How can a parent decorate a baby nursery without spending too much? Here are some ideas to help parents save money.
As parents anxiously await the arrival of a precious new baby boy or girl, they are probably buying all kinds of baby items. Whether this is their first child or their fourth, there are always things to buy. For their first child, they must outfit the nursery from scratch. For a later child, they might want to give an old nursery a new look. Regardless of the situation, here are several ways to make the most of a baby room decorating budget:
Repurpose other household furniture into baby nursery furniture. Odds are most people have an old end table or dresser that doesn’t get much use or even resides in an attic or garage. A fresh coat of paint can work wonders on these items. White paint coordinates well with most nursery décor. If the nursery has a darker color scheme, consider using black paint instead.
Purchase nursery decorations through Craigslist or Ebay. Larger items are obtained more cheaply on Craigslist because they can be picked up locally to avoid shipping charges. Using Craigslist takes a little more diligence than using Ebay, however, because selection is limited to what is available in a local area at the time. Ebay is great for purchasing smaller, lightweight items at low prices.
Borrow baby room decorations from friends or family. Almost everyone with young children is bound to have leftover baby nursery items on hand. Make a deal to share baby nursery items back and forth so no one has to purchase a full setup on their own.
Shop discount stores instead of specialty retailers. It’s tempting to purchase cute baby nursery items at a specialty store, but the same items from Wal-mart will work just as well. A baby won’t know the difference, but her parent's wallet will.
Add inexpensive items to the baby registry. Friends and family love to buy for baby. Add relatively inexpensive items like linens, artwork, changing pads, blankets, a musical mobile, and a night light to the baby registry.
Shop consignment sales for baby nursery decorations. Like yard sales, but bigger and better, consignment sales are sponsored by groups whose members donate items for sale. Proceeds typically go back to the group or charity, so members are willing to donate nice items to consignment sales. Parents should keep an eye out for recurring consignment sales held by church groups or school organizations. Great deals are often easily found at these events.
Check out Freecycle for baby nursery decor. Thousands of people around the world log on every day to give away perfectly good items that they no longer have use for. As of December 2007, there were thousands of Freecycle communities through Yahoo! Groups, primarily based on geographic locations like cities and counties, so most parents should be able to find one convenient for them. Fast action is necessary, though – some items are claimed within minutes of being posted. Whenever the baby can no longer use the item claimed, parents should consider offering it up on Freecycle again, to keep the cycle going.
Preparing for and caring for a baby while sticking to a budget takes creativity. In addition to finding creative means of outfitting a baby nursery, cost-conscious expectant parents can curb expenses by only purchasing newborn necessities.
The copyright of the article Baby Nursery Décor on a Budget in Bedroom Decor is owned by Lena Gott. Permission to republish Baby Nursery Décor on a Budget in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.