Posted on: October 15, 2006

The Baby Room’s on a Budget

Sleep will be at a minimum, but finances don’t have to be. Decorating for your new arrival without going into debt is easier than you think.

By Sally Farhat
CTW Features

Congratulations – you’re going to be a new parent. We’re sure you, like everyone, is tempted to spend whatever it takes to achieve absolute cuteness when furnishing and decorating a nursery. But you don’t have to spend a bundle. Here’s how to make it cuddly and sweet – without breaking the bank. “Baby rooms are for sleeping and playing, not for looking like a museum,” says Tristen Sullivan, owner and designer of Dust Bunnies, a line of blankets and baby accessories in Los Angeles. heading]Create a budget[heading]

“If you plan in advance, you won’t be as prone to impulse buys,” says Brette McWhorter Sember, author of “Your Practical Pregnancy Planner” (McGraw-Hill, 2005). “Plan out exactly what you need and how much you have to spend on it. Don’t forget you have other expenses during pregnancy to budget for, including medical costs, childbirth classes, maternity clothes, parenting books, diapers and more.”

A good rule of thumb, Sullivan says, is not spending more than $2,000.

Don’t forget that you don’t have to actually purchase everything.

Or if you do, get it used. “It’s a waste to buy brand new furniture, since kids grow out of it so fast,” says Krista Watterworth, host of HGTV’s “Bad Bad Bath.” She suggests heading to tag sales, garage sales and estate sales for gently used furniture that can be sanded and repainted with non-toxic paint.

Have fun with colors

Painting is the cheapest way to decorate. Plus, if you use more fun colors, your child still might like it when he grows up. So what colors are “in?”

Since it’s fall, check out olive green, dark grey and solid browns for boys. For girls, chocolate brown with light pink is popular. Some designers urge parents to be bold with orange or bright green.

When you’re painting, get creative. Stencil, use stripes, or paint a mural. “You can go hog wild,” Watterworth says. “It’s just paint.”

Don’t forget simple technology

There are cool new gadgets that actually can save you money – and energy – in the long run. For example, there’s now a baby monitor that goes beyond just letting you hear baby’s voice; you can talk back into it and he’ll hear you. Don’t buy so many toys, says Stephen Saint-Onge, home and style designer for Philips, New York. “People think you have to have that typical magazine spread room,” he says. “But I tell them to step back and look at the basics.”

Remember, this is a child’s room

Kids can be messy. “I have a cousin who spent $10,000 for baby furniture and I thought that was silly,” Sullivan says. “She will probably have her heart ripped out if something happens to it or a stain gets on the floor. Don’t make a room so perfect that your child will eventually feel like they’re walking on eggshells.”

Choose practical flooring

If you buy wall-to-wall carpet, choose a tightly looped or textured pattern, says Debbie Wiener of Designing Solutions in Washington, D.C. They don’t show as much wear. Layer it with small, colorful throw rugs near the changing table and bed.

Watterworth recommends Flor carpet tiles, which she says are an inexpensive way to cover the floor. “They are completely interchangeable so you can easily transform the room as tastes change, or if there’s an unsightly spill in one area.”

Let there be light

“Too often, lighting is an afterthought,” Wiener says. “But think ahead to reading in bed together, and even late nights of homework.”

She suggests installing recessed lighting over work surfaces, bookshelves and the bed, and putting more fixtures around the room’s perimeter. And don’t forget to put a lamp by the bed.

Don’t buy too much

You’ll be tempted to get 10 of everything, just in case. But you don’t need to.

“You don’t need too many sets of sheets,” Sullivan says. “Two or three is really fine. The truth of the matter is, even though babies go through sheets quickly, you’ll still have enough time to wash them and put them back on the bed.”

Maximize space

The nursery typically is the smallest bedroom in your new home, so you need to take advantage of what you’ve got. Start with the unused vertical space. Install shelving right to the ceiling if your closet isn't adequate, but be sure to anchor it properly to the wall. Use the space above the changing table to place sturdy shelves with bins containing wipes, towels and diapers.

Buy basic storage units

Like your baby, infant accessories are small, so you need a way to keep track of these bits and pieces. For the smallest items, use a hanging organizer over the door made for shoes. Or try a CD hanger with clear pockets. These will hold the tiniest things, like nail clippers, and you can keep similar items in pockets together.

Keep a bin in the closet to hold outgrown clothing and toys for donation or your next garage sale. Be sure to unpack – or return – your shower gifts right away. Most moms will tell you they have tons of baby clothing they never used.

Think about the future

Don’t forget that baby grows quickly, which is why it’s a bad idea to overspend. Consider buying a crib that transforms into a twin-sized bed, for example. Don’t place things too low – baby will start walking around faster than you know it.

Most of all, Saint-Onge says, don’t lose your personal style. “The nursery is an opportunity for both parents to put their slant on what a child’s space should be. Don’t look at what everyone else is doing. Just make sure you feel welcome in that space, and define who you are.”

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