5 Tips for Decorating a Baby Nursery on a Budget

Create a baby nursery that will be the envy of all your friends and spend very little money in the process. With a theme in mind and a little bit of time, you can make a room that your baby girl or boy will love for years to come. To get the most out of every dollar you spend, make sure that you are creating a room that is not just adorable as a nursery, but that your child can grow into as a toddler and pre-teen as well. Below are 5 tips for creating the nursery of your dreams on a budget. 1. Commit to a Theme ~ Before heading out to your local baby supply center, take some time to think about what type of theme you would like for your room. What color palette appeals to you? Do you prefer traditional or contemporary styles? Are you envisioning a beach decor or Paris-inspired elegance? You will get the most milage out of your theme if you decide upon something that can be easily spruced up in later years as your child grows up. 2. Purchase a Lifetime Crib ~ These 3 and 4-stage cribs can be a bit of an added investment initially, but will transform from a crib, into a toddler bed, and eventually into a twin or a full-sized bed. A large majority of the cribs that are currently available in stores are lifetime cribs and can be purchased for around $200 and up. Keep in mind that the price of the lifetime crib often does not include the bed rails that are needed to transform the crib into a bed. Make sure to ask the sales associate what additional packages are needed to complete your bed purchase and buy those at the same time if possible, in case the style is later discontinued. 3. Be Bold with Paint ~ Add interest to your room with the use of color, faux finishes, and paint treatments. Paint is very inexpensive and can be easily changed in years to come. Match a couple of swatches to the fabrics you are planning on using in your cribs and have some fun. Horizontal and vertical stripes are easy to do and can add a lot of interest to the room. The professionals at your paint store will also be able to give you step-by-step instructions on how to do faux treatments on your walls. Think about what fits into your nursery's theme and in a couple hours, you can transform a room. 4. Create Custom Accessories ~ Unfinished wood side tables, toy chests, bookshelves, and stools are available at most craft stores and can be a fun way to accessorize a nursery for a fraction of the price. The key to achieving a professional look to your piece is to thoroughly sand the item to make sure that you are starting with a nice smooth finish. Once the piece has been properly sanded, simply paint the item with extra paint or stain it to match the furniture that you have already purchased for the room. If you are artistically inclined, you can even add painted elements that match the fabrics or decor of your nursery. 5. Add Plenty of Shelving ~ It is easy to spend a lot of money accessorizing the walls of the nursery. Instead of purchasing artwork for the walls, purchase some inexpensive shelving. You will find that during your baby shower, you will receive lots of toys, stuffed animals, and books for the children. Simply display these gifts on the shelves and you have instantly accessorized the nursery. As an added bonus, your friends and family will love to see the items that they purchased prominently displayed in the room and as the child gets older, they can change what is on the shelves to correspond with their current interests.