Decorating a Montessori Nursery at Home

Color Palette

Montessori theory calls for soft and muted colors, as opposed to the traditionally accepted loud and vibrant primary colors for infant nurseries. Also absent should be the stark blacks and whites that have come into recent popularity for your baby's room. Focus on soft pastels that evoke a peaceful feeling rather than jarring and bold solids.

Textiles

Your child's Montessori nursery should utilize textiles which are, first and foremost, of a complimentary nature to the existing color palette of the room. Secondly, they should employ subtle and soothing patterns, and the theme should be carried from the bedding to the curtains for the sake of continuity. (It should be noted however, that Montessori teaching firmly suggests that parents maintain separate rooms for sleep and play, though this is understandably not always a viable option.)

Furniture

Simplicity and lack of over-stimulation is key when addressing the visual impact in your nursery. Do not clutter the walls with pictures nor stuff the room with furniture. Again, simplicity reigns in your nursery, and furniture should be kept to a bare minimum, leaving plenty of open space for play. The furniture that does make its way to the nursery should be of simple design with clean, uncluttered surfaces. Keep in mind however, that Montessori theory eschews any furniture that creates a motion through bouncing, rocking or swaying, and strongly recommends that furniture should be accessible to the baby on his own, without assistance.

Decoration

Again, when designing for a Montessori style, things must be kept simple--no overly complicated toys or cloying Precious Moments figurines. All toys in the room must be easily accessible to the baby so that he may initiate his own play with these objects. Avoid shelves decorated with random knickknacks that your child does not have access to, and choose only soothing pictures that complement the existing color palette.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Montessori education website