Black and white is great for babies! That's why mobiles come in black and white, because initially they can't see the full color palette.

Huh?? I can't even *find* the kids' rooms in 3/4 of the links. What am I missing?

@Charlie: The 4th photo is clearly a kids' room.

Although strict B&W's OK for grownups who like it, it seems punitive in a kid's room.

Agreed, Elaine. Personally, I like these rooms, but I don't know a single child who would pick black and white for his/her room. Kids are drawn to color.

Seconded, Elaine. All these rooms evoke greyish skinned sad kids with blueish shadows under too big eyes.

Beautiful photos, but I agree, those rooms look like no fun for a kid.

I agree with everyone else. For a little baby, a black and white nursery would be fine... the contrast is stimulating enough for them without color.

But, let's be honest, most children 2 and up aren't going to pick black and white for a color scheme. Kids don't generally like gray, black, and white in my experience... especially gray. We have a lot of white/neutrals in our house and my kids are always pushing for more color... and they usually get it :)

I'm currently doing 2 bedrooms for my kids, and it *can* be unsettling when they tell you they want neon orange walls or the millenium falcon all over... well, everything. But, there are ways to work together... to make decisions that really reflect what they love and still have staying power (I'm certain the neon would last a year at most). I wouldn't want to leave them out of the process, though, or try to convince them that they liked what I wanted. These rooms and overly designed rooms seem to say at least one of three things to me... either the child really wanted a page straight out of a magazine, the child spends very little time in that room, or mama couldn't let go of the reigns enough. I'm not saying it's *easy* to strike a balance with kid's desires and something other than complete bedroom mayhem, but these rooms just don't seem like a kid's dream. They seem like a great photo opp.

ugh. i hate typos. "reins". ^

It's not all black and white, those are the main colors but I do see some color on the blankets, pillows and toys, I love the room, too much color on the kid's room can actually trigger mood swings and bad temper, I think that this rooms are soothing and calming to children, love it!!

It definitely works but must be a challenge to keep pristine for long.

My three year olds favorite color is gray. He also loves black, white and brown. We are about to paint his bedroom and those were the colors he suggested. We were a bit surprised but he said he wanted sleepy colors in his room and bright colors on his body!

I think they're great, but I'm also the kid who picked black and white as the palette for my entire 4th grade wardrobe.

I like the idea of a black and white theme with pops of color intermingled--especially yellow and red. My sister gave us an amazing vintage mostly black and white stuffed elephant for my daughter and it has served as an inspiration for many of the things in the room she shares with my son. I'm kind of in to black and white in kid's rooms, but not as a strict theme. For example, I love white walls and a black crib with a colorful rug.

I'm sorry but the first pic looks like the kid is an accessory for the room or the self-consciously hip parent and it completely creeps me out. Not a fan. Not. Little fake ado room.

We've done a grey paint scheme throughout our home, including the nursery. I find no lack of colour, in both the artwork and the toys. I agree that some of the rooms above are a bit stark, however, I think if they actually had children's toys, clothes and games in them everyone would feel like they were appropriately child-like.

I really don't get the first room. Everything is tacked up on a string, totally out of reach of the kid at adult height.

I think b/w elements are terrific in a child's room--especially for furniture or casework.

@Reef, I like your son's reasoning behind his color preferences: "... he said he wanted sleepy colors in his room and bright colors on his body!"

My 7-year-old son's room faces north and white walls always looked looked dingy. So we went dark and cozy with Benjamin Moore Toas Taupe, a gray-brown shade similar to a Weimaraner dog. This color is a surprisingly rich neutral and makes everything look good. Our son loves the wall color and says he wants to keep it this way (for now!)

I like these rooms. They are peaceful. I would definitely add some pops of color here or there, but overall, I think they're lovely!

I'd love to know the source for the extendable bed in the 2nd room. Thanks!

I love black and white for kids room, and I think it is really possible to do so, my children have tones of barbies and colored stuff in tin boxes, loads of books in white shelves, and their clothes in cupboard painted in black board magnetic and they are apparently really going really well with all this.
thanks for the link by the way !

All through childhood I had white walls, and neutral colored beds. Most of my bedsets had color in em though. My little brother had black & white tiles that kinda looked like soccer balls. He wasn't traumatized. Not all kids care about what their room looks like. 98% of the time my room wasn't even clean.