A Gorgeous, Washable Rug Is the Star of This “Neutral-Yet-Colorful” Nursery
Some nursery designs have more neutral vibes, leaning into beiges and whites. Other kids’ bedrooms go bold with prismatic color. But there’s a third option, too: You can mix moments of color with a mostly neutral base for a gorgeous, sophisticated, more-minimalist-but-still-vibrant result. That’s what Khari Clarke and Bridget Thompson did in their daughter Kobe’s nursery.
“We wanted a ‘neutral-yet-colorful’ space, which sounds a bit contradictory, but it worked perfectly,” Bridget explained in their Apartment Therapy House Tour. “The sage walls created a calm, neutral backdrop that allowed us to add playful pops of color without the room ever feeling overwhelming or mismatched.”
It’s no surprise that Khari and Bridget wanted a calming space for Kobe; the rest of their East London apartment feels like a relaxing oasis. But just because it’s a tranquil room doesn’t mean the nursery lacks color. For example, Ruggable’s Birds of a Feather rug adds depth to the space because of its dark yet vibrant color scheme.
Allowing other items in the room to serve as the color source enabled the couple to think long-term about their furniture choices. “With baby rooms, there’s always going to be plenty of color added naturally through books, toys, and everyday items, so we focused on choosing set pieces that would feel timeless and permanent while letting the smaller, temporary touches bring in the fun and vibrancy,” the couple said.
The couple, who run the interior design and lifestyle platform Su Casa, partnered with brands such as CuddleCo, Ruggable, and Rust-Oleum and were gifted most of the pieces in the room. As part of one collaboration, Khari and Bridget chose a modern black crib and changing table, which pair nicely with the rug and wall color.
“After trying several samples, we fell in love with sage green for its calming, timeless, and gender-neutral feel,” the couple shared. “We do plan to grow our family in the future, so keeping a color that could work for both genders felt like a smart decision.”
Thoughtful details, like a custom Etsy name sign, make the room feel personal without overwhelming the space. Knowing that it was on the smaller side, the couple didn’t want to “overcrowd” it and instead focused on practical, cozy touches for Kobe.
After a month, the once “blank slate” nursery, as Bridget described it, was finally finished. “We do a bit of playtime and tummy time in the nursery,” Bridget said, “ but we cannot wait for Kobe to be old enough to truly enjoy it.”
If you like the look of Kobe’s bedroom, you’ll want to check out more of the family’s tranquil home. Visit the full House Tour on Apartment Therapy to see more.