Is a baby on the way? Are you ready for the sleepless nights and hundreds of diapers? Good. By now, you have probably started thinking about all of the stuff you need for a baby. It can get overwhelming quickly, can’t it? Look through any parenting magazine today and you will find several gorgeous ideas for decorating your baby’s room. After having babies of my own, I have developed some tips for getting that nursery ready on a budget. Let’s go through each aspect of the nursery and see where you can scrimp.
1. The walls really do set the tone for the room. The cheapest and easiest way to make the room special is to use nursery wall stickers. These are inexpensive to buy and can really jazz up a room easily. A simple, yet elegant wall would be painted a muted color with monogram stickers on the wall. This sets a serene tone in the room that is just perfect for a sleeping baby. Or, if you want to liven the nursery up, you can use any array of nursery room stickers from animals to the alphabet. Since they can be moved around easily, you can peel and stick to suit your tastes. Once your baby has grown out of one set of stickers, you can get new ones.
2. Next, you will look at the baby’s crib. This is one area you want to be careful scrimping on since new guidelines are always coming out for the safety of the babies. A good idea is to buy a convertible crib. This is one which will convert to a toddler bed and even a regular twin size bed once your little one has outgrown the other stages. This may seem like it will be too far off to worry about now, but prices will only go up. This is the one area that I would set a decent limit on and buy new with the future in mind.
3. You can’t have a crib without bedding, can you? For baby bedding, I recommend looking at garage sales. You can get $300 worth of bedding for $30, maybe less. Go with an open mind and realize that it won’t look new forever even if you buy it new. Crib bedding can last for years since babies do not really put it through a ton of wear and tear. Sheets can also be purchased used cheaply. When looking at used bedding, check it for basic cleanliness and any signs of extreme wear. Take it home and thoroughly wash it in hot water.
4. Other furniture is one of those areas where you can spend a lot or a little, depending on your budget. A rocking chair or glider can be a life saver in the middle of the night. This can also be purchased used, so check out garage sales again. Bookshelves make a nice touch in a nursery as well. These can be purchased inexpensively as well. A coat of paint will make them look and feel like new.
Really, a baby nursery does not need a whole lot going on as the baby is not yet ready to play in there. A crib, some simple decorations and a sheet on a mattress will be enough to get you started. Remember, the goal is a healthy happy baby.