Creating Your Baby's Haven--On A Budget

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

30 May 2006 12:12 PM

The cost of decorating baby's nursery adds up fast! So how can you achieve a peaceful yet stylish room for your little one without going into debt? Here are a few creative ideas I learned from friends and family members who have designed some adorable nurseries on a budget:

This idea was the brainchild of my schoolteacher friend's principal. Prior to going on maternity leave, the principal gave my friend's second grade students an art project to work on at home. The children each received a piece of paper to create their own "masterpieces" using crayons, finger paints or chalk. The finished projects were placed in individual inexpensive white frames (you can get affordable frames at the Dollar Store or Hobby Lobby). My friend then used them as a colorful border around the entire nursery.

If you are dead-set on using a mass-market theme in your child's nursery, try shopping for the items at discount stores. Smaller baby boutiques will typically charge more for items than larger retailers and often the selection is almost identical. Start early and shop around, you may be surprised at where you can find great baby bargains.

When I was pregnant with my daughter I fell in love with a 5-by-8-foot rug I found in the Pottery Barn Kids catalog. The price of my object of affection: $600. I adored the rug, but not its hefty price tag. Hearing this, my friend suggested a more affordable alternative she had employed in her son's room. Instead of purchasing a large area rug, she had a carpet store bind the sides of a carpet remnant and created her own.

Knowing that changing tables become unnecessary in two or three years, one creative mom I know decided to design her own out of an old potting bench. She converted the bench into a changing table by securing Velcro straps to the underside of the large tray top that already had edges. She added a padded bumper top and used the bottom shelf to hold diapers, wipes and lotions. The piece was a perfect fit in her garden theme nursery. The project was easy, inexpensive, and turned out beautifully.

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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