Published:

Nurseries

21 Forest Nursery Designs That Will Make You Want to Redecorate Tomorrow

Dark green forest nursery design with pine tree mural, gold sconces, walnut crib, and woodland animal decor

Forest nursery designs have completely taken over my Pinterest boards — and honestly, I’m not mad about it. There’s something about bringing the outdoors inside a baby’s room that just feels right.

The soft greens, the warm wood tones, the little foxes and owls peeking out from the walls. It’s cozy without being cutesy, and it grows with your child in a way that pastel ABC themes just don’t.

I’m not an interior designer. I’m a parent who has spent way too many late nights scrolling through nursery inspo and actually putting ideas into practice. What I’ve learned is that a forest nursery doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. You don’t need to hire anyone.

You just need a clear vision, a few key pieces, and the confidence to commit to a color palette.

Whether you’re starting from scratch with a blank white room or trying to refresh a nursery that already has some furniture in it, there are so many ways to pull this theme together. I’ve rounded up 21 ideas to get your brain going — from full woodland murals to the smallest mushroom detail on a shelf. Something here will click for you.

21 Forest Nursery Designs

Here are 21 forest nursery designs to inspire your little one’s room — from bold statement walls to the tiniest nature-inspired finishing touches.

1) Birch Tree Mural & Edison Pendant Light

Birch tree wallpaper mural with Edison pendant lights in a forest nursery design featuring a wooden crib

Watercolor birch trees stretch from baseboard to ceiling, pulling the whole room into a soft woodland story. The pale trunks, green canopy, and hidden deer and bear peeking through the branches do all the decorating work — no shelves or wall art needed here.

A reclaimed wood beam hung from the ceiling holds bare Edison bulb pendants. It keeps the lighting feeling organic and handmade, not nursery-catalog. I love this approach because it adds warmth without cluttering the mural.

Tip: if you go full-wall mural like this, keep every other element — crib, dresser, rug — in natural honey-toned wood and neutral fibers so nothing competes.

2) Oak Floating Shelves & Mushroom Accents

Oak floating shelves styled with mushroom decor and ferns in a forest nursery design with woodland wallpaper.

Quiet. Grounded. This alcove shelf setup feels like a little slice of forest floor brought indoors. The warm oak floating shelves layer in perfectly against the sage-toned wall, and the mix of ceramic mushrooms, moss balls, and soft stuffed animals keeps it feeling playful without being loud.

What I love most is how the real potted ferns and trailing greenery blur the line between decor and nature. It reads organic rather than themed, which is exactly what you want in a nursery that’ll grow with your baby. The woven basket on the floor pulls double duty — storage and texture.

Tip: anchor each shelf with one live or faux plant, one organic object like a pinecone or moss ball, and one soft toy. That trio formula keeps shelves looking intentional, not cluttered.

3) Deep Green Walls & Gold Sconce Lighting

Dark green forest nursery design with pine tree mural, gold sconces, walnut crib, and woodland animal decor

Perfect for parents who want a nursery that feels rich and intentional rather than pastel and predictable. The deep forest green walls are paired with a painted pine tree mural featuring woodland animals — bear, deer, birds. Gold leaf sconces add warm candlelight tones that play beautifully against the dark backdrop.

The dark walnut crib, charcoal glider, and layered green knit throw keep everything cohesive. Moody doesn’t mean cold here. The neutral rug and linen curtains soften it all.

Tip: If you go this dark on the walls, layer in multiple light sources. Those sconces do serious work in a room with limited natural light.

4) Scalloped Green Arch & Rattan Crib

Sage green scalloped arch accent wall with rattan crib in a forest nursery design featuring woodland decor

A painted scalloped arch in sage green is one of the smartest accent wall moves you can make in a nursery. No wallpaper, no complex technique — just painter’s tape and a steady hand. It frames the rattan crib like it was always meant to be there.

The warm honey tones of the rattan and wood dresser balance the green beautifully. Cool and warm together. A macramé mobile with trailing greenery adds softness overhead without crowding the space.

That large forest-print rug does a lot of work here. It pulls the whole woodland story together at floor level. Tip: anchor your rug under the crib legs to stop it shifting during those late-night feeds.

5) Framed Woodland Animal Prints Gallery Wall

Framed woodland animal prints gallery wall in a soft green and white forest nursery design with glider and crib.

Warm whites, soft sage green, and natural wood tones run through every inch of this nursery. The gallery wall is the anchor — a tight grid of framed watercolor prints featuring a fox, owl, hedgehog, deer, and pine trees. Simple gold-tone frames keep it cohesive without feeling matchy.

What I love most is how the stuffed animals on the floor echo the wall art. That fox plush sitting by the crib? It ties the whole room together without any extra effort. Smart.

Tip: build your gallery wall before you hang anything else. It sets the color palette for every other decision — rug, throw, pillow, all of it.

6) Hanging Eucalyptus Rod & Woodland Wall Mural

Forest nursery design with hanging eucalyptus rod, painted woodland tree mural, and wooden crib.

A wooden rod strung with cascading eucalyptus vines is one of the smartest moves I’ve seen in a forest nursery. It costs almost nothing, takes maybe an hour to put together, and the effect is genuinely lush. The painted tree mural behind the crib does the heavy lifting on the forest theme without needing wallpaper at all.

The warm honey-toned crib, cream glider, and woven basket keep everything grounded and cohesive. Nothing fights for attention. Natural light from that window makes the greenery practically glow.

Tip: use faux eucalyptus garlands so the installation stays lightweight and the color holds for years without watering.

7) Peel-and-Stick Pine Tree Wallpaper Mural

Forest nursery design with peel-and-stick pine tree wallpaper mural, white crib, jute rug, and woodland decor

Look closely at the deer tucked between the pines. That small detail in the wallpaper mural is what makes this room feel like a real forest clearing, not just a themed nursery. The soft, watercolor-style pine trees run the full width of the accent wall behind the crib — quiet and calming without being overwhelming.

Peel-and-stick murals are genuinely renter-friendly. No paste, no professional installer. Most panels go up in an afternoon. Pair it with sage green walls on the remaining three sides to pull the muted tones out of the mural and tie the whole room together.

The jute rug, woven baskets, and faux fur throw keep everything grounded and earthy. Nothing fights for attention here.

8) Terracotta Lower Walls & Forest Mural

Terracotta and sage green forest nursery designs with woodland mural, wicker bassinet, and nature-inspired decor

The two-tone wall treatment here is doing a lot of heavy lifting. Dusty terracotta on the lower half, sage green above, with a hand-painted woodland mural running along the dividing line — deer, pine trees, birds. It feels grounded and warm without being heavy.

A wicker bassinet with a simple green canopy tent sits right in front of the mural, making it the natural focal point. The woodland-print rug on the floor ties everything together — same earthy palette, same forest motifs.

Tip: Use wall hooks between the bassinet and dresser for hanging a small basket and a spare blanket. Functional and cute. Real plants on the dresser add life to the whole corner.

9) Log Slice Side Table & Sage Crib

Sage green crib with log slice nightstand in a forest nursery design featuring woodland wall decals

There’s something instantly grounding about a raw log slice used as a nightstand. It brings real texture into the room — no manufactured finish, just honest wood grain. Paired with a sage green crib and woodland-print bedding, this corner feels like a tiny clearing in the trees.

The small wooden lamp, a ceramic succulent, and a little fox figurine sit on top without cluttering the surface. Everything earns its place. The wall decals behind — scattered trees and a rabbit — pull the whole story together without needing framed art.

Tip: Log slice side tables are easy to find at lumber yards or online. Seal the top with a clear matte finish to protect it from spills.

10) Owl Wall Art & Woodland Crib Bedding

Owl-themed forest nursery designs with olive green walls, quilted owl wall art, and woodland crib bedding

Great for parents who want a woodland nursery with real personality. This room leans hard into owls — a large quilted owl wall hanging anchors the space above the dark wood crib, and it works because it’s oversized enough to hold its own against the deep olive green walls.

The crib bedding carries the theme through with owl and pine tree prints in cream, brown, and green. Layered with a leaf-motif area rug and a matching owl throw pillow on the glider, nothing feels random here. Every piece talks to the next.

Tip: if you go owl-heavy like this, keep your color palette tight — three colors max — so it reads as intentional, not cluttered.

11) Woodland Rug & Macramé Tree Wall Art

Neutral forest nursery designs with woodland rug, macramé tree wall art, natural wood crib, and white rocking chair

A cream wool rug printed with deer, mushrooms, and trees does a lot of the heavy lifting here. It grounds the whole forest theme without a single drop of paint or wallpaper. Smart move for renters.

The natural wood crib, white rocker, and linen tones keep everything soft and gender-neutral. Above the crib, a macramé tree wall piece adds texture right where the eye lands first. Simple. Intentional.

If you go this route, layer in a woven basket for toy storage — it fits the earthy palette and keeps clutter off the floor. Pampas grass in a terracotta vase pulls the warm neutral tones together without any fuss.

12) Navy Star Ceiling & Pine Tree Silhouette Border

Forest nursery design with navy star ceiling, pine tree silhouette border, wood crib, and white glider.

Deep navy sweeps across the ceiling, dotted with painted stars and a jagged pine tree silhouette where the wall meets the top. It’s dramatic without being dark. The warm wood tones of the crib and dresser keep everything grounded.

I love how the star ceiling pulls your eye upward — it makes a small room feel like it goes on forever. The knit pouf, white glider, and layered area rug soften all that boldness below. Cozy is an understatement.

Tip: Paint your ceiling first before tackling the tree border line — it’s much easier to tape off the silhouette edge once the ceiling color is fully dry.

13) White Tree Shelf & Sage Walls

White tree built-in bookshelf in a sage green forest nursery design with woodland decor and natural wood accents

A built-in tree bookshelf is one of the smartest storage ideas I’ve seen in a forest nursery. It doubles as art. The white sculptural tree shape pops beautifully against sage green walls, and every branch becomes a little display spot — board books, stuffed animals, trailing pothos. It’s functional and genuinely lovely.

The natural wood rocker and woven basket on the floor keep the whole corner grounded. Nothing feels overdone. I love how the small woodland bird decals on the wall add quiet detail without competing with the shelf.

Tip: keep the lower branches for books and heavier toys, and save the high branches for plants and decorative pieces you don’t want little hands grabbing.

14) Fern Print Wallpaper & Rattan Mirror

Forest nursery design with fern print wallpaper, rattan mirror, wood dresser changing table, and natural wood crib.

That rattan mirror is doing a lot of work here. It bounces light off the fern-print wallpaper and makes the whole accent wall feel alive rather than flat. The deep green botanical pattern is bold, but pairing it with warm honey-toned wood furniture keeps it from feeling heavy.

The dresser doubles as a changing station — practical and pretty. A wood play gym on the cream diamond rug ties the natural materials together without adding clutter.

Tip: if fern wallpaper feels like too much commitment, use it on one wall only, just like this, and keep the remaining three walls a soft warm white.

15) Botanical Mobile & Forest Mural Wallpaper

Forest nursery design with botanical wooden hoop mobile above a natural wood crib and soft sage pine tree mural wallpaper.

A woven wooden hoop mobile hung with acorn and leaf charms sits directly above the crib, pulling your eye straight up into the forest scene painted across the wall behind it. The mural — soft sage pines and a wandering deer — wraps the crib in a woodland story without needing a single shelf or frame to do the work.

Natural wood tones carry through everything: the crib, the dresser, the little step stool. A jute rug grounds it all. The light blue knit blanket draped over the crib rail is the only pop of cool color, and it’s just enough.

Tip: If you’re sourcing a botanical mobile like this, look for one with interchangeable charms so you can swap seasonal details as your baby grows.

16) Tree Stump Stool & Floor Reading Nook

Forest nursery design with tree stump stool, floor reading nook, book ledges & woodland wall decals

Soft, earthy, and grounded. This corner pulls together everything a nature-loving nursery needs without feeling overdone. A real tree stump stool anchors the reading nook, and it’s the kind of detail that makes the whole room feel intentional.

Wooden ledge shelves hold a curated row of children’s books — spines out, covers facing forward for easy grabbing. A low floor cushion with a sage green mat and a plush bear rug give baby a safe, cozy spot to eventually sit and flip through pages.

The woodland wall decals above — deer, birds, a painted tree — tie it all together without needing a single nail.

Tip: Face a few book covers outward on ledge shelves. Kids are drawn to the artwork, and it doubles as wall decor.

17) Pine Tree Wall Mural & Leaf Garland

Mint and white forest nursery designs with pine tree wall mural, leaf garland, and white crib

Great for parents who want a gentle, gender-neutral forest feel without anything too bold or busy. The soft pine tree wall mural in muted sage greens keeps things calm, and the leaf garland strung above the crib adds just enough movement without needing to nail a dozen frames to the wall.

Mint and white do a lot of heavy lifting here. The crib skirt, the quilted blanket draped over the rail, the cushion on the rocker — it all ties together without feeling matchy-matchy. Natural fiber baskets on the floor store stuffed animals and keep clutter out of sight.

Tip: a chunky knit pouf like this one doubles as a footrest during late-night feeds and pulls double duty as extra seating when visitors come by.

18) Black Treeline Silhouette & Star Mobile

Forest nursery design with black treeline silhouette wall, natural wood crib, star mobile, and sage green accents.

A bold black treeline painted directly on the lower half of the wall does all the heavy lifting here. No wallpaper, no decals — just paint. It reads as dramatic without being dark, because the upper wall stays crisp white and lets in light from the window.

The natural wood crib and light oak dresser keep the palette grounded and warm. A sage green knit blanket draped over the crib rail adds a soft color hit. Small touches matter: the woven basket on the floor, the little deer plush on the rug, the star mobile above.

If you want this look, use a projector to trace your treeline before painting. Saves hours of freehand stress.

19) Climbing Vine Wall Decals & Potted Greenery

Forest nursery design with climbing vine wall decals, potted plants, wood crib, and cozy glider chair.

Cream walls keep everything soft and airy here. The hand-painted-style climbing vine decals curl up and across the wall in muted sage, adding movement without any loud color. Paired with illustrated pine trees and a little fox tucked into the corner, the whole room feels like a quiet clearing in the woods.

Two potted plants on the floor do a lot of heavy lifting. Real greenery grounds the illustrated theme and makes it feel lived-in rather than themed. That’s a fine line, and this room walks it well.

Tip: if you’re DIYing vine decals, start from a corner and trail upward — it looks more natural than centering them on a flat wall.

20) Bark Texture Accent Wall & Woodland Crib

Forest nursery design with bark texture accent wall, wooden crib, and woodland greenery decor

A bark-textured wallpaper panel behind the crib is one of the smartest moves you can make in a forest nursery. It reads as bold and earthy without needing a single painted wall. Just one accent panel does all the work.

The natural wood crib sits right against it, and the pairing is effortless. Add two tall greenery stems on either side and a mounted deer head sculpture, and the whole corner feels like a clearing in the woods. So cohesive.

Pro tip: look for peel-and-stick bark wallpaper panels — they’re easy to install and renter-friendly. Style with a cream glider and a woven pouf to keep the palette grounded and warm.

21) Felt Fox & Deer Mobile & Rust Crib Skirt

Forest nursery design with felt fox and deer mobile, rust crib skirt, and sage green walls

That crib mobile does a lot of the heavy lifting here. Felted foxes, deer, mushrooms, and greenery hang from a simple wooden ring — and it pulls every color in the room together without trying too hard.

The rust-toned crib skirt paired with a sage waffle blanket and woodland-print fitted sheet gives the bedding real depth. Earthy, layered, intentional. No single color overpowers the rest.

My tip: match your mobile figures to at least two colors already in your bedding. It’s an easy way to make the whole room feel cohesive without buying a matching set.

Colors That Work Best in a Forest Nursery

The heart of any forest nursery is the color palette. I always recommend anchoring the room in at least one green — whether that’s a deep hunter green for drama, a soft sage for something more serene, or a muted olive if you want warmth.

From there, layer in the supporting colors: warm creams, natural wood browns, dusty terracotta, and touches of rust or amber. These feel like a forest floor in the best possible way.

Avoid going too bright or too saturated. Neon greens and primary yellows pull the theme away from that grounded woodland feeling you’re going for. Think about what colors you’d actually see walking through a forest in autumn or early spring — muted, layered, organic. That’s your guide.

If you’re nervous about committing to a bold wall color, start with white or cream walls and bring in all your forest colors through textiles, art, and accessories. A green velvet glider, earthy crib bedding, and a few botanical prints go a long way without painting a single wall.

Essential Elements That Make a Forest Nursery Feel Complete

A forest nursery lives or dies by its layering. You need at least one strong anchor piece — a mural, wallpaper, or a painted accent wall — to set the scene. From there, it’s about building in texture.

Think woven baskets, a jute or wool rug, linen curtains, raw wood furniture, and some kind of real or faux greenery. Without texture, even the prettiest forest theme can feel flat.

Greenery is non-negotiable. I keep a mix of real low-maintenance plants like pothos and snake plants — both are safe if kept out of baby’s reach — alongside high-quality faux plants for areas where real ones wouldn’t thrive. The difference between a good forest nursery and a great one is almost always the plants.

Don’t forget lighting. Warm-toned bulbs make every natural material look richer and more inviting. A rattan or wood pendant light, a small lamp with a linen shade, or even string lights tucked into a greenery display can shift the whole mood of the room. Harsh cool lighting kills the forest vibe instantly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What colors are best for a forest nursery?

Stick to muted greens, warm creams, earthy browns, and terracotta. Avoid bright or neon tones — they undercut that grounded, natural woodland feel.

Are forest nurseries only for boys or girls?

Not at all. Forest themes are genuinely gender-neutral and look great for any baby depending on how you style the palette.

Are real plants safe in a baby nursery?

Yes, if kept out of reach. Pothos, spider plants, and snake plants are low-maintenance and non-toxic options worth considering.

How do I do a forest nursery on a budget?

Peel-and-stick tree wallpaper, DIY leaf garlands, and thrifted wood furniture are great budget moves that still deliver the full forest look.

Does a forest nursery theme work in a small room?

Absolutely. A single accent wall mural or wallpaper panel plus layered accessories can create the full effect without overwhelming a compact space.

How do I keep a forest nursery from looking too dark?

Balance deeper greens with plenty of white, cream, and natural wood tones, and always use warm-toned lighting to keep the room feeling bright.

Leave a Comment

Struggling to Find a Baby Name?

Banish those struggles and use our free AI-powered baby name generator. Simply provide as little or as much information about your baby as possible and our powerful AI will give you some tailored baby name ideas

Start Generating