If you’re looking to add your personal touch to your baby’s room but don’t want to paint the nursery walls, you’re in the right place! I’m sharing the best ways to decorate nursery walls without painting that are easy and affordable.
The good news is you have plenty of time before your baby will sleep in the nursery, and you don’t have to spend a fortune making your baby’s room a safe haven and comfortable nursery.
If you’re wondering how to decorate nursery walls without painting, here are 35 easy, affordable, and unique ways to transform an entire room into a beautiful nursery.
Disclaimer: Please remember that I am a DIY enthusiast, not a professional. This article is for general information use and is not a substitute for professional advice. Before taking any actions, consult a professional! Additionally, this may contain affiliate links where I receive a small commission if you make a purchase using my link. All opinions and recommendations are my own. I truly appreciate you taking my suggestions and using my links. Thank you for being so supportive!
Old Maps
These are gorgeous in and of themselves, so if you want to add old-world character and instant charm to your baby’s room, consider using old maps. I love the idea of selecting maps of places that have meaning to you. Create a series of maps by using old maps from where you were born, where you were married, and where you live now. Old maps are versatile in style and work well in traditional, coastal, and even modern farmhouse-style homes.
Wall stickers
Who doesn’t love stickers? Gosh, even as an adult, I still love them. Now how about a giant sticker for your nursery wall?! Amazing. Wall stickers are an excellent option because you can easily take them off. Find an inspiring quote, create a custom sticker in your baby’s name, or maybe nature or animals are more your style. Whatever your nursery theme may be, wall stickers are a great way to decorate nursery walls without painting.
Fabric Garland
Fabric garland is perfect for a baby boy or baby girl nursery. Select three to four different fabrics with a cohesive look, but you’ll want each one to have a different color shade or pattern. Tear the fabric into one-inch strips (in any length) and knot these onto twine. Ta-da! You just made the most beautiful nursery wall decor without painting.
Patent Prints
There are patent prints available for literally anything you can imagine, and they are such a great option for decorating nursery walls without painting. You can find a patent that either coordinate with the nursery theme, or you could do a series of patent prints of nursery items such as a changing table, a baby’s crib, and a highchair. These come in neutral colors but are one of the easiest ways to add some character because of their vintage look.
Refinish Old Furniture
If you’re sentimental, this nursery decor idea is for you! Refinishing furniture is the most beautiful way to personalize your baby’s nursery by physically using your hands to create a piece of furniture that your baby will use for years to come. I can’t think of something more special than this. The most incredible part about refinishing furniture is how inexpensive it is, how the options for finish are endless, and the personal satisfaction you’ll receive from being able to say, “I made this for you.”
If you’re saying to yourself, sure, Amanda, this sounds great, but I don’t know how to refinish furniture. I’ve been transforming broken into beautiful for years and have perfected each technique. I’ve written out all my steps for refinishing furniture; check out my ultimate guide to refinishing furniture.
Sponge Paint
If you’re on a tight budget, this is the perfect design hack for you. Grab a sponge and some paint and get ready to decorate your nursery walls for only a few dollars! Using the existing wall color as your backdrop, you can create a feature wall by sponge painting a pattern in bold, pastel shades or neutral colors. The patterns and design opportunities are endless; cut your sponge into the desired shape and have at it. My two favorite sponge wall patterns are a plus sign and a hexagon. You’ll be amazed at how you can completely transform an entire wall using a sponge and some paint.
Old Frames
Another affordable way to decorate nursery walls without painting is old frames. Old frames are an excellent choice for nursery wall decor since they are inexpensive and stand alone as decor on their own, no print needed. When looking for thrift store decor, you must get past the ugly, outdated photo and see the potential in the item! My thrifting tip is to focus on the frame itself because you will make a gallery wall of frames that vary in size, texture, and color.
Baskets
These are another great idea for nursery wall decor that even renters can use since it only takes a teeny-tiny nail to attach a basket to a wall. Baskets are another excellent thrift store find because they are functional, visually pleasing, and inexpensive. I love these in a neutral nursery because they add texture and warmth to bare walls. When shopping for baskets to decorate a baby’s nursery, you’ll want to look for ones that have a flat back or are very narrow in their depth.
Accent Wall
It’s easy to add style to any room for your new baby with an accent wall; the best part is you can create an accent wall without painting the walls. One idea, which is perfect for a baby boy nursery, is to use wooden planks to create a gorgeous accent wall.
Another nursery accent wall idea is a slatwall, and if you’re feeling extra creative, you can create a unique pattern out of the slats. A slatwall adds a more modern design element to a single wall, yet your baby’s nursery will still feel cozy from the natural wood tones. Two more ideas are faux brick and shiplap panels. Check out your local Home Depot to snag as many as you need of these. No grout or paint is required to create a stunning accent wall using these large panels!
Washi Tape
Washi tape is a lot of fun and makes excellent wall decor because it’s easy to remove from any surface. The vibrant colors and textures of washi tape are endless (glitter anyone?!), making this an affordable way to decorate nursery walls without painting. You can also create infinite patterns out of the washi tape, making this a double winner in the nursery wall decor department.
Pressed Flowers
Bring nature into your space with Pressed flowers or leaves. The muted colors make these the perfect wall decor for your baby’s nursery. Press the flowers in between two pieces of glass, or place them in a frame, then cluster two to three of these arrangements on the wall for a beautifully subtle art. If you’re feeling a little crafty, you can even press your own flowers! To create something even more sentimental, you can preserve and reuse the flowers from your baby shower by turning them into nursery wall decor!
Peg Rail
A peg rail is an excellent way to decorate with function. Hang one in your baby’s nursery and watch how many uses you’ll have for it. If you hang it next to your baby’s changing table, you can display some of your baby’s unique occasion clothing from it, or if you hang the peg rail behind your baby’s nursery door, you can use this for hanging their towels. See how a peg rail serves dual purposes? And these are two of the many ways in which you’ll be able to utilize the peg rail.
Removable Wallpaper
The options for peel and stick wallpaper are literally endless— vibrant patterns, murals, solid colors, and beyond. If you can dream it, you can find it in a removable wallpaper, and this is an excellent option for renters and homeowners alike. Removable wallpaper is obviously a great option to decorate nursery walls without painting if you’re renting, but think about how much easier it would be to remove a sheet of wallpaper than repaint an entire room once your newborn is no longer a baby and wants a big kid room? The ability to easily change a theme makes removable wallpaper an excellent choice for homeowners to decorate walls without painting.
Plant Wall
Take your plants and use them as wall decor by hanging them from the ceiling, in your windows, or on the walls. Vertical plant stands are a fun way to decorate your nursery walls without painting. Add neutral tones and texture to your nursery walls with plants, herbs, or flowers.
Curtains
Curtains are an easy way to draw your attention away from unpainted nursery walls. The best part about using curtains as nursery decor is that they are also functional. Invest in some blackout curtains as decor, but also to help baby sleep. Trust me, I made the mistake of not having blackout curtains with my firstborn, and all that natural light pouring in through the windows at nap time was a huge issue. Find a sturdy yet decorative curtain rod and hang those blackout curtains up, and you’re on your way to a decorated nursery and better sleep.
Comfy Chair
Invest in a nursery chair that adds style to your baby’s nursery. Find one that is also comfy, and you’re ready for all the middle-of-the-night feedings. A stylish and comfortable nursery chair will likely be a financial investment, but it’s worth it. My best advice is to find a chair that will double as a living room chair once you’re done using it in the nursery. Repurposing the chair will take the sting out of how much a nursery chair costs.
Fabric
There are several ways you can use fabric to decorate nursery walls without painting, and the great thing about fabric is how many patterns, colors, and themes are available. Consider creating a beautiful canopy out of flowing fabric. Or adhere the material directly to the wall, like decoupage for your walls. If you’re looking for something less permanent, create fabric canvases and hang them from the wall.
Canvas Wall Art
Go for canvas wall art for its longevity and charm. The options for what you have on the canvas are endless. They are also super lightweight, even in a larger size. I love the texture of the actual canvas and how they slightly pop off the wall giving more dimension to your nursery walls.
Nursery Wall Decals
These are a super easy way to decorate nursery walls without painting since all you do is peel and stick. These can be as small or large as you want and are an easy way to create a focal point in the room. These can be a pattern such as lines or polka dots, an inspiring quote, flowers, maps, or anything that coordinates with your baby nursery decor.
Large Mirror
Create a focal point above your baby’s changing table by hanging a large mirror. Get creative and use some shape other than a vanilla rectangle. Popular shapes for large mirrors are circular or scalloped. Babies love to look at themselves in the mirror, so this nursery decor will double as something your baby will also enjoy. Make sure you properly secure this to the wall to ensure baby’s safety.
Wooden Rocking Chair
Bring a wooden element into the room to add instant visual warmth. A wooden rocking chair is an excellent way to achieve this. You can opt for an adult or child-sized wooden chair; either will accomplish added charm.
Wall Hangings
Decorate nursery walls without painting by using wall hangings. The options are endless- canvas art, wooden name signs, suncatcher, soft woven wall art, and so on. What’s so great about wall hangings is that it simply takes a tiny nail to attach these to the wall- little time and damage to the nursery walls is a double win with wall hangings to decorate nursery walls.
Open Shelving
Use open shelving to create the perfect space to display photos, plants, or other meaningful trinkets. Open shelves come in different colors, wood tones, and sizes. The way you can arrange these are also endless- cluster two together or hang one on each side of your baby’s changing table.
Gallery Wall
Usually thought of as a way to display pictures, but you can actually create a gallery wall in your baby room with any wall decor. A good idea for a gallery wall is to find things that coordinate with your nursery theme or color scheme and create a cluster of these on the wall. Instant style without painting nursery walls; you’re keeping any harmful chemicals sometimes found in paint out of the room too.
Bed Linens
Your baby’s bed linens are another way to decorate the nursery without painting the walls. You can make a big impact with sheets! What’s pretty great about bed linens is since you’ll be changing them frequently, you can make this a lot more fun by having different patterns and colors, so each time you change the sheets, you’ll be changing up the vibe of the nursery.
Picture Ledge
This is a great way to display a variety of photos or prints. I love the idea of displaying baby photos of you and your spouse. Or use the picture ledge as a place to display photographs or artwork of nature, animals, or any other image that goes with your nursery’s color palette.
Book Nook
Turn small spaces into a book nook that also doubles as decor. Select a shelf that has a small ledge in the front and use this to display colorful books. Selecting a corner or small space within the nursery gives you a cozy spot to curl up with your baby and enjoy a good reading session.
Plants
Plants have special powers to transform a room. The texture and vivid greens they provide are so gorgeous. The sizes and shapes of plants available are also endless. When selecting plants for your nursery, ensure they are baby-safe (because one day they will be moving and putting everything in their mouth), and also consider how much light the plant will get. There are plenty of child (and pet) safe plants and ones that require very little light or direct sunlight.
Paper Flowers
If you’re looking for baby girl nursery ideas, look no further. Paper flowers are such a beautiful way to add texture to the walls in your baby girls’ nursery, and they are dainty yet impactful due to how big you can make the flowers.
Lighting
Lighting is essential to consider when you are decorating your baby’s nursery. You’ll spend a lot of late nights in your baby’s nursery for the middle of the night feedings and diaper changes, but you won’t want to turn on a bright overhead light because that will wake the baby even further. Table lamps and wall lamps strategically positioned throughout your baby’s nursery are functional and a great way to decorate without painting the nursery walls.
Personalize Tapestry
If you’re going for a boho vibe, then you’ll absolutely want to consider a tapestry from Society6. These lightweight wall hangings are a brilliant way to add color to your walls without permanently changing the actual wall. Tapestries can completely change the mood and environment of any room, and they can also create a feeling of more space, so if you’re working with a small room, consider adding a tapestry on the back wall to give the illusion of more space.
Colorful Nursery Furniture
Your colorful nursery furniture will have a dramatic effect and transform your boring white walls into a canvas for your nursery furniture. Add a pop of color by going for a bright-colored accent piece of furniture like the dresser. Bright accents like this will detract attention away from unpainted nursery walls.
Rugs
Instantly cozy up your baby’s nursery by adding area rugs. Rugs are another item with a dual purpose- function and decor. You and your baby will be spending a lot of time on the floor, so when shopping for the perfect nursery rug, you’ll want it to be pleasing to the eye, but you’ll also want it to be plush and soft.
Bold Colors
Bold-colored decor will pop off your unpainted walls. Think of your walls and a canvas and your nursery decor as the new paint. Bring in plush toys, blankets, accent pillows on your rocking chair, or bright color nursery furniture.
Name Decor
You’ve spent so much time selecting the perfect name for your baby, so why not use it as a way to decorate your nursery walls without painting? Name decor is available in vinyl stickers, wooden or metal cutouts, painted canvas, and beyond. The endless options, colors, and sizes make name items wonderful wall decor.
You asked how to decorate nursery walls without painting, and I delivered 35 of the best options. I hope you have been inspired about decorating your baby’s nursery now that I’ve given you all these ideas. I’d love to see which ones you used; send me an email because I’d truly love to see how these ideas look in your baby’s nursery!
xo
Amanda
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