Welcoming a new child into your life can be exciting and stressful. Whether you have nine months to plan or you’re waiting for adoption papers to go through, the process of planning out a nursery can add a lot to the stress factor of your new addition. From cribs to toys, there’s a lot to work out before your baby enters the home. Luckily, there are a few simple ways you can create your child’s nursery without spending an arm and a leg. It may take a big of effort, but before you know it, your nursery will look like a million bucks without actually costing it. These ten tips should help you start your new adventure off on the right foot.
1. Sign Up For a Registry
If you’ve never been a parent before then you’re about to fall head over heels for the baby registry. This is especially perfect it you’re planning a baby shower as it will allow people to shop for items you actually need so you don’t end up with a lot of things that will go to waste. Basically, a baby registry is a wish list of items that you’d love to have for your baby. You can register at many different stores for free, so you won’t have to spend any unnecessary money. Some websites, like Amazon, will even allow you to combine all of your registries on one site, which will save your friends and family a whole lot of time when they’re shopping for you. When you share your registry with others, they will be able to see just what you need. If a person chooses to buy something from the list then it disappears, so you won’t have to worry about duplicates. Then, when everyone is finished shopping, you can see what you have left over so you’ll know exactly what you need. It’s a great way to start out and will help your family support your needs more efficiently.
2. Shop Second Hand
When it comes down to it, second hand buys and hand-me-downs are going to be your best friend, especially if you’re on a tight budget. If you can, ask friends and family if they have items you can buy before you go shopping, especially if you know they took great care of their items. If you’re out of luck here then you may want to start checking out your local thrift stores. There should be lots of items to choose from, but you should always inspect baby furniture very carefully, especially when it comes to a crib. Cribs should be carefully inspected for secure hardware that won’t falter when your baby is actually inside the crib. If the crib is disassembled when you look at it then ask if it can be assembled before purchase. If, for whatever reason it can’t, then walk away. Consignment shops are another great place to look if you have a more flexible budget, as you should be able to find some higher end items. Of course, yard sales are also a must, but make sure you do check out the items before you buy them. Also, make sure you clean everything thoroughly, especially toys and bedding, before you use it.
3. Keep the Future in Mind
It’s easy to fall into the mindset that your new addition is going to be small forever. However, in only a few short months, your little one is going to be moving around on their own. Moreover, in a couple short years they’re going to need their own dresser and a toddler bed. So, when you shop around for your child’s furniture you should always try to buy items that can be transformed into furniture for the future. For instance, a convertible crib is one of the best ways to go for a new addition. This actually allows you to start out with a basic crib that’s perfect for newborns. As the baby grows you can lower the mattress to prevent any late night crib escapes or the potential of your child falling out of the crib. Then, when they’re ready, the crib transforms into a toddler bed with ease and later can even be used as the frame for a child’s bed. Another idea is to use a basic dresser for your child’s changing table. You can easily buy an inexpensive changing mat for the top, which will keep baby secure. Then, as the child ages you can use the dresser for clothing and other storage.
4. DIY Accessories
A lot of people will spend a small fortune on accessories for the nursery, which isn’t really necessary. Although decorations are important to stimulate the baby’s mind, it is never necessary to go out and buy a lot of items you don’t really need. For starters, art work is simple of make at home and will make you feel like you had a bigger part in your baby’s nursery’s designs. For instance, you can easily create stenciled artwork with the baby’s name which always looks cute above their crib. Also, if you have a specific theme in your nursery then you can print out images and frame them, for instant artwork that won’t cost a bundle. Also, stamping is quite popular in nurseries today. You can quickly by a package of sponges and cut them into shapes likes ducks, rabbits or anything else that comes to mind. Then grab some paint and let the fun begin. Mobiles are another popular item for nursery’s and usually keep your baby happy during the early waking moments. There’s many tutorials on these, so you can choose exactly what your baby will see. Also, quilting is a great craft to try out while you’re waiting for your baby to arrive. You can easily make them a special quilt that they can treasure for ages, which won’t cost you a lot either.
5. Unfinished Furniture
If you’re trying to save money without sacrificing style, you’ll learn to adore unfinished furniture. Many baby stores will sell this at a lower price because, well, it’s not finished. When you buy an item like this then you’re going to end up doing a lot of work on the project to get it ready for baby. Sometimes, the wood won’t be finished, so you’ll have to seal, stain or paint the item yourself. This may be the fun part of the job though as putting the item together can be a major headache. All the same, you will have saved a whole lot of money by doing this, which will make it worthwhile. Of course, the hardest part of all may be working up the motivation to get things done before the baby arrives.
6. Use Items From Home
Before you go shopping for your nursery, you may want to take a step back and see which items you already have in your home. You may be surprised as to how many items you have that can be transformed into items for the nursery. For starters, if you have a dresser that isn’t in use then give it a new paint job, grab a changing pad and voila, you have a great new changing table that offers plenty of storage. Small shelves are also perfect for baby’s early books, toys and even diaper supplies. Simply add baskets and you’ll gain even more storage for the items. Another big ticket item is a chair for the nursery, generally people choose glider rockets to help soothe the baby, but if you’re trying to save money then simply reupholster a chair that you already have to suit the nursery.
7. Shop Frugally
It’s hard to refrain from buying pricey items when it comes to shopping for your baby’s nursery. It’s even harder if you have a theme picked out and you want to stick with it at all costs. However, there are ways to keep your shopping frugal, so you don’t have to worry about going over budget to suit your needs. Bedding can easily be bought inexpensively. Try to stick with simple colors that will match with your theme and you can begin to buy signature themed pieces, rather than having everything themed to suit your needs. Also, try to look for generic items whenever you can. Name brands can cost an arm and a leg for the simplest of things, so keep it simple and you’ll reap some major benefits.
8. Skip the Accessories
A lot of people want their nursery to be ready the moment the baby makes his or her way into the world. This isn’t really necessary though. Yes, you’ll need the crib and the changing table for the baby as they come home, but a lot of the other things aren’t exactly on the must have list. As your baby grows, you can buy these items in stages, which will help save you money at first. Also, you don’t need to buy a lot of the extras, which people will push on you. As long as you have the basic needs for your baby you’ll be fine. The other stuff can be weighed in if you see it befitting of your child, because every baby is going to be different and may require different things.
9. Subtle Decor
Sometimes, people get so excited about their new addition that they spend a small fortune on paint jobs and artwork for their baby. In the early months of your child’s life, their vision isn’t exactly going to be up to par with yours, and they probably won’t care about the art on the wall until they’re a bit older. So, try to keep things subtle if you can. You should try to avoid gender based painting as well because you never know if you’re going to be surprised when your baby finally shows up. Rather, it may be easier to keep the walls the color they are and decorate the room when your child’s interests and personality begins to shine through. Of course, you can always settle for cheaper art and homemade crafts until this day comes. Although it may be hard to wait, you’ll be glad when you won’t have to repaint the room as often!
10. Shop Around
Just as with any other shopping extravaganza, when it comes to your baby, you should always shop around. There’s a lot of stores that will present their items as good deals, but often enough the deal isn’t as hot as they make it out to be. Sometimes, the stress of shopping for your baby can get to you too, which may have you want to stop and buy something that isn’t worth the cost. Thus, it may be wise to download some shopping apps before you begin your journey. This will allow you to input the item you’re looking at to see if it is actually a good deal. Often, you may be surprised that others stores will offer it at a much lower price. You may even want to check online for larger items, because most online stores now offer free shipping on items over a certain amount of money.
Your child’s nursery will become the first space they can call their own, but this doesn’t mean you have to go overboard with spending. There’s a few simple things you can do to keep you budget flourishing while creating the perfect place for your baby to come home to.
