July 24, 2025
One of the most exciting things to do when planning for your newborn’s arrival is decorating his or her nursery. But planning this nursery can also feel overwhelming at first. Narrowing down a theme, choosing the best items, and thinking through how it will all look once complete creates another task during the busy time of preparing for your newborn. As a newborn photographer, I find that focusing on a few key design elements can make the biggest impact in newborn nurseries. From optimizing light to creating dimension, here are five tips I kept in mind when creating my Richmond newborn nursery design.
Pick a theme.
Choose a theme that best reflects your style and creates a space that your little one can still enjoy as they grow. Our nursery design features a soft, modern organic decorating style that’s used throughout our home for consistency. We then added some newborn flair with vintage Winnie the Pooh accents that aligned with our home decor.
Use light-colored paint.
The paint color you choose can make a large difference in the feel of your space. Using a light-colored, neutral paint allows for light from the windows to bounce off the walls, creating a brighter space with clean, natural light. This also holds true when incorporating paneling or wallpaper, which can elevate your newborn nursery even more. Additionally, the light-colored walls can help to optimize the natural light in your nursery when it comes time for newborn photos.
Add soft textures to warm up the space.
Soft textures, like curtains, area rugs, and accent blankets, are a great way to warm up a nursery and help it feel more inviting. Our nursery features a soft area rug, embroidered quilt, crocheted pillow, boucle glider, and velvet curtains. Using a variety of textures helps to make the space more visually appealing. Keep in mind that area rugs are great for not only adding warmth, but they can also pull together your design.
Include a mirror.
An accent mirror is a perfect addition to your nursery decor, as it can help make a nursery feel larger by adding depth. If you’re able to place it on the wall opposite from your windows, it can also reflect light and make the room brighter. Choosing a mirror frame that matches other accent metals in your nursery, like your curtain rod and dresser knobs, creates consistency in design.
Bonus tip: To elevate your newborn dresser, try swapping out the knobs. This dresser originally had plain nickel knobs. When they were swapped with oil-rubbed bronze knobs with a textured design, it made the biggest difference!
Add accent pieces for dimension and character.
When nursery furniture is all a similar color, using a different color for accent pieces can help to add dimension. The key is for these accent pieces to be a complementary style, and it’s even better if they add a variety of texture. In a nursery with a lot of smooth, white furniture, incorporating woven baskets, a natural wooden accent table, and natural wooden frames can add dimension and character.
What would you add to the list? I’d love to hear about the design elements you’re including in your newborn nursery. And if you’re awaiting your newborn’s arrival, keep in mind that it’s best to book your newborn photographer early, as spots can fill up quickly. Connect with me today to start planning your newborn session.
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