Amy Partridge from Westchester Magazine recently asked me about what it takes to put a nursery together in a price conscious way.
She was a little surprised by what I had to say.
I'm a mother of three, and my son, whose nursery I recently decorated, just turned six months old. And let me tell you, shopping smart from the get go has saved me thousands.
My secret is simple: I'm a black belt ninja shopper and I almost always shop for the long run.
When it comes to designing for children, making smart choices from the get go is the key to saving money and reducing stress.
One great way to save money when designing your child's nursery is to shop around. Another is to hire a designer.
A Designer? Yes.
Most families that hire me aren't wealthy. They're people like you and I who are seeking professional advice and don't have the time or money to continuously redo rooms.
Hiring a design professional is a smart choice in these cases as designers have the expertise to properly design a room, quickly and stylishly pull it together and can pass on their discounts to you. With a decisive client and efficient decision making, a large part of the cost of the service can be offset by your savings.
“Don’t forget you will be spending a lot of your time in the nursery - making sure there’s something that you can enjoy in the room makes sense.
And remember: Cute doesn’t last when it comes to decorating.”
A grown up chair can absolutely live in your nursery!
To save money and keep the room geared towards your child, consider using your toys and books to add color and life. Sometimes, there's just no need to buy a lot more than what you already have.
If you still want to go it alone, here are some things to consider:
Spend a few weekends and some down time going into your local stores, from big box stores like BuyBuyBaby and Pottery Barn Kids to little neighborhood shops in your area.
Find your style and do your research. Buy magazines, get fabric swatches and go online. A lot.
Fabrics, furniture finishes, paints and carpeting samples are essential when pulling a room together. Always keep your drawings, dimensions and an inspirational object or two on hand as well. These will help keep you focused and may help avoid you winding up with a room that doesn't function well or feels like it doesn't belong in your home.
Find where you can see the merchandise in person and go see it. If you're a suburbanite and don't have much to see locally, go to the big city. Trust me, even five trips to the city are worth it.
Ask your friends for recommendations on quality and features.
If it's your first time buying a crib you will need to decide if you want a drop down or fixed front; slates all around or just on the front and back. Are you crib skirt people or does the mere thought turn you off? Do ruffles horrify you or are they a must?
Did you get furniture passed down to you or are you starting from scratch?
Now that I mentioned it, do you need a chair? A toy chest? Dresser? Shelves? Is the nursery closet organized? A simple rod will not do for baby. Do you want to purchase art or have some you'd like to incorporate?
Ever heard of the kitchen work triangle? The same rule applies. In the nursery your basic working triangle should help you work effectively. Keep your dresser, changing table and laundry hamper within arm's reach for ease of use.
Here's a trade secret: We installed two laundry hampers. When baby grows up, one can turn into a toy bin. Here, one hamper is installed in the bottom drawer of the closet. This way it's tucked away, easy to get to and doesn't take up valuable floor space.
Some other things you might want to ask yourselves relate to your baby's room from an environmental aspect. Do you or your spouse have allergies? Are you eco-conscious? Concerned about VOCs? Do you have wall to wall carpeting that might need removing? Is the lighting adequate? Do you want room darkening shades or blinds? Are the power outlets up to code? Have you checked and updated your CO2 detector and picked a handy spot for a fire extinguisher? Do you need safety gates? All these things should go on your shopping list.
Then, if you're on a budget, wait for sales.
Be sure of your choices since often the best sales are non-refundable and that questionable crib? Not something you want to look at for the next 2 or 3 years, more if you have multiple kiddos planned (by the way, all three of mine used the same crib- another reason I shopped for quality).
Finally, don't forget to shop ahead – it's not uncommon for quality nursery furniture to have a lead time of 8-12 weeks.
The process is time consuming and for some, somewhat overwhelming. If you are stylish and want to do it yourself don't be discouraged – it is doable – just be sure to be organized and methodical. Pick things you need, things you love and things you can afford.
And if reading this is making you break out, you just might want to hire someone to help you. It shouldn't break the bank.
- Sigal
Working with a professional doesn't have to break the bank and can give you great results to enjoy for many years.
See my son's nursery as it was featured on Wee Westchester's Coolest Kids Rooms.