[Submitted Question]

I can't believe the prices for outfitting a nursery. I want my baby to have the very best but we just can't afford spending hundreds or even thousands on getting the nursery set up. What are good ways to nicely decorate a nursery without going into debt?

[WombToBloom]

Most furniture can be purchased secondhand at a great price – check garage sales, church sales, mothers of multiples club sales, the newspaper and Craigslist. You can usually find stuff in good shape for a fraction of retail price. Or ask your family and friends if you can borrow the baby furniture sitting in their basements!

As far as the rest of the décor, why not find a design element, idea or theme you like – buy one or two pieces (like the bumper pads and bedskirt or the sheets and wall mural) – then buy the remaining items at a discount store? For example, if you’re dying to have the new Wendy Bellissimo bedding, go ahead and purchase the bumper pads and the valances. Then, buy solid color sheets, blankets and changing table pad covers in complementary colors. Do the walls yourself – do a color-match paint at Lowe’s or Home Depot and measure out wide stripes. Or have an artistic friends paint a mural (or use an overhead projector to trace an image on the wall that YOU can paint).

And make sure you look for print and online coupons to places like Babies R Us, WalMart, Target and Baby Depot. Or search the internet for promotional codes to use for discounts or free shipping on internet orders.

[Mike Lake]

One easy way out of fancy priming, painting, wall papering, bordering etc which can be pretty expensive is a wall mural. They are not very expensive and they can cover an entire wall and look amazingly cute.

You can see an example here - Our Baby Nursery - furniture, decoration, bedding and more!

Once you have picked out your art, you can base the rest of the nursery around it. I would suggest bedding, mattresses and the like, buy new. Anything that is going to come in contact with the baby. I would also suggest a crib as well as they continually change what is deemed safe for cribs and buying one from a thrift store etc, you do not know if the bar spacing is up to standard not to mention you would never get any recall information for it. Baby nursery furniture, have at it, thrift stores, second hand, just give it a good sanitize and you are good to go.

Mattresses and change table pads etc I would definitely buy new. You do not want the little tyke's bum rubbing up on something that is not 100% sanitized and clean.
Good luck!

ML

[ClarissaNassar]

I agree about the thrift store shopping! I find that painting ANYTHING white makes it look shabby chic and neutral to use for a boy or girl and gives you a super simple start but you can add blue for a boy or pink for a girl with the accessories! The Dollar Tree always has lots of bins and baskets and Ikea is a great place to shop as well!

I love to design on a small budget and shop the clearance isles at Target! GOOD LUCK!!

[KatieBeach]

For my daughter's nursery I really, really wanted her to have a cute little table and chairs but the prices were astronomical!! So I went to the local flee market and found an old set for $10. I bought some paint and a week later I had an amazing, unique set that she still plays with (and loves) today. To boot we put her little 4 months hands in paint and we have her hand prints, mine and my husbands on her table as well. You just can't buy that kind of sentiment.

[Melissa]

Spray paint is your best friend! I am a big fan of clearance shopping, once you decide on a theme or color scheme you can just pick things up that match as you see them. Don't limit yourself to the baby aisle for accessories, etc. Decoupage and sponge painting can turn a used dresser into an adorable piece of furniture. Be creative and register for the big (crib, etc) stuff. Many times people will go in and buy a shower gift together. That is a great way to get the big stuff. Be sure to let us know how your decorating project turns out!

[MrsAshley]

Painting the walls will add a burst of color. I agree with the previous posts, buying yard sales, and clearance items are fabulous. If it isn't the color or finish you want just paint over it. You could get creative and paint designs or murals on it or you could just paint it a solid color. Paint can transform anything! Don't mix very many colors and patterns or your room will look too "busy." Last but not least, have fun with it! Do what you like and not necessarily what you've seen in a magazine.

[momsquadblog]

Yep, thrift stores & garage sales. I can't tell you the number of nice things I've bought for my kids at the thrift store. They were like brand new & most items were under two dollars.