Skip to main content

Why a nautical nursery theme is perfect for your baby

A nautical nursery can be such fun for you and your baby, and there are more than a few reasons why this theme is an ideal one for parents struggling to come up with nautical nursery ideas. 

Nautical nurseries are…

  • Easy and affordable to put together, thanks to the abundance of nautical decor items available in your favorite decor stores and online
  • Gender-neutral, so suitable even if you don’t know your baby’s gender before birth
  • Versatile enough to be either as classy and upscale or cute and kitsch as you want

Ready to get started creating your new nautical nursery? Here are six nautical nursery ideas to get you started. 

A clean lines nautical nursery

Every good sailor knows the importance of running a ship that’s in tip-top shape. Make sure your nursery mirrors this knack for cleanliness with lots of minimalist decor and clean lines. Rather than throwing fish netting across the walls and seashells across the dresser top, choose white walls with blue accents, blue and white furniture and minimal decor in light wood tones, with possibly a few rope accents thrown in for good measure. 

A blue stripes nursery 

Who doesn’t love a good stripe? You can give your nursery a nautical vibe with nary a sailboat or seashell in sight. Just add some blue stripes to your decor and you’re good to go. Choose navy blue, of course. You can also pair the navy and white with some battleship gray, for another clean and classic look that’s not too over the top.

child-in-nursery
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The captain’s quarters nursery

Is your baby already the captain of his or her crib? If you have a feeling that your baby’s going to rule the roost, set them up for success with a captain-worthy nursery. Opt for darker woods and more opulent furniture designs, with gold or brass accents. Here’s where you’d want to throw in an LED maritime lantern or some wall art featuring antique or vintage maps. 

A “whale of a good time” nursery 

But nautical nursery themes aren’t just about ships and sailors. Your favorite marine life can come into play, too. Look for fabrics featuring whales and dolphins, fish and gulls, for a mix of animal friends and the blue, white, and gray tones that work well in every nautical nursery. Add in a smattering of stuffed animals and some marine-focused wall art and you have a beautiful nursery that’s sure to delight every child in your home.

A shiplap sailor nursery 

Shiplap is a big trend in home decor right now and it can make the perfect addition to a nautical nursery, taking any average room to an entirely new level. Add blue shiplap to one large wall in your nursery as an accent wall, or shiplap one or two walls in white or light gray for a more low-key look. Add in a few navy accents and maybe a few maritime pieces, such as an anchor-printed throw pillow or a fishy print on the wall, and you have an upscale nursery that can easily transition into an older child’s room when the time comes.

A Disney nautical nursery 

Find yourself torn between a Disney nursery and a nautical nursery? Why not combine both concepts for one nursery that incorporates it all? Pick a favorite Disney movie that features the ocean in some capacity, large or small — think Peter Pan, The Little Mermaid, Fantasia, or Finding Nemo, for starters — and then add in some of your favorite nautical accents or themes, from the shiplap mentioned above to anchors and oars, whatever catches your fancy. With a little fine-tuning and careful consideration, you can have the best of both worlds. 

Bring the seashore indoors with a nautical-themed nursery 

A nautical nursery might just be the right fit for your baby. Gender-neutral, affordable to design, and incredibly versatile, a nautical nursery ticks a lot of boxes for expectant parents. Plus, since there’s no need for bright paint colors like hot pink or hunter green, and no need for time-intensive projects like wallpapering, you can easily swap your nautical nursery out for another theme once your child is a little older. 

Need more help building a themed nursery? Check out our article on the best Disney themes for your new nursery. 

Editors' Recommendations

Holly Riddle
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Holly Riddle is a freelance food, travel and lifestyle journalist, who also dabbles in copywriting, ghostwriting and fiction…
Baby’s first Christmas: How to commemorate and celebrate with your new addition
Here are some fun ways to honor your baby's first holiday
Baby in front of a Christmas tree

Baby's first Christmas is such a special time for the whole family. The holidays are always magical, but there's nothing better than celebrating the holidays with a new baby in the house. It's a memorable moment that every parent looks forward to, so you want to make it extra special.
There are many ways to mark the occasion of a baby's first Christmas. This is a unique time to start lifelong traditions or commemorate the first year with a new addition to your family. If you're looking for a special way to mark the holiday and celebrate with your new addition this festive season, we have some ideas that may provide inspiration.

Make a cookie plate
Go to a children's pottery studio or buy a DIY home kit and let your baby finger paint a plate that can become the annual plate to serve Santa's cookies and the reindeer's carrots. You can write the year and your baby's name as well as "Christmas" or "Santa's cookies" on the plate while your baby decorates the rest.

Read more
9 amazing sweet potato baby food combinations your child will love
Food combos to switch up the boring meals
Baby with sweet potatoes

It's always an exciting time when your baby can start eating solid foods. Most doctors recommend waiting until baby is six months old before starting. Once you get the OK from your pediatrician, your little one is ready to start on solid foods -- a whole new world opens up for them (and you).

Sweet potatoes are a perfect first food for your baby to try. They’re inexpensive, easy to cook, and mash up well. They’re on the sweeter side, so most babies take a liking to sweet potatoes over other veggies. More importantly, sweet potatoes are filled with Vitamin C, potassium, beta-carotene, and fiber your baby needs as they grow and develop.

Read more
5 reasons why a rocking chair for the nursery is an important must-have for both parents and babies
Do you need a rocking chair for nursing? Yes!
Mom sitting in a rocking chair holding a smiling baby

The rocking chair is a piece of American history. From the front porches across the nation to living rooms to nurseries, the rocker is an iconic piece of furniture that never goes out of style. So, if you're on the fence about a rocking chair for nursery, it's actually a no-brainer. Adding a rocking chair to your nursery has functional and aesthetic benefits. Functionally, a rocking chair can help you put your baby to sleep, and it offers you a comfortable space to nap alongside. Aesthetically, it adds to the room's decor.

Besides diapers, a changing table, a crib, and baby clothes, a rocking chair for the nursery is a must-have on any baby shower wish list. If you're considering a stationary armchair, rather than a rocking chair, take a look at these top reasons why a rocking chair is the cornerstone for your nursery.

Read more