Hues, tints, tones and shades are important attributes of color when we combine them into a nursery. Hue is what we generally think of as color. Value is the lightness or darkness of the color. A color is lightened by adding white, toned by adding grey, and shaded by adding black. All these can be changed by an inexpensive coat of paint to the walls, an application of wall paper to one wall to create a splash wall against a crib, or refinishing a piece of old furniture to make a neat changing table. A crib can unexpectedly become the focal point of the room when it is stained a dark color and covered with a coat of polyurethane, giving it a contrast against the walls or carpet of the room.



Decorations that are not specific to either a boy or girl can be easily added for cheap. Pictures can be added, or a simple mobile can be constructed using a loop of wire and colored ribbons or inexpensive toys that are hung from the loop to form a column of color. A pattern of alternating colors should be selected, such as one black, two orange, repeating. These two colors are not right for every room, and probably won't be right for any room, except on Halloween. But the idea is still the same, and an infinite number of neutral mobiles can be created to display everything from fuzzy little animals to cartoon characters.



The budget should be determined before starting work on a nursery. New furnishings can quickly run the total bill to hundreds of dollars more than the new mom and dad expect to pay. Consider whether you are going to do all the remodeling at once, or are you going to spread it out over time. Strollers come in a wide range of gender-neutral colors, and you will need one early on. So getting the right stroller will not be difficult once you decide when and how much. Toy boxes can always be added much later when the baby has grown and accumulated a lot of play toys.

A neutral nursery is easy to make. It only requires creativity and imagination, and a little work. Color, costs, and simplicity are the main considerations, and the room will grow, right along with the baby.