Painting a Nursery? Tips, Trends and Ideas from
Dunn-Edwards Paints

There's much more to consider than pink or blue!
LOS ANGELES (October 19, 2011)  One of the most exciting design and decorating experiences a couple can have is preparing a room for a newborn. Dunn-Edwards, the Southwest’s leading manufacturer of premium paint, has compiled a wealth of ideas and inspiration for designing and painting a nursery – for both DIYs and those hiring a professional painting contractor. Design themes with corresponding color palettes, and simple tips and trends can be found at www.dunnedwards.com.

First step is to, decide if the nursery will have a theme or simply a mix of colors and details you like, points out Sara McLean, color expert at Dunn-Edwards. “Some current trends in nurseries include modern baby chic, vintage nostalgia, Bohemian, school themes such as science and tech, and fun twists on nature including beach and woodland themes.” she said. “Or even opting for a traditional theme, like nautical, carousel or cowboy, you can add your own sense of playfulness, creativity or whimsy.”

The color palette is the next step, thinking beyond just pink or blue. McLean says that the tradition of using blue in a boy’s nursery has evolved into combinations of blue — particularly turquoise — with other colors such as red, green and orange. Pink for girls has evolved into fuchsia tones with elements of aquamarine, lilac, white and orange. In fact, aqua and orange have become popular choices for both boys and girls. “There is a new boldness in the way colors are combined in the nursery— pink and purple with green or blue and yellow with green, for example,” she said. Striped ceilings can help stimulate the room and a touch or slight accent of black is trendy right now, to add a little sophistication.

Today’s baby rooms include bold and brightly colored carpets, wall decals, maps, figurines and “monster dolls” that are so ugly, they’re cute; owls and other woodland critters; and elephants. “Be sure to keep an open mind and eye out for items and styles that can make your nursery unique,” she added. “If you’ve found the perfect bedding, artwork or accessories for your nursery and need a color to match, Dunn-Edwards can help. Simply bring in a sample of your bedding to any Dunn-Edwards paint store, and one of our paint specialists will help you select a color from our Perfect Palette collection that matches.”

When decorating a nursery, it’s important to use non-toxic products – from the paint to the rugs, to the furniture. Opt for biodegradable timber, certified formaldehyde-free furniture and take special care with any antique baby furniture to sure its finish and/or underlining paints and varnishes are safe before use.

For the paint, avoid annoying odors by using a zero Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) paint like Dunn-Edwards’ Enso premium interior paint. It has virtually no odor during and after application and no harmful ingredients to bother moms-to-be. Enso offers superior hide and coverage so fewer coats are needed, and it provides a smooth, highly durable finish that’s easy to wash — an important consideration for keeping your baby’s room fresh and clean. Many major paint manufacturers still use ethylene glycol (EG) in their paints, something Dunn-Edwards voluntarily eliminated in the mid 1980s. EG is listed as a hazardous air pollutant and toxic air contaminant under many federal and state regulations. For the safest paint for your nursery, ask for EG-Free paint like Enso.

For more tips and ideas for decorating a baby’s room, visit www.dunnedwards.com

NOTE: Photos are available.

About Dunn-Edwards Paints

Dunn-Edwards has produced and sold premium paint products for 85 years throughout the Southwest. Operating 109 stores in California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas, Dunn-Edwards is one of the nation’s largest independent manufacturers and distributors of architectural paints and painting supplies. Based in Southern California, the company is composed of approximately 1,400 employees. dunnedwards.com