When you’re building a nursery, it’s so tempting to go all-in on the newborn era: baby blues, soft pinks, storks, bows, tiny teddy bears… the whole sweet storybook moment for your bundle of joy.
But here’s the thing: babies grow up. Fast. And what feels precious at 3 months can start to feel too babyish by the time they’re climbing furniture and requesting a “big kid room.” And while peel-and-stick wallpaper makes it easier to switch up your nursery’s style, any DIYer will tell you: the last thing you want to think about after finishing a home improvement project is doing it all over again in a few years' time.
Lately, we’re seeing more love for rooms that tell a story – including nurseries and kids’ spaces – with bolder patterns and more personality. Translation: nursery wallpaper is getting cooler, and you don’t have to choose between cute and future-proof.
When you’re building a nursery, it’s so tempting to go all-in on the newborn era: baby blues, soft pinks, storks, bows, tiny teddy bears… the whole sweet storybook moment for your bundle of joy.
But here’s the thing: babies grow up. Fast. And what feels precious at 3 months can start to feel too babyish by the time they’re climbing furniture and requesting a “big kid room.” And while peel-and-stick wallpaper makes it easier to switch up your nursery’s style, any DIYer will tell you: the last thing you want to think about after finishing a home improvement project is doing it all over again in a few years' time.
Lately, we’re seeing more love for rooms that tell a story – including nurseries and kids’ spaces – with bolder patterns and more personality. Translation: nursery wallpaper is getting cooler, and you don’t have to choose between cute and future-proof.
Picking a wallpaper print that grows with them isn’t about playing it safe. It’s about choosing patterns with range.
Here’s the checklist:
Not sure where to start? Our guide to gender-neutral nursery wallpaper covers artist-designed prints that work for any baby and age up beautifully.
Here are 15 funky wallpaper patterns that feel playful enough for babyhood, but elevated enough to live happily through toddler years, playroom chaos and beyond!
Picking a wallpaper print that grows with them isn’t about playing it safe. It’s about choosing patterns with range.
Here’s the checklist:
Not sure where to start? Our guide to gender-neutral nursery wallpaper covers artist-designed prints that work for any baby and age up beautifully.
Here are 15 funky wallpaper patterns that feel playful enough for babyhood, but elevated enough to live happily through toddler years, playroom chaos and beyond!
Playful without going full ROY G BIV. The limited rainbow palette on these whimsical vertical stripes keeps it modern and design-y, while the doodle vibe keeps it kid-friendly.
Playful without going full ROY G BIV. The limited rainbow palette on these whimsical vertical stripes keeps it modern and design-y, while the doodle vibe keeps it kid-friendly.
A terrazzo-style scatter with pops of green, teal and burnt orange on a creamy yellow base. It’s abstract, energetic and unisex – exactly the sweet spot for a nursery now and a creative playroom later.
A terrazzo-style scatter with pops of green, teal and burnt orange on a creamy yellow base. It’s abstract, energetic and unisex – exactly the sweet spot for a nursery now and a creative playroom later.
Multicolor horseshoes gallop across an off-white backdrop for your future cowboy or cowgirl. The scale and funky color choices make it feel bold (and not too cutesy) so it ages up beautifully.
Multicolor horseshoes gallop across an off-white backdrop for your future cowboy or cowgirl. The scale and funky color choices make it feel bold (and not too cutesy) so it ages up beautifully.
Funky geometric shapes against a cool teal backdrop bring big Keith Haring energy to your nursery. Modern, energizing and artsy, this bold wallpaper pattern has enough graphic maturity to carry through tweens and teens.
Funky geometric shapes against a cool teal backdrop bring big Keith Haring energy to your nursery. Modern, energizing and artsy, this bold wallpaper pattern has enough graphic maturity to carry through tweens and teens.
Soft cream poppies on baby pink create a mesmerizing repeat that feels charming for a nursery and chic enough for an adult bedroom. Available in pink, green or blue, so you can steer sweet or serene.
Soft cream poppies on baby pink create a mesmerizing repeat that feels charming for a nursery and chic enough for an adult bedroom. Available in pink, green or blue, so you can steer sweet or serene.
Painterly vintage sailboats on an off-white sea. This print in pastel colors is soft, nostalgic and not overly juvenile. It nails the “storybook walls” look without leaning cartoonish.
Painterly vintage sailboats on an off-white sea. This print in pastel colors is soft, nostalgic and not overly juvenile. It nails the “storybook walls” look without leaning cartoonish.
Colorful leopard spots pop on a dark navy backdrop. The navy is calming for naps, while the colors bring that dose of dopamine for playtime. It’s fun, but still undeniably cool for big kids.
Colorful leopard spots pop on a dark navy backdrop. The navy is calming for naps, while the colors bring that dose of dopamine for playtime. It’s fun, but still undeniably cool for big kids.
Whimsical birds with a grandmillennial charm flying across a soft blue sky. Sweet enough for baby, artistic enough for later.
Whimsical birds with a grandmillennial charm flying across a soft blue sky. Sweet enough for baby, artistic enough for later.
Modern florals with blue and pink blooms on creamy yellow. Plus, strawberries woven through and cameos by lady bugs and caterpillars. It hits a rare balance: more elevated than your typical saccharine “nursery florals” but still magical for kids and tweens.
Modern florals with blue and pink blooms on creamy yellow. Plus, strawberries woven through and cameos by lady bugs and caterpillars. It hits a rare balance: more elevated than your typical saccharine “nursery florals” but still magical for kids and tweens.
Vibrant yellow and pink suns on an off-white sky that feel hand-drawn and happy. This one radiates positivity! Perfect for welcoming your little “ray of sunshine” now and powering a bright playroom later. Also available in yellow and mint.
Vibrant yellow and pink suns on an off-white sky that feel hand-drawn and happy. This one radiates positivity! Perfect for welcoming your little “ray of sunshine” now and powering a bright playroom later. Also available in yellow and mint.
Colorful moths, beetles, dragonflies and curious critters on pastel blue. It’s adorable for babyhood, but also totally on-theme for older kids once they’re in their “collecting rocks” era.
Colorful moths, beetles, dragonflies and curious critters on pastel blue. It’s adorable for babyhood, but also totally on-theme for older kids once they’re in their “collecting rocks” era.
You can’t go wrong with gingham. Muted blues on cream feel familiar and comforting. Classic enough to look intentional for years, not trendy for a season.
You can’t go wrong with gingham. Muted blues on cream feel familiar and comforting. Classic enough to look intentional for years, not trendy for a season.
Illustrated macaroons in green, blue, pink and red dot a creamy yellow background. It’s sweet and playful, but the retro design keeps it from feeling nursery-only. The perfect backdrop for future tea parties in just a few years.
Illustrated macaroons in green, blue, pink and red dot a creamy yellow background. It’s sweet and playful, but the retro design keeps it from feeling nursery-only. The perfect backdrop for future tea parties in just a few years.
Chunky bouquets of pink flowers on soft sage, outlined in blush so they almost look like sticker decals. Youthful, graphic and fun, this print is perfect for a nursery, then surprisingly stylish once the room becomes more “big kid.”
Chunky bouquets of pink flowers on soft sage, outlined in blush so they almost look like sticker decals. Youthful, graphic and fun, this print is perfect for a nursery, then surprisingly stylish once the room becomes more “big kid.”
Organic navy shapes form horizontal lines on a cream background. This print is minimalist and muted, but still reads as youthful whimsy. An ideal choice if you want nursery wallpaper ideas that don’t dominate the room.
Organic navy shapes form horizontal lines on a cream background. This print is minimalist and muted, but still reads as youthful whimsy. An ideal choice if you want nursery wallpaper ideas that don’t dominate the room.
The best nursery wallpaper ideas aren’t just cute… they’re future-proof. Picking a print that feels like art can help the room evolve as your child does.
Want to make the decision easier? Start with a few samples (truly the fastest way to see what feels “right” in your nursery’s lighting) then commit to the pattern that still feels stylish when you imagine it with a desk, shelves and a stack of picture books instead of a crib.
Ready to get started? Check out our handy how-to guides for installing nursery wallpaper.
The best nursery wallpaper ideas aren’t just cute… they’re future-proof. Picking a print that feels like art can help the room evolve as your child does.
Want to make the decision easier? Start with a few samples (truly the fastest way to see what feels “right” in your nursery’s lighting) then commit to the pattern that still feels stylish when you imagine it with a desk, shelves and a stack of picture books instead of a crib.
Ready to get started? Check out our handy how-to guides for installing nursery wallpaper.
Caroline is the owner of Funky Paper Co. What began as a creative outlet is now a full-blown wallpaper wonderland specializing in patterns that are hand-drawn, high-quality and always a little bit funky.
Caroline is the owner of Funky Paper Co. What began as a creative outlet is now a full-blown wallpaper wonderland specializing in patterns that are hand-drawn, high-quality and always a little bit funky.
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