen, wool, boucle and rattan introduce interest while keeping the palette gentle
✔ Introduce subtle contrast
Natural wood, brass or slightly deeper tones help to ground the space
Bringing the look together
A pastel nursery comes to life through the smaller details — textiles, soft furnishings and everyday essentials that work together to create a cohesive feel.
From rugs and blankets to changing accessories and decorative pieces, these elements help to soften the space and make it feel considered, rather than styled.
Shop the look
Green Chic
- Sebra baby & Junior cotbed - mint green
- Nursery Rocking chair - with 'teddy' texture
- Washable cotton rug - 'tropical green'
- Little Lights - Lion
- Pouffe 'Mr Snail'
- Washable cushion circle green
- Sebra changing mat seabreeze green
- Wallpaper - Safari
- Changing table basket - boucle naturel
- Picture Hot Air Balloon Journey - xl
- Canopy set - beige
- Wooden Puzzle - jungle jambo - croco
Playful Unicorn
- Sebra baby & junior cotbed - birchbark rose
- Washable cotton rug 'puffy love'
- Handmade crochet moses basket - baby pink
- Musical mobile rainbow
- Little lights - cloud
- Cashmere pompoms blanket - blue
- Little Lights - butterfly
- Royal Aero large balloon - rainbow pastel
- Cotton muslin swaddles 'above the clouds'
- Cake Unicorn - wooden toy
- If I were a unicorn book
- Picture Ice cream cart
A pastel nursery offers a soft, timeless foundation — one that can be shaped through thoughtful details, gentle textures and beautifully co-ordinated pieces.
