Boy room furniture colors POLL

[starryfish]

Working on baby boys nursery that will transition to his big boy room. I am having to buy new furniture, so want to buy something that lasts him for several years. I am buying the Hemnes Dresser (LOVE this one sooo much) and the bed from IKEA that I want only comes in dark brown/black or white. I LOVE white (our style is beachy) but I feel like it trends girly? Will it last him? Should I stick with the dark brown?

[dcn]

Get the color you like.

[noodleoo]

It's an IKEA bed. How long are you expecting it to last? I can't imagine the kid will have an opinion until he's at least 6-7. By then you may want to upgrade it anyway. Don't overthink it, just buy what you like.

[Mrs.flang]

I would probably have a similar hesitation, but ultimately would try to not worry about it being "girly". You can definitely use bedding, wall color, and art to bring it together no matter which color the furniture. I prefer white too (and have 2 Hemnes dressers and ikea cribs in white) but I have 2 girls, I'm not sure if I would have picked differently for a boy.

ETA - noodleoo, is right too!  DD1 is still in a toddler bed and I'm agonizing over what big girl bed to get her.  I almost don't want something that will last "forever" because I think taste will change by the time she's at least 10 yo or so.

[scm1011]

white is girly?

[pooh8402]

My kids both have white furniture, both boys. The crib is painted white and E2 has a navy bookshelf and a dark brown nightstand and a rocking chair with dark wood trim. E1 has a white bookshelf, a navy nightstand, and a dark brown toy bench.

[pandorica]

If you like white then get white. It's a neutral color.

[thebreakfastclub]

My 7yo boy has absolutely no opinion about furniture in his room. He doesn't spend any time in his room when he's not sleeping. Get what you like!

[pandora89]

DS's crib and now double bed which we plan on keeping for a long time are both white. I never considered white to be a "girly" colour.

[Velar Fricative]

I’d get what you like. Also, Hemnes stuff is good quality and lasts a while. I’m not too concerned about my kids having opinions on furniture - my 6.5yo cares a lot more about decor and her pink wall than her bed and dresser lol (both Hemnes).

[icedcoffee]

Get the color you want. FWIW--I think black/brown damages more easily than white. I think white will actually last longer. Chips and scratches show way more on the dark colors IMO.

[shauni27]

Jun 3, 2020 8:19:42 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

white is girly?

Right? Let's stop assigning gender to colors. White is a neutral color and if you like it, order it. Your kid will not care until they are a tween at the earliest, and likely your furniture from Ikea will not last that long. (I don't say that to be snarky, I say that as someone whose entire home is ikea, lol)

[Pilsy]

A lot of white furniture is marketed toward girls, but it's undoubtedly a neutral color. Don't fall prey! (I say that TIC, not as an insult.)

Go ahead and get white if that's your preference.

[aprilsails]

We went with IKEA Hemnes white when we were team green with DD. DS is now using all the same furniture now. We plan on painting his room a darker colour on one wall, either grey or navy, and having a sailing or adventure theme in there if I ever get around to decorating it. We bought him a dark grey glider and navy curtains and a grey rod to offset all the white.

[brooke77]

Get the color you like. FWIW - we were Team Green and painted the nursery light blue with all white furniture. I think it all transitions well as we add less “baby” stuff and more things he likes - dinosaurs, excavators, etc.

[SusanBAnthony]

How is white girly? lolol.

[docholly]

Agree. Get what you like... My boys (9 and 7) have my dresser from the 80's (white wicker). LOL I used it only because I am cheap and it is in good shape. It is very dated. But... the boys have never mentioned it at all. They seem to have no real interest in their room decor at all, so if you like something, go for it.

[starryfish]

Jun 3, 2020 9:07:21 GMT -5 shauni27 said:

Jun 3, 2020 8:19:42 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

white is girly?

Right? Let's stop assigning gender to colors. White is a neutral color and if you like it, order it. Your kid will not care until they are a tween at the earliest, and likely your furniture from Ikea will not last that long. (I don't say that to be snarky, I say that as someone whose entire home is ikea, lol)

we have several ikea hemnes dressers and they are 6+ years old and still going strong! 

[starryfish]

thanks all. I dont know WHY I think white is girly. We have white bedroom furniture and my DH doesnt care lol.

For right now I think i might just buy the dresser and wait on the bed. The crib we are using from DD is white, so I think white will be good. I LOVE white :-)

[Velar Fricative]

Jun 3, 2020 10:00:54 GMT -5 starryfish said:

thanks all. I dont know WHY I think white is girly. We have white bedroom furniture and my DH doesnt care lol.

For right now I think i might just buy the dresser and wait on the bed. The crib we are using from DD is white, so I think white will be good. I LOVE white :-)

It's because it really is heavily marketed as a "girl" color when it comes to furniture. I've been looking at options for DD2's big kid furniture and it's very glaring since I've been looking for stuff to match furniture we'll keep that's espresso-colored. I'm finding plenty of options, but it's very clearly marketed as "boy" furniture.

[jg183]

my son has white furniture. White is not girly but I will say there are some furniture designs that are marketed to girls but the one you picked is definitely not one. More of the swirls of the wood, etc

[pinkalicious]

I feel the same way. When I was pregnant, before finding out DS was a boy, I picked out a white crib and dresser if he was a girl, and a dark wood set for a boy. His room is the dark wood set.

That being said, I almost went with the white for him, but it was out of stock, and I needed to get it ordered.

[Susie]

My DS has dark/cherry colored furniture because that's what I chose for DD and he got her hand-me-downs.

[goldengirlz]

I know this is an innocent question, but this idea that boys need to be manly ALL THE TIME, from birth, is at the root of toxic masculinity.

When I say that my DD has always hated dolls, loves trains and dinosaurs, and refuses to wear any shoes but sneakers, people are like, aww, how cute. Girl power! Girls can be anything! Fight the patriarchy!

But when boys express interest in Hatchimals, the color lavender or ladybugs, people are like, What should I do!?! What if people tease him!?

So if you’re handwringing over furniture color, ask yourself what preconceived notions you’re holding on to. Even if white is “girly,” why can’t you use it? Who’s going to judge what color furniture he has? Why does it bother you if they do?

Do the work now, and this way, the first time your DS wants to wear your DD’s bright pink shirt to school, you won’t need to head over to this board for advice. Hopefully, you’ll just let him wear the shirt.

[pooh8402]

Jun 3, 2020 21:31:19 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

I know this is an innocent question, but this idea that boys need to be manly ALL THE TIME, from birth, is at the root of toxic masculinity.

When I say that my DD has always hated dolls, loves trains and dinosaurs, and refuses to wear any shoes but sneakers, people are like, aww, how cute. Girl power! Girls can be anything! Fight the patriarchy!

But when boys express interest in Hatchimals, the color lavender or ladybugs, people are like, What should I do!?! What if people tease him!?

So if you’re handwringing over furniture color, ask yourself what preconceived notions you’re holding on to. Even if white is “girly,” why can’t you use it? Who’s going to judge what color furniture he has? Why does it bother you if they do?

Do the work now, and this way, the first time your DS wants to wear your DD’s bright pink shirt to school, you won’t need to head over to this board for advice. Hopefully, you’ll just let him wear the shirt.

YAAAASSSS! I mean, my boys wear pink. My husband wears pink (and looks damn good in it too). E1 has a baby doll. Sometimes I let him wear my lipgloss. E2 has a couple of pink diapers. So what?

[undecidedowl]

Jun 3, 2020 21:31:19 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

I know this is an innocent question, but this idea that boys need to be manly ALL THE TIME, from birth, is at the root of toxic masculinity.

When I say that my DD has always hated dolls, loves trains and dinosaurs, and refuses to wear any shoes but sneakers, people are like, aww, how cute. Girl power! Girls can be anything! Fight the patriarchy!

But when boys express interest in Hatchimals, the color lavender or ladybugs, people are like, What should I do!?! What if people tease him!?

So if you’re handwringing over furniture color, ask yourself what preconceived notions you’re holding on to. Even if white is “girly,” why can’t you use it? Who’s going to judge what color furniture he has? Why does it bother you if they do?

Do the work now, and this way, the first time your DS wants to wear your DD’s bright pink shirt to school, you won’t need to head over to this board for advice. Hopefully, you’ll just let him wear the shirt.

Yep, this. Don't overthink the furniture and don't let stupid bed marketing assign a gender to the color white! I know many ads have pink bedding on a white bed and blue bedding on a darker bed but that doesn't mean it's gendered.

FWIW my 8 yo "stereotypical boy" DS has a camp themed room with a white IKEA bed and bookshelf. My long haired, pink and purple loving 5yo boy has a dark brown bed. Neither of them have ever mentioned the color of their furniture.

[starryfish]

I am going with WHITE

One of my DDs playmates is a boy and loves playing with dolls and babies. I will have no problem if my DS likes to play with dolls, DDs stuff (which I imagine he will), pink, etc.

Thanks all for the thoughtful posts

[shauni27]

Jun 3, 2020 9:56:28 GMT -5 starryfish said:

Jun 3, 2020 9:07:21 GMT -5 shauni27 said:

Right? Let's stop assigning gender to colors. White is a neutral color and if you like it, order it. Your kid will not care until they are a tween at the earliest, and likely your furniture from Ikea will not last that long. (I don't say that to be snarky, I say that as someone whose entire home is ikea, lol)

we have several ikea hemnes dressers and they are 6+ years old and still going strong! 

same! But I mean, in a kids room, if you are thinking 10-11 years down the road from now, it might be starting to get some wear and tear

[macmars45]

Get what you like. If you prefer white, get white. 

I prefer brown so our furniture in our house is brown including DS' bed.

[starryfish]

Jun 4, 2020 7:29:46 GMT -5 shauni27 said:

Jun 3, 2020 9:56:28 GMT -5 starryfish said:

we have several ikea hemnes dressers and they are 6+ years old and still going strong! 

same! But I mean, in a kids room, if you are thinking 10-11 years down the road from now, it might be starting to get some wear and tear

oh yea i am fine if i have to replace it 10 years down the line. Its such a good dresser for the price!