Decorating a baby’s nursery is such a joyful process. Whether you know the baby’s gender, or are keeping it a surprise, there is something so profound about creating a space that a new little life will find comfort and familiarity with. keep reading for my tips to create a beautiful baby nursery on a budget!
Nurseries can reflect the hopes we have for our baby. Maybe he or she will love animals, and enjoy certain kinds of landscapes, or places in the wide, wide world. Most of all, when designing a baby nursery, we hope it will be a space of peace, calm, and serenity that will soothe mother and child during late night/early morning feedings, stimulate senses and learning during the day, and be a center of security.
I’m excited to share my daughter’s nursery with you! Summer is two now, and as we begin to think about transitioning her to a toddler bed, thought it was time to offer what worked in her nursery and where I can make suggestions that might be helpful in decorating a baby’s room. Peace and calm, along with a sophisticated French feel was the style and feel I was going for with Summer’s nursery.
Here I’ll share some ideas for a timeless and elegant baby girl’s room that will easily transition as she grows, thoughts on how to maximize space, and create a cozy atmosphere. Read on, and also discover price points that are budget friendly.
How to Create a Beautiful Nursery on a Budget:
Maximizing a Small Space and Irregular Shaped Rooms
As you can see, our daughter’s room has some irregularly shaped angles in her room that made furniture layout somewhat challenging. By using those little angles and corners, we were able to create a cozy little corner, or space, where we love to sit and read. Summer feels very content in her crib that is positioned in the corner.
Small spaces require that we pare down to the essentials, to what is most important in a room. Those of us already with children know that “stuff” can easily overtake us. When decorating a nursery, think about beautiful pieces, though use them sparingly.
Create a Soothing Space with Light for your Nursery
The lighting in a room has the ability to really create an ambiance. Anyone who has ever enjoyed a candlelit dinner knows this! When decorating our daughter’s nursery, the idea was to create an elegant, soothing space that would be calming and peaceful for baby to rest in. We started with a vintage French decor theme, using the crib repurposed from our older daughter’s bedroom. Next, the paint color was chosen to invoke a calming and peaceful energy. Depending on the lighting in the room, the paint color takes on a silvery grey or silvery blue tone, which are both very soothing and elegant.
The lamp ended up being the star of the room. When we turn off the main light, this lamp casts a warm yellow tone that adds a level of coziness and security to nursing sessions and bedtime stories. Although our daughter is now two, we still enjoy reading books in this cozy space and the warm yellow lamp gives us such a warm feeling.
Small Touches Add Decorative Elements to your Baby Nursery on a Budget
Small touches like the gilded mirror, the 3-D butterflies on the wall, and the crown with hanging curtain over the crib add decorative elements without being too thematic. While Summer was still an infant, I would draw the curtains hanging down from the crown over the crib closed so it was like she was in a nest. She loved it. I will caution that when your baby is able to stand up, it’s time to remove the curtains so there is no risk of baby becoming tangled up or pulling down on them.
Start a Collection that Has Meaning to Your Family or Child
A collection of items displayed on a floating shelf adds visual interest. It also provides a special story that is unique to your family and/or child. Summer has a collection of jewelry boxes on a floating shelf in her nursery. A couple of them were gifts from special people in our life, while a couple are vintage finds. They tell a story in a way that is unique to Summer.