Decorating a nursery can be so much fun, and it can be even more fun when you are on a budget. Let’s take a look at how to decorate a nursery for less than $200.
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Shop smart
When picking out nursery decor items and accessories, shop smart. What I mean by that is, think about the items that are most used and functional and build off of those pieces. For example, start with the crib and dresser. In Leo’s nursery, we used a dresser that was my Dad’s growing up. The crib we chose was from Amazon and it was given to us as a gift. I was able to find some cute crib sheets to add a little touch of fun to the room.
On top of the dresser, we put a small lamp from Target. This lamp serves as a great dim light we can easily turn on before bedtime to help calm the room. It is also great for middle-of-the-night feedings. It provides just the right amount of light so you can see but not blind everyone in the process.
The small side table we use to set the sound machine on is from Walmart. I stumbled upon it while shopping one day. It’s a great size, it’s lightweight, and did not require any assembly! The one we have is no longer available, and was only $10 in-store, but here is one similar on their website.
Always check the sale or clearance section! I found these two curtain panels at Target, on sale for $12.99! These specific ones are no longer available, but here are some that are similar.
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Choose minimal decor
Minimal decor is simple, clean, and easy on the eyes. You want the nursery to feel calm and happy at the same time. For this reason, I opted for minimal wall decor with pops of color. I knew I wanted some sort of fun graphic piece to go over the crib, and this poster from Society6 was just what I was looking for. For safety reasons, it is best to hang something fairly lightweight above the crib, if anything at all. You do not want to risk having something heavy fall off the wall and into the crib. For that reason, I decided to hang this poster with a magnetic poster frame hanger. It was easy to hang and is extremely lightweight.
The framed artwork to the left of the crib is from Marshalls, as well as the diamond-shaped hanging shelves above the bookshelf. Never underestimate what you might find at TJ Maxx, Marshalls, or Home Goods. We had miscellaneous small decor pieces that fit on the shelves. Small books, stuffed animals, small picture frames, etc, were all added to these shelves to incorporate some fun personality.
Another framed piece is from The Wild Wander. This piece is a letterpress illustration of different flora and fauna found in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. This is something I felt was special since we live in North Carolina and have spent time in the Outer Banks and LOVE it there!
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Go thrifting!
My love language is thrifting. You will likely find me at a local thrift store, estate sale, or yard sale, hunting around for the next hidden treasure. The mid-century modern lamp, bookshelf, floor pillow, and storage baskets were all found thrifting. For these items, I paid $22. What I love most about thrifting is that you never know what you are going to find, and when you do find something, it is usually something unique you won’t see everywhere else.
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Tell your story
We did not have the easiest journey when planning for children. Our first pregnancy ended with a miscarriage. We were devastated and heartbroken, to say the least. We were thankful to try again and were able to get pregnant. They say that after a miscarriage, the next baby is a “rainbow baby” because after the storm there is a rainbow. For this reason, we have a rainbow garland hanging on the mirror above the dresser. (The garland I found was in the dollar section at Target but it is no longer available. Linked is something similar.) It is a daily reminder of how much we have to be thankful for and never take anything for granted.
So, to total everything up:
Crib = $0 (gift)
Dresser = $0 (already had)
Sheets = $22.99
Curtains = $12.99
Poster = $13.99
Poster hanger = $12.99
Wall art and shelf = $57
Letterpress print = $40
Rainbow garland = $5
Thrifted purchases = $22
Side table = $10
Total spent = $196.96
See, it does not have to cost a lot to decorate a nursery! Don’t be afraid to get creative, look in places you may not think you’ll find something, and make the nursery unique. You and your little one will spend a lot of time in the nursery, so make it special! Happy decorating!
