What does it take to design the perfect baby nursery? You might think it involves buying expensive furniture and overpriced decor items. Maybe you also need a designer who’ll recommend the latest accessories and must-have items for your child.
The reality is far simpler – the perfect baby nursery is one that is functional and caters to both your and the baby’s needs. Sticking to a budget doesn’t mean you can’t have the perfect nursery. It doesn’t mean you should compromise on quality or the health of your baby.
In fact, one of the secrets to staying within budget is to focus on quality products that will last. Don’t buy items that will break, chip or tear after a few uses. Reusable or multipurpose items are the way to go. Here are some tips on how you can design the perfect nursery for your family on a budget:
Multi-purpose furniture
When it comes to a nursery or even a child’s room, multipurpose furniture is worth its weight in gold. Babies grow quickly and we’re not talking even months here. You’ll be amazed at how fast your child outgrows everything from the crib to clothes and shoes in a matter of weeks! That’s how fast they change.
What happens to the crib when they are ready to move to a junior bed? Or when they go from the junior bed to a daybed? Do you really want to buy a new piece of furniture every year? Sure, you can sell it to some other new parents. But it’s a hassle and usually an expensive proposition.
Consider investing in a good quality convertible crib. You can get 3-in-1, 4-in-1, and even 5-in-1 convertible cribs nowadays. These cribs are designed to grow with your child. Some of them come with conversion kits included while others sell them separately. Either way, when your child is ready to move on to the next piece of furniture you will already have it!
A great example of a convertible crib is the Rustico 5-in-1 crib. It converts into a toddler bed, daybed, double bed or double bed headboard when the time comes for your child to move on. It even comes with support so you can adjust the mattress to 3 height levels.
Keep it minimal
What else can you do on a budget? Use the latest design trends to your advantage of course! Minimalism has been trendy for a while now and it shows no signs of slowing down. Don’t clutter the nursery with purely decorative items or things you don’t really need. Stick to the essentials. You can always bring in additional items if you need later on.
Scandinavian design is the perfect embodiment of minimalism. Furniture from the Leander or Linea collections is slick, simple, and functional. The pieces feature sleek lines and soft corners for a warm look. No handles or knobs on the dressers make them look even more minimal.
Accessories
Quite often you have to work with existing furniture for some reason or the other. Maybe you inherited a crib from family or a friend generously gifted an old dresser. Or maybe you just want to liven up the nursery without replacing the big items. So what do you do now? Simple, you accessorize!
Swap out things like drawer pulls and handles to jazz up the nursery furniture. How about a gold plated knob from the Bella Gold collection or a bright stainless steel one for a more modern dresser? Even a small change can have a big impact on the nursery!
The same principle applies to other items like decor also. Change the photos on the walls as your baby grows. Re-arrange throw pillows or bring in a new rug from other rooms to keep the nursery feeling fresh. Even simply changing the toys on display can be a refreshing change.
Get Personal
You don’t need trendy accessories to kit out your baby’s room. Bring a personal touch with family photos, handcrafted decor items or even something made by you or your older children. These loving touches will bring the nursery to life.
Don’t forget the walls either. Not everyone can afford to hire an artist to commission a mural for baby. Neither is every parent an artist to create unique paintings. Try wall decals or posters instead. There are infinite possibilities out there and you can get pieces to suit any theme or design.
Simply peel off the backing and stick them to the walls. The best part is that they don’t damage the wall, so you can swap them out as your baby outgrows the cute animals and cartoon characters.
There you have it. Invest in high-quality items that will grow with your child. Refresh old pieces with small upgrades and don’t hesitate to personalize the room to your family. That’s how you create the perfect nursery on a budget!