When I got pregnant, I just knew that it was a girl. I couldn’t wait to raise a strong, woman, but when we popped a black balloon in front of 30 family and friends and blue confetti came out, I wasn’t sure how to proceed. I knew that I wasn’t going to force ultra-masculine stereotypes on my son, yet I wasn’t sure how to do a “gender neutral” nursery that wasn’t so skewed to the feminine.
I was already leaning into a lot of black and white when it came to my pregnancy. I walked into Pottery Barn Kids, and the Emily & Meritt collection had just launched. Everything was adorable. I figured that I could add other colors to the black and white for future kids as well. For this baby, we added some gold, and turned into a “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” theme.
I love my nursery. Two years later, my son loves his room. We are just waiting on baby #2 so we can switch out the monogram, upgrade our son to a big-boy room and call it a day!
The Emily & Merritt is mostly out of stock, but if you’re a fan of this look, below are some alternative options. Start with grey walls (we went with Sherwin Williams Passive and The Perfect White from Valspar for all of the trim.
Start with a black or white crib. Add sheets and a cool mobile.
Don’t forget a co-sleeper like DockATot in Pristine White, of course.
Add a cool pattern on a blanket or rug. A rug is the perfect way to save your carpet! And of course, a trendy changeable letter board for all of those monthly and “firsts” photos on your new rug.
Some blackout curtain and decorative curtain rod are a must,
We used a dressed as a changing table and switched out the knobs on the dresser and closet doors so everything matched.
Shelving is perfect for photos, books and keepsakes. Baskets are perfect for all of the stuff that babies need and eventually toys and the perfect place to add more patterns. We added wall art too, and found a ton of great stuff at Hobby Lobby. Alphabets are always cute.
The Boppy lounger saved my life, and this cover is the perfect addition, or just start with this one. A diffuser and essential oils helped our baby sleep from time to time.
As they get older, a teepee can be a fun addition.
Finally, some sweet swaddles will make for the perfect newborn session.
Stick to three patterns: plus signs/crosses, stripes, xoxo, arrows, stars are all pretty gender neutral. We went with xoxo, stars and stripes, but I have since switched the stripes for crosses because there are constantly new black and white products coming out. It’s somewhat timeless. We added his name in gold letters and hung his monogram in white on the opposite wall. I am so happy with our nursery and I hope you find the black and white theme just as adorable.
XOXO, Mrs. Make It Rainka
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