Nursery Ideas with an Oak Crib

Wood Tones

• Although all wood is brown, each type of wood has its own undertone as well. White oak will have a yellowy-brown or creamy-brown undertone, whereas red oak has red-brown undertones. Choosing a paint color that matches the undertone of the wood is the best way to ensure the wood matches the color scheme of the nursery. Look for neutral colors with a red undertone to match red oak. For white oak, use creams, soft pastel yellows, or neutral colors with warm yellow undertones. Add accessories to bring out the color of the wood and the paint, such as red bedding or a yellow cushion.

Rustic Style

• Oak furniture creates a wonderfully rustic feel in a room, and combining a rustic color palette with pretty floral or striped fabrics creates a homey, country-cottage feel. Combine neutrals and creams with muted earth tones such as browns and greens. For a traditional touch, combine splashes of delicate pink or cornflower blue to the color scheme. Keep the flooring neutral. Wood flooring is easy to clean and maintains the rustic feel; alternatively, a natural-fiber carpet is extremely hard-wearing.

Eclectic Style

• An eclectic-style nursery features lots of design aspects from different periods and styles. By using a different style and type of wood for each item of furniture in the room, it's unnecessary to match the oak crib to the color scheme. This is a great style to use if you're working on a budget, as you can search thrift stores, flea markets and antique shops for a bargain. Old, tatty pieces of furniture can be given a new lease on life with a quick sand-down and a coat of white paint. Maintain a cohesive look to the room by using a soft, pale color throughout.

Themed Decor

• Choosing a theme for the nursery gives a fun twist to the neutral colors that complement the oak crib. Whether you want a strong theme, such as a fairytale princess or safari, or something more subtle, such as butterflies or stars, wall murals are a quick and easy way to introduce your theme. Don't go overboard -- add one or two themed pieces to complement the wall mural, and leave it at that. For example, create a canopy headboard around the crib for a princess-themed room, add a cuddly stuffed tiger to a chair for a safari theme, a butterfly mobile over the cot for a butterfly theme, and star-shaped decorations for a star-themed room.