I love BM Pale Oak a lot. I would paint the whole room that color myself but if you do want another color for the bottom, BM Balboa Mist is a great one to choose - a shade or two darker in a subtle way.

just so you both are aware, the different shades on those strips doesn't necessarily mean they match, or that they're even in the same tonal range.

I say get rid of the chair rail and do all one color OR, darker color on bottom (without the rail. just laser level your line and mark it w/tape. seal the tape seam w/the base color so you won't get bleed through):

OR, do an actual wainscot and go with a darker color, or white.

This combo would look perfect w/your bedding:

I love this board and batten w/the darker green top (you would do a mint green or even a black for yours)

or, remove the railing (it visually cuts the room) and do some simple trim work on one wall:

this is BM Sea Salt (and the blandest nursery I've ever seen)

you could do 2/3 of the wall in a color and the upper third in white

Can you post a picture of the room?

Amy, is this for your baby? You're the one pregnant, yes? And your husband is being this stubborn over colors and design in the nursery ? with you? Why?

Uh, he needs to compromise to what you want on this. I'm pretty sure you're going to be in the nursery more often than he. He should let you have whatever design you like.

the current colors look ok in the picture. is the ceiling the same color as the wall? Were you going to do any other blinds or drapes?

I am one who never finds beige a nice color for walls so since this is what you want then I would get rid of the chair rail and just paint the whole wall one color. I find beige boring at best and in a childs room about the same as gray BORING. Kids respond to color so why not a nice soft green with some fun decals in bright colors . Maybe use the penguin quilt as a throw across the back of a nursing chair and get some new bedding for this one,This space is Palladian Blue from BM this to me is a much nicer wall color just my opinion

I think cheerfulness may be a good idea here, given the loss of a child at ANY age ? At this point, even the bedding might be a negotiable. One really great penguin in the room. stuffed, might be enough ?

When we use the term "gender neutral" I don't think we're meant to take that literally and use neutral paint colors. I think instead, we should use something colorful that doesn't read "boy" or "girl" immediately. A baby nursery, IMO, should be joyful and full of color. I'd pick up that mint tone from the bedding. Use that for the upper part of the wall, and paint the wainscot/chair rail section a bright white. Some examples:

How about all white and black/white stripes under the chair rail?

Well. Recently, I have helped the kids of clients. Yes, old......... here lol. At any rate, one 33 yr old said " I am all about white!!!". I said okay.......but are you sure your baby will be all about the THE WHITE?What will you do in your all white house with the sticky fingers, jam, puke accidents? You have that much time and the planet has this much bleach?

There are baby gifts, books, some with covers so absolutely adorable, they are decor in and of themselves! Actually, I do see a little nod to that concept in the photo above.It's hard to keep the color out!

In the end, its a three year decor at best. A child gravitates to color unconsciously. The brighter the better in their eyes. Just sayin....: ) In fact, the OLDER we get, the more we gravitate to neutrality, and then in old age? Yes.....we often crave some real color all over again. Life isn't static.

I'll follow along as my daughter is also doing a similar nursery. She's going with some kind of soft teal, soft brown palette. She got married in the redwoods so I think 'woodland' may enter into decor too. Your classic calm will be lovely and your penguin tribute is charming. I hope you will continue to post updates, and come to enjoy each part of this process too. Best wishes.

For me also, while I get the desire for calm this a little kids room, kids rooms should have some colour in them, this is just my personal opinion. Some of the white/grey nurseries I’ve seen look so chilly and souless but each to their own.

Apparently the royal family are on this trend as well as not wanting to know the gender of the baby.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/8224468/pregnant-meghan-markle-baby-nursey-gender-neutral-colours-prince-harry/