Nautical Nursery Themes

The freedom of ships at sea will inspire your nursery decor.

Drop anchor in a nursery with nautical flair that is crisp and bright for your new baby. This is a sophisticated choice of theme, eschewing ruffles and fluffy farm animals for a more elegant and versatile decor. Before you go out and buy ships in a bottle and staple life preservers to the wall in designing zeal, select a specific theme for your nautical nursery.

Sailboat

A sailboat theme will make your nursery bright and streamlined.

Choose a bright sailcloth for nursery curtains and toss an anchor-printed pillow on your rocking chair. Hang sailboat posters on the wall, such as Monet's impressionistic pictures of sailboats and racing, and paint the walls a crisp royal blue. Sailboat baby bedding is widely available; you might even choose your color palette from your chosen bedding. Otherwise, shades of blue and white with red accents will provide your nursery with a sleek atmosphere.

Lighthouse

The warm glow of a lighthouse welcomes your little one home to the nursery.

Lighthouses are a distinctive coastal feature whose purpose, guiding boats safely to harbor, has special meaning in a nursery design. Soft green walls call to mind the seaside grasses leading up to a lighthouse, making the perfect backdrop for a mural of a lighthouse crowning the gray rocks that jut into the sea spray or for paintings of lighthouses in bright brass frames. Hang a brass ship's lantern from the ceiling with rigging rope for your own light, and choose New England baskets to stow baby's clothes on shelves instead of dresser drawers. A ticking stripe bedding in red and white or blue and white completes the look.

Yacht

Lend elegance to the nursery with a gentleman's yacht theme.

Make your nursery sophisticated with a chic yacht theme. A captain's hat hangs on the wall alongside gorgeous maritime maps in rich wood frames. Cherry or mahogany furnishings and posh navy blue bedding with an anchor motif lend a sumptuous flair to the yacht captain's luxurious cabin, while a shiplap wood ceiling crowns the room. Louvered wood blinds cover the window, and bookshelves showcase red coral, starfish and a brass spyglass. A leather-strapped steamer trunk holds clothes and keepsakes.

Fishing

Mount grandpa's prize trout over the door. Suspend stuffed toys in the corner in a fishing net. Adorn the walls with Winslow Homer fishing boat prints or photos of family fishing enthusiasts with their catch. Hang baby's first fishing hat and vest from hooks along the wall. Choose bedding that depicts bright fishes. Khaki-colored walls call to mind fishing gear and outdoor sports, while sophisticated navy and green accents add brightness to your room.

References

• Unique Baby Gear Ideas: Sailboat Nursery Theme
• "Better Homes and Gardens": Decorate with a Nautical Theme