If you are helping decorate a grandchild’s room or just curious what the design world is up to these days, here is something worth knowing. Two professional designers told Parade that white walls have had their day. And both of them agree on what to use instead.
The answer is soft green. And once you hear their reasoning, it makes a lot of sense.
Why Designers Are Moving Away from White
Lisa Quinn is a Palm Desert, California-based interior designer, home stager, and TV host. She put it plainly: “I would generally never suggest white paint for a child’s room as it feels cold and clinical, not the warm, cozy space you want to create.”
Quinn added that white can work in a sophisticated adult space, but “in a kid’s room, it just feels cold and unimaginative.”
Brittany Lyons, a Dallas-based interior designer and owner of Brittany Lyons Interiors, agrees. She says white “can feel sterile and subsequently not fun or playful.” Her point is hard to argue with: “Have any of the children you’ve met recently been bland? I didn’t think so.”
The Color Both Designers Recommend
Both Quinn and Lyons landed on the same answer independently: soft green. Specifically, gentle, nature-inspired shades like sage green.
“Green is generally considered a ‘grounding neutral,'” says Quinn. “The right shade brings a calming, organic, natural feel that will grow with the child. It’s soft and warm without looking too babyish or gender-specific.”
Lyons describes how our bodies respond to green in a deeply instinctive way. “Our bodies react to a primal sense of being one with nature, indoors,” she says. “Think about the last time you had a lush green mountain view and what that did for you physically, mentally and emotionally. That’s what green can do in a space without the view.”
She also notes that green “can cause less strain on the eye with its more serene tones.” For a child’s room, that is a genuine advantage.
Quinn even painted her own daughter’s room sage green when she was born. She added a removable pink, white, and sage floral wallpaper border that was easy to swap out as her daughter got older.
Which Shades of Green Work Best
Not every green works. Both designers are clear: skip the bright lime or Kelly greens. Those are too bold and too hard to paint over later.
Quinn recommends softer tones instead. Her favorites include Benjamin Moore Saybrook Sage, Benjamin Moore Gray Cashmere, and Sherwin-Williams Sea Salt. She says these shades “look great with white or wood finishes, blue or pink that might be brought in, and won’t clash with all the toys and other brightly-colored kid accessories.”
Lyons adds that a neutral green tone “complements so many other colors that might be brought into the room”, a practical plus when the room fills up with colorful toys and bedding.
Five More Colors the Designers Love
If green is not quite right for the room you have in mind, Quinn and Lyons also recommend these five options:
- Warm off-whites — Lyons recommends Sherwin-Williams White Sesame, calling it “extremely warm and inviting” for those who still want a near-neutral look. Quinn likes Sherwin-Williams Creamy, describing it as “an appealing off-white that still provides warmth”; just make sure the room has good lighting beyond a single overhead light.
- Muted light blues — Quinn’s pick is Benjamin Moore Ocean Air. She says muted, grayish blues are “peaceful hues that increase focus and peaceful feelings” without reading as strongly gendered. Lyons recommends Sherwin-Williams French Moire, a blue with green undertones she calls “a calmingly bright color.”
- Soft yellows — Quinn says bright lemon yellows feel too nursery-literal, but softer butter yellows “bring cheer without overstimulation.” She points to Benjamin Moore Banana Cream as “the perfect choice for creating a happy vibe in a nursery.”
- Mushroom — Quinn describes this warm, earthy tone as one that “hides scuffs better, and does not read ‘baby’ or gendered at all.” Her pick is Benjamin Moore Indian River. She adds that it works well as a neutral backdrop for bringing in bright accent colors through textiles and accessories.
- Dusty plum — Lyons likes certain deeper tones for older children or used over wainscoting in a nursery. She recommends Sherwin-Williams Expressive Plum, which she calls “moody, bold, and still calming.”
Whether you are freshening up a nursery for a new grandchild or helping a parent give an older child’s room a new look, these colors are a great place to start. A little color on the walls goes a long way and it really does not take much more effort than plain white.
