Skip to content
logo The DIY portal for home and garden
Inspiration

Interior Tips for a Gender-Neutral Nursery

Setting Up a Gender-Neutral Nursery
In a gender-neutral nursery, a child has significantly more space for personal development. Photo: Getty Images

July 7, 2025, 11:00 am | Read time: 4 minutes

Previously, setting up a nursery was often influenced by familiar (color) stereotypes. However, we are currently experiencing a shift toward a unisex look. MyHOMEBOOK editor and interior designer Odett Schumann explains how to successfully create a gender-neutral nursery.

Share article

When expecting a child, it was long considered fashionable to decorate the nursery in pink for girls or blue for boys, based on gender-specific roles. However, modern society values diversity and openness, aiming to create a space where a child can freely develop from birth. A unisex look is not defined solely by color choice; motifs, patterns, and materials also play a crucial role. MyHOMEBOOK editor and interior designer Odett Schumann explains how to successfully create a gender-neutral nursery.

Gender-Neutral Colors for the Nursery

Gray is a gender-neutral color for the nursery
The play with various shades of white and gray works perfectly in this nursery. The individual nuances appear harmoniously coordinated.

For those who want to give the nursery a modern touch and aren’t fond of too much color, shades of white and light gray are popular choices. This sets a gender-neutral tone in the nursery, which can be combined with pastel accents as desired. Adding a few brightly colored accessories can create exciting highlights.

Natural tones also lend a distinctly gender-neutral color scheme to a nursery. Unlike white or gray tones, shades like cream, greige, sand, or olive add warmth, enhancing the comfort for the baby.

Harmonious Color Combinations for All Genders

Essentially, combine as you like! However, if a harmonious look is desired, the following color combinations are recommended: orange and blue, yellow and green, or red and gray. Each pair combines a warm and a cool tone, creating a neutral duo. It’s important to ensure the balance of each color is right. Orange and blue have similar intensities and can be used equally in the room. For the red-gray combination, more gray is needed to visually balance the strength of red. It’s advisable to use red for small furniture and accessories, while gray is better suited for walls and larger furniture.

Also interesting: Decorating with Natural Materials – 5 Fibers Compared

Neutral Natural Materials

Over time, materials have also developed gender-specific associations. Soft, fine, or smooth textures like plush or silk were often associated with girls, while rough, hard, and less elastic materials like concrete or steel were seen as masculine. It may take time to completely shed these associations, but combining feminine and masculine materials can create a neutral effect. The key is the right balance in the room. A successful, balanced material mix might include a gray concrete-look wall softened with a cream-colored macramé wall hanging, a cozy wool blanket, or a gently draping canopy, creating a cozy, neutral nursery.

How to decorate a nursery neutrally?
When natural colors meet natural materials, it’s hard to tell which gender they are intended for–a successful gender-neutral setup!

Some materials are generally considered gender-neutral. Wood is a prime example: regardless of the wood tone, this charismatic material can be used almost universally. Light woods like maple, ash, or birch are particularly suitable for a nursery, bringing warmth and cheerfulness with their slightly yellowish hue. In recent years, storage baskets made from natural fibers like seagrass, banana leaf weave, or hyacinth have become popular. Their natural color and texture make them versatile, and such baskets are also well-suited for a gender-neutral nursery. There are even childlike models adorned with colorful pompoms or partially dyed.

Animal and Plant Motifs That Appeal to Everyone

Not only colors but also motifs have been traditionally assigned to different genders. However, a more neutral selection is now available. Nature offers plenty of inspiration for gender-neutral nursery decor. In addition to wild animals like monkeys, lions, or elephants, floral or botanical motifs such as oversized monstera leaves, jungle vines, and exotic flowers now adorn the walls of children’s rooms for both girls and boys. For a calmer ambiance, floating clouds or stars at varying heights and surfaces offer a lovely design option.

Also interesting: 5 Beautiful and Practical Changing Tables

More on the topic

Harmonious Shapes and Lines in the Room

The right decoration for the nursery
Charming smiling toddler sitting on shell rug. Round meets angular: the curved macramé wall hanging and the round shell rug contrast harmoniously with the jagged star cushions.

Shapes and lines are also somewhat linked to gender-specific associations. Angular and edgy are considered masculine, while round and flowing are seen as feminine. To achieve a balanced look, it’s important to avoid overemphasizing one style. Too many corners and edges can create an uncomfortable atmosphere. It’s advisable to use small color accents on the wall combined with a striped curtain at the window. Alternatively, an oval crib can be paired with a more boxy wardrobe.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of MYHOMEBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@myhomebook.de.

Topics Children Kinderzimmer
You have successfully withdrawn your consent to the processing of personal data through tracking and advertising when using this website. You can now consent to data processing again or object to legitimate interests.