If you are expect­ing a new baby, chances are you are look­ing for­ward to dec­o­rat­ing a room espe­cially for your new­born.  A baby nurs­ery is great fun to plan and dec­o­rate and you don’t have to spend a for­tune doing it!  Even if you don’t know if you’re hav­ing a baby boy or a baby girl, you can come up with the per­fect theme and color com­bi­na­tion to really dress up an ordi­nary space into a delight­ful baby nursery.

Theme. Begin by select­ing your theme.  Many themes are time­less, like the ocean or a jun­gle or famil­iar nurs­ery rhymes.  Maybe a children’s char­ac­ter you loved as a child could set the tone.  For boys, trains, trucks, sports and cow­boys are pop­u­lar.  For girls, fairies, princesses and bal­leri­nas are clas­sics.  Gen­der neu­tral themes can include trop­i­cal fish, sweet birds, bum­ble bees, farm ani­mals or any of the pop­u­lar licensed children’s characters.

Paint.  When you are ready, start by pick­ing a pleas­ant paint color for all or sev­eral of the walls.  Paint is rel­a­tively inex­pen­sive and can really add inter­est to the room.  Remem­ber though that you will have to live with it for sev­eral years so don’t pick some­thing too dark or dra­matic.  A baby’s nurs­ery should be sooth­ing and some­thing they can grow into.

Dec­o­rate.  Add wall­pa­per trim bor­ders for inter­est or vinyl wall decals sprin­kled about.  These inex­pen­sive dec­o­rat­ing treat­ments can be found online.  Or, do it your­self!  Using poster board, cut out sten­ciled shapes and using com­ple­men­tary col­ors to your back­ground color, sten­cil designs around the room.  Remem­ber to let the back­ground color dry first though before paint­ing on top of it.

Con­sider free­hand paint­ing if you’re artis­ti­cally inclined.  If not, copy an image on over­head pro­jec­tor over­lays and project them on the wall, paint­ing over the image.  The fin­ished results will look like you illus­trated the images your­self and you’ll have fun doing it!  You may even want to repur­pose the image on your Baby Announce­ments.  Make it a group project with help from friends and fam­ily if you want.  On your Baby Shower Invi­ta­tions, invite guests to stick around for a paint­ing party.

Fur­nish.  Baby fur­ni­ture can be found at garage sales, thrift stores or online.  The pieces don’t have to match.  Some of the most charm­ing rooms are a col­lec­tion of mis­matched items.  Add a fresh coat of paint if nec­es­sary.    Include a rock­ing chair if you can and a night­light in the room for mid­dle of the night dia­per changes.

Acces­sorize.  If you’re a seam­stress, sew your own bed­ding and win­dow treat­ments.  If not, con­sider ask­ing a friend or fam­ily mem­ber to help.  Or, bar­gain shop and you are sure to find some­thing per­fect for your new lit­tle one.  The hunt for that some­thing spe­cial can be quite fun!

Per­son­al­ize.  For an extra spe­cial touch, per­son­al­ize the room with the new baby’s name.  Paint it your­self or order online.  Per­son­al­ized wall decals are uniquely inter­est­ing.  And don’t for­get to frame a copy of your Baby Birth Announce­ments for a sim­ple wall decoration.

Surf web­sites for inspi­ra­tion on baby nurs­ery dec­o­rat­ing tips.  You will amaze your­self at how much you can do on your own so get started early as you will be quite busy once your new baby is born!