A Modern Navy Blue Nursery

Navy Blue Paint and eclectic gallery wall with midcentury modern dresser

As soon as I found out that baby number 2 was a boy, I had dreams of creating a modern navy blue nursery. I always wanted to do something fun with my first son's nursery in our condo, but life was so crazy during that time (lol and to be honest ever since) that I never got to it.We moved into our new house a few months before I found out I was pregnant. The house was a gut rehab, so it feels like a new build and lacks a lot of old-house character. Paint is a great way to give a house more character when used purposefully, especially deep, dramatic colors. This navy blue nursery turned out exactly as I was hoping and I could not be happier with it.

How did you choose the right navy blue?

We're a family of Yankees fans so we take navy blue very seriously around here. (Ha, sorta kidding). I was simultaneously choosing the right green for my other sons room and both tasks were a much needed reminder of how important it is to test paint samples in real life, in the space they will be used. The funny part about this blue is that I actually don't think it photographed the way it looks in person. In person, the navy blue is deeper with less bright blue undertones.My biggest consideration when picking paint was finding a rich color that didn't feel too purple, yellow, or gray. I also didn't want a navy blue that would end up just looking black because I think it would've felt too "sophisticated" for a kids room. I tried 4 different paint colors before landing on Newburyport Blue by Benjamin Moore and to me it feels like a perfect mix between kid-friendly and modern.

Did you buy all new furniture for this nursery?

Navy Blue Nursery with midcentury modern dresser and gallery wall

Absolutely not! We got lucky and were able to switch my older son to a "big kid bed" right around when we needed the crib. Almost everything in this nursery is "recycled" from my older son's nursery and other rooms in our condo. That's one of the reasons I wanted to go dramatic on the walls and really lean into the navy blue nursery -- it gives it so much character and it serves as a focal point, making everything else feel like a compliment.

Is there anything you would do differently if you did it again?

Always, ha! It's very rare that any room feels "done" to me, but since kid's rooms are always changing, this one feels in a pretty good place for now. I would like to change the rug out at some point, and honestly, I have been very into "flooding" rooms recently so if I was doing it today I would probably go crazy and paint the trim and ceiling too! But overall, I'm very happy with my navy blue nursery decision!