Eco-Friendly Nursery Designs
When it comes to little ones, it is important to provide a safe and nurturing environment for them to play, learn and grow. Now more than ever, we strive to take care of the planet by making eco-conscious choices in our daily lives. As far as nursery design is concerned, using the best quality products is a key consideration.
Read on to discover how to create a sanctuary that is both beautiful and sustainable.
Which paints are safe to paint a nursery with?
Little Greene is committed to designing products that have your family’s safety at heart. One thing to consider when selecting a paint is VOCs.
When painting a nursery, we recommend avoiding paint with a high concentration of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). At Little Greene, we are proud that our paints contain zero added VOCs.
Why should I avoid VOCs in a nursery?
When VOCs evaporate, they emit harmful chemicals that contribute to atmospheric pollution. VOCs are also responsible for the paint fumes that can be unpleasant to small noses. Our near-odourless formulas can be used to paint your nursery and wider home free from worry.
Read our guide to VOCs in paint to find out more.
Walls: Bone China Blue Pale
Chalkboard: Hicks' Blue
Desk: Bone China Blue Pale
Chair: Trumpet
Flooring: Bone China Blue, Bone China Blue Pale
Eco-friendly nursery paint finishes
For areas of the home that are susceptible to the spills and bumps of family life, we always recommend our range of tough and washable Intelligent finishes.
These water-based, child-safe and baby-safe paints contain our most eco-friendly formulas, without compromising on a matt, highly pigmented finish.
Quick and easy to apply, our Intelligent paints can be used on walls and wooden furniture, cots and toys. Safe for use around young children, our Intelligent finishes can be used to create a sleek and inspiring baby’s room.
Chair: Ashes of Roses
Wicker shelf unit: Shirting
Soothing and timeless: How to create eco-friendly nursery designs with paint
Many of us will have discovered ways to be more eco-friendly, such as donating unwanted toys and clothes. But the key to sustainable nursery design is longevity.
While it can be tempting to create vibrant murals for every stage of childhood, a more long-lasting method chooses neutrals or understated colours. Such schemes will grow with your little ones and can easily be updated by adding accents in their favourite colours.
This restful nursery uses graduated shades of the natural hue, Green Stone on the wall, panelling and ceiling to create the illusion of architectural features.
Wall & Ceiling: Green Stone Pale
Window Trim: Green Stone Pale
Upper Panelling: Green Stone Light
Lower Panelling: Green Stone
As shown in this vibrant space, panelling, skirting and window nooks are the perfect places to incorporate colour. Slaked Lime provides a timeless off-white backdrop on the wall and ceiling, while touches of Brighton, Pale Lime and Marigold add personality.
Skirting: Marigold
Lower wall: Pale Lime
Upper wall: Brighton
Ceiling: Slaked Lime
For a design with maximum impact and minimal waste, be bold when painting furniture and other wooden features. Here, Bone China Blue on the walls and floorboards is contrasted with punchy furniture in Marigold.
Read our guide to upcycling children’s furniture for inspiring ideas to add colour to your nursery, while using up any leftover paint.
Drawers: Marigold
Stool: Chocolate Colour
Walls: Bone China Blue Pale
Building blocks: Marigold, Carmine
Flooring: Bone China Blue, Bone China Blue Pale
Is wallpaper safe in a nursery?
Little Greene is proud to manufacture its wallpaper using traditional print techniques and high quality, organic materials. Our paper comes from sustainable forests, our pigments are free from toxic ingredients and our wallpaper paste is solvent-free.
The result is expertly crafted wallpaper collections which showcase historically inspired designs that are completely safe to use in nurseries or children’s bedrooms.
The expansive designs of our Mandalay and Belton Scenic murals will provide an inspiring nursery wallpaper for little ones.
Walls: Mandalay Ceviche
Walls: Belton Scenic Oyster
Woodwork: Ambleside
For more technical details about our environmentally friendly products, explore our Child Safe Paint and Paper collections. Explore our inspiration gallery for more Nursery Inspiration.