Create a Baby Room on a Budget
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If you have a new baby on the way you will probably want to start getting their room set up before they arrive. Even if you don't know the sex of your baby yet, you can still get some things in the room ready ahead of time so that your baby has a comfortable place to come home to from the hospital.
Let's face it, having a baby isn't cheap, so you probably are on a budget for how much you can spend on your baby's room. Having a budget doesn't mean that you can't still have a beautiful room for your baby as long as you know how to shop frugally. You'll be amazed at all the great deals you can find and all the creative touches you can add for next to nothing!
Probably the largest expense in your baby's room is going to be the furniture. If you buy brand new furniture like a crib and changing table it can break your budget before you even get started. A cheaper alternative is to shop for furniture for your baby's room at swap meets, yard sales and flea markets. Used furniture is often just as good as new furniture, but costs a whole lot less. This is especially true with baby furniture since it doesn't get a lot of hard wear and tear like other types of furniture might.
When you are shopping for baby furniture at flea markets and yard sales, the main thing you want to keep in mind is safety. Look carefully over any furniture to make sure that it is sturdy and that it doesn't have any nails or screws sticking out anywhere. Don't get too caught up on the appearance of the furniture since as long as it is sturdy and safe you can almost always refinish it to make it sparkle like new again.
Another thing to keep in mind it that you want to look for funiture that can grow with your baby. Babies don't stay babies forever, so if possible look for furniture that can still be useful when they become toddlers and beyond. For instance, you may be able to find a crib that can also be used as a toddler bed. The more mileage you can get out of a piece of furniture the less money you will have to spend replacing it down the road.
Another thing you will want to keep an eye out for at yard sales is a comfortable rocking chair or recliner that you can put in your baby's room. You will be spending a lot of time in there and you'll need a comfy place to sit and rock your baby. Keep in mind that as long as the chair is comfortable and sturdy, it doesn't have to look great since chairs are fairly easy to refinish or recover if they are upolstered. They main key is that the chair feels good to sit in so you are comfortable while you cuddle with your new baby.
You'll probably also want to have the room painted before your baby comes home. If you don't know the sex of your baby, choosing the paint color may seem difficult. Primary colors tend to work well for both genders. Another good option is to go with a nice pale, neutral green since it can work for either a baby boy or a baby girl.
If you want to spice up the walls a bit you can either look for an inexpensive wallpaper border at your local home store, or consider buying a stencil and stenciling a border or pattern on the walls. Stencils and paint are inexpensive but can add a lot of charm to your baby's room.
Other handmade touches that you can add inexpensively to your baby's room are curtains, blankets and pillows. Try shopping for fabric in the remnant bins since you don't need a lot of fabric to make a cute little pillow.