Planning a beautiful budget nursery

Spend your money where its most needed
Prioritise your nursery needs to determine where to best spend your money. Whether function or beauty is your choice it’s better to spend money on the more important items rather than decor. Your cot and a good cot mattress should be your number one priority; it will get the most use, especially if you intend to use it as a toddler bed.

Plan ahead to save cash
These days it seems that everything is on sale at some time, even the best baby furniture. Buying on special allows you to buy better or buy more. Most baby stores also offer a lay-by service of up to six months, making periodic payments is a much cheaper option than credit.

Cheap and easy wall finishes
Thank goodness there’s more to wall finishes than wall paper. Wall decals now come in a huge and affordable range and add lots of personality to your nursery. You don’t need to be skilled or have artistic merit to apply them and when it’s time to update they are easy to remove.

Wall decals are also great for creating spaces within a room if siblings are sharing.

Everything old is new again, mix new, second hand and vintage
Often baby gear, especially for newborns, never gets worn out because of limited periods of use. You can make big savings but not skimp on quality by ferreting out your expensive favourites second hand. Try eBay, Monkey’s Undies or your local Baby and Kids markets.

Vintage kids gear is becoming more and more popular because you can get great quality design at bargain basement prices. Hunting around your local flea or antique markets, second hand shops and general auction houses can be great fun. There are now a number of specialist kids vintage shops online, check them out for some inspiration.

Get clever and crafty
Design blogs are becoming more and more popular and my favourite, ohdeedoh, is all about creating the perfect nursery. It’s packed with really clever DIY ideas which are easy, cheap and fun.

If you can’t manage a DIY project, there are plenty of people who can do it for you at a reasonable price. Etsy or the Australian craft site Made It list tons of beautiful, unique handmade baby products at reasonable prices. Check them out regularly to find the special pieces that are kind to your hip pocket.

Find your budget buys
I’ve heard it said many times that you get what you pay for but sometimes you can find a bargain or two. Our reviews section is full of great nursery buys for every budget; pick your favs or hit the shops to find a few of your own. That way you’ll have some extra cash to ...

Buy something special
Now that you’ve gone to all the trouble to create your beautiful budget nursery it’s time to splurge a little of your savings on something special you love. Remember you are going to be spending a lot of time in there too!