Are We Making Childhood Too Beige?

By Samridhi Ganeriwalla, Founder, Little West Street

I love neutrals. I really do.

My own instinct is almost always to start with whites, soft colors, natural fabrics and things that feel calm rather than loud. So this is definitely not an argument against the beautiful beige nursery.

But lately, scrolling through children's rooms, I've found myself wondering: have we taken it a little too far?

Everything is beige. The walls are beige. The rug is beige. The bedding is beige. Even the toys are beige.

They are beautiful rooms. But sometimes I look at them and wonder where the child is in all of it.

I've spent more than a decade designing for babies and children, and one thing I've learned is that children notice completely different things than we do.

We might look at a room and notice whether the colors work together. A child notices the tiny bunny hiding amongst the flowers on their quilt.

We see bedding. They see the lion in the airplane.

We see a pillow. They decide it's the one pillow they absolutely cannot sleep without.

And I think there is something really lovely about that.

Can a neutral kids room still feel playful?

Part of the reason the neutral nursery became so popular is that, for a long time, children's design went too far in the other direction. Everything was bright, plastic, primary-colored and overly themed.

So I understand why we all moved toward quieter spaces. I did too.

But I don't think the choice has to be between a sophisticated room and a colorful kids' room.

Some of my favorite neutral kids rooms are actually quite simple. White walls. Natural wood. Simple furniture. And then a beautiful quilt, an unexpected pillow, a little embroidery, a print that tells a story.

Just enough to make you know that a child lives there.

I think that's the balance I love most.

A neutral foundation can make a room feel calm without making it feel empty. The personality can come through in the details, from children's bedding and quilts to the little objects they choose to keep close. The same idea works when choosing nursery bedding too: a calm base can leave room for patterns, colors and little details that give the space a sense of personality.

When we design at Little West Street, we usually start with a story

We don't really sit down and say, "What's the trending nursery color this year?"

We think about what might delight a child.

Animals floating through clouds. A little lion flying an airplane. Bunnies amongst flowers. A world map that makes you want to know where everything is. An alphabet where there's always something new to find. Even simple choices like baby bedding can bring these little stories into a nursery without making the entire room feel overly themed.

Little touches like themed bedding can carry these small stories into the room itself.

Of course, I want the end result to be beautiful. I want a parent to walk into the room and love how it looks.

But I also want the child to look at it and find something.

That's always been important to me.

Because their bedroom isn't really a "space" in the way we adults think of a space. It's where they sleep, play, read, build forts, hide under the covers, line up their stuffed animals and have all sorts of conversations we know nothing about.

It is their little world.

And perhaps that's what the best kids room ideas have in common. They don't just look good in a photograph. They give a child something to discover, imagine and eventually make their own.

I also think children should have a say in their own room

This is probably easier said than done. :)

But once they're old enough, I think there's something wonderful about letting children have a say in their own room.

Maybe not every say.

But let them choose the quilt. Or the pillow. Or the color they love. Let them put up the drawing that doesn't quite go with anything else.

Their choice might not be the one we would have made.

That's okay.

I've realized over the years that sometimes the thing that makes a children's room really beautiful isn't that everything matches. It's that you can tell something about the child who lives there.

A room can still feel thoughtfully designed while leaving space for the things children love. That might mean a favorite quilt on the bed, a colorful drawing on the wall or a pillow that doesn't quite match but somehow belongs there perfectly.

So, is beige bad?

Not at all.

I still love a beige nursery. I love neutral rooms. I love natural materials, soft colors and things that don't scream for attention.

I just don't want us to edit childhood so much that we edit out all the fun.

Keep the white walls. Keep the beautiful wooden furniture. Keep the calm.

But add the ridiculous pillow they love.

Add the animals.

Add the flowers.

Add the rocket ships.

Let the quilt become a fort. Let their favorite stuffed animal sit right in the middle of the beautifully made bed.

There will be plenty of time later for perfectly put-together rooms.

The toys will eventually disappear. The picture books will come off the bedside table. Those tiny pajamas that somehow fit them yesterday won't fit anymore.

Childhood is such a short window.

Maybe we shouldn't make it quite so beige.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are neutral colors good for a kids room?

Yes. Neutral colors can create a calm and versatile foundation for a child's room. White walls, natural wood and soft shades can be balanced with colorful bedding, playful pillows, artwork, toys and other details that reflect the child's personality.

Q: How do you add color to a neutral kids room?

You don't need to repaint the entire room. A quilt, pillow, artwork, books, toys or small decorative details can introduce color while keeping the overall room calm and cohesive.

Q: How can I make a neutral kids room more playful?

Add elements that give children something to discover or imagine. Animal motifs, story-inspired bedding, colorful artwork, favorite toys and objects chosen by the child can make a neutral room feel more personal and playful.

Q: Should a child's room be colorful or neutral?

It doesn't have to be one or the other. A neutral base can provide a calm backdrop, while colors, patterns and personal objects can bring the room to life. The right balance depends on the child and the way they use the space.

Q: How can children personalize their bedroom?

Once children are old enough, let them make small choices about their room, such as choosing a quilt, pillow, artwork or favorite color. Their choices may not always match the rest of the room, but those personal touches can make the space feel truly theirs.