The WallKiwi kiwi holding a pair of scissors
WallKiwi
Log inMake a display
At home

Nursery walls that are soft, simple and safe

A name banner, a few framed photos and labelled baskets give a baby's room its character. Where they hang matters as much as what they show.

In short

Nursery walls

For a nursery, print a name banner on 12.8 × 17.2 cm flags, frame a small wall of 6 × 4 inch (10 × 15 cm) photos, and label baskets for nappies, muslins and clothes sizes. Use 250 gsm card, keep every hanging and frame well out of reach of the cot, and avoid long strings near the cot.

Last reviewed 3 October 2026

What to make

What a nursery usually has

  1. A name banner

    The baby's name on flags across a wall, above a chest of drawers or a reading chair rather than above the cot. One letter per flag; a short name suits the larger flags, a long one the smaller.

  2. A small photo wall

    Six or nine 6 × 4 prints of family, grandparents and the first weeks, in a neat grid. Hang it where you sit for night feeds, so it is something to look at at three in the morning.

  3. Basket and drawer labels

    Nappies, wipes, muslins, vests and clothes by size: 0 to 3 months, 3 to 6 months. Labels help anyone helping out, such as grandparents or a partner on a night shift, find things without asking.

  4. A gentle illustrated theme

    A few cut-out shapes such as clouds, animals or leaves, fixed flat to the wall in one or two soft colours. Fewer, larger pieces look calmer than many small ones.

  5. A growth or milestone record

    A card for each milestone or month, kept in a box or pinned to a board out of reach, ready to photograph and keep. It becomes a keepsake rather than wall clutter.

Sizes that work

Sizes for a nursery

PieceSizeWhy
Name banner, short name18 × 25 cm flags, one per A4A four or five letter name spans about 1 m
Name banner, longer name12.8 × 17.2 cm flags, two per A4Keeps a long name to a sensible width
Photo prints6 × 4 in (10 × 15 cm)Fits standard frames and costs little to print
Basket labelsAbout 8 × 5 cmReadable in dim light on the front of a basket
Wall printA4 or A3 (29.7 × 42 cm)One larger print anchors a wall better than many small ones
Free printables

Free printables for a nursery

Print the baby's name as a banner, plan a photo wall of 6 × 4 prints before you put a nail in, and label the baskets that hold the essentials.

Designed for you

Want a matching nursery set designed for you?

WallKiwi's bunting maker designs a full set of themed flags from one sentence, such as soft sage bunting with little clouds for Ava's room, ready to print on A4. Designs use credits, and a free account includes some each month.

Start my designSee the bunting maker
Questions

Questions people ask

Is it safe to hang bunting or frames above a cot?

It is widely advised not to. Keep banners, frames, shelves and anything with a string or cord out of reach of the cot, so nothing can fall in or be pulled down as the baby grows and starts to stand. Decorate the other walls instead.

What size flags work for a baby name banner?

For a name of up to about six letters, the 18 × 25 cm flags, one per A4 sheet, read well across a room. For longer names, the 12.8 × 17.2 cm flags print two per A4 and keep the banner to a manageable width.

What should nursery storage labels say?

Name what is inside in plain words, such as nappies, wipes, muslins and bibs, and label clothes by age range so outgrown items are easy to rotate. Pictures as well as words help older siblings and visitors.

When should I put up nursery decorations?

Many parents finish the room a few weeks before the due date, so paint and adhesive smells have time to clear. Name banners are often printed after the birth if the name is still being decided.

How do I stop a nursery wall looking cluttered?

Choose one or two colours and one theme, group photos into a single grid rather than scattering them, and leave at least one wall plain. Babies and tired parents both do better with a calm room.

More ideas

Ideas for other places