Designing a nursery and preparing for a new baby’s arrival can be exciting and overwhelming. Luckily, there are many cute and creative ways to decorate a nursery that won’t cost a fortune. From setting a budget and coming up with a theme to adding the furniture and finishing touches, this guide will help you learn how to decorate a nursery of your dreams no matter what your budget is. Some materials you may need to start are paint, furniture, and fabric, but the exact materials depend upon how you would like to decorate a nursery for your baby.

• If you have the time and inclination to do so, create an inspiration board. You can take a large piece of paper or poster board and make a list of the feelings you want the nursery to embody. Then you can tape paint samples, fabric swatches, and magazine pictures that you like. http://www.epregnancy.com/pregnancy/Decorating-Babys-Room-Nursery-Tips-and-Ideas.aspx

• Try to create a space that will be comfortable, cozy and inviting to both you and your infant.

• Keep maintenance and ease-of-cleaning in mind when you decorate a nursery. Hardwood floors are very easy to clean. If you go for carpet, you may want a textured carpet to disguise dirt—and you will definitely want a stain-resistant one. Also, make sure baby’s bedding is machine-washable.

• A light dimmer or touch lamp for baby’s room will help in the middle of the night, so that baby and parent aren’t jolted awake by bright light.

This short Mommy's Minute video covers how to decorate your baby's nursery. Keeping a budget is important, and if you have to plurge try and do it on just one item. Try not to go overboard, as it's likely that you'll be redecorating in just a few years.

To begin the process to decorate a nursery for your baby, you will need an estimate of how much money you are willing or able to spend, and an idea of the feelings you would like the nursery to evoke. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to decide upon paint, furniture, and finishing design elements. Keep in mind that you may want to give yourself extra time if you plan to do many projects yourself, such as painting a mural or sewing the curtains. Also, remember that many parts of the nursery do not need to be completed before the baby is born, as he or she may sleep in a bassinet in the parents’ room for the first couple of months.

Decorating a nursery can cost hundreds, even thousands of dollars—but it doesn’t have to! Knowing how to decorate a nursery using your own creativity and skills can save a lot of money. First, you will have to set a budget. Once you have a budget, consider making a list of “must-haves” and “nice-to-haves” so you can target your decorating. http://www.doityourself.com/stry/nurserydecorate You may want to pick just a couple of key pieces to focus your spending on. Many decorative items can be hand made or purchased inexpensively, but quality furniture can grow with your child. A convertible crib starts as a crib, then becomes a toddler bed, and eventually converts to a full-sized bed. Remember that hand made items and special gifts in the future will carry a special sentimental value, so keep the focus on inexpensive items or ones that carry special meaning. http://www.babyzone.com/baby/nursery/article/budget-baby-nursery

Once you have set your budget, choose a theme as a starting place for your nursery. A theme could be something as simple as a color or fabric, or more elaborate such as a fairytale, animal, or nursery rhyme theme. Keep in mind that if you decorate a nursery with a very young theme, you may have to redecorate it in a few years. http://www.pregnancy-info.net/nursery_babyroom.html

If you decorate a nursery with a color theme, many people choose pastel colors (blue, pink, or yellow are popular). If you are daring, try a brighter color. Or try a less conventional color, such as orange, green or brown. Don’t be afraid to break from the traditional blue-for-boys and pink-for-girls themes. Some recent trends include brown and pink for girls, and gray and navy for boys. http://www.doityourself.com/stry/nurserydecorate Some parents decide to decorate a nursery before learning the baby’s gender. Decorating a gender-neutral nursery can provide an added challenge—and can be a lot of fun! Yellow and blue are good gender-neutral colors—especially blues with periwinkle or turquoise tones. http://www.babyzone.com/baby/nursery/article/decorate-gender-neutral-nursery Some possible themes for decorating a nursery are:

1. Animals: You can decorate a nursery with many different cute and playful animals. Some great ideas include bunnies, ducks, teddy bears, farm animals, even frogs! http://www.babyzone.com/baby/nursery/article/decorate-gender-neutral-nursery
2. Western: Cowboys or cowgirls, boots, horses, and cactus can make this a very cute theme.
3. Underwater: To decorate a nursery with an underwater theme, paint the walls blue and accentuate the walls with fish, bubbles, and mermaids. Make sure the colors aren’t too bright or it may over-stimulate the baby.
4. Sky: A sky theme can be very tranquil. Paint the ceiling a light blue with white puffy clouds. You can even purchase glow-in-the-dark paint and paint starts on the ceiling to keep up the heavenly theme when the lights are turned off! http://www.pregnancy-info.net/nurserygoodies.html
5. Fairytale: A castle, prince or princess, knights, and classic fairytale characters can make this theme work for either gender—but it is probably most popular with little princesses.
6. Jungle: To decorate a nursery with a jungle theme use cute animals, jungle vines and rainforest trees.
7. Cartoons: Many popular cartoons can make a great theme for a nursery, and if the child likes the cartoon as he or she grows older, the room could keep this theme for years to come.

Once you have a color or theme chosen, the first tangible step to decorate a nursery is to take care of the walls. There are many options for decorating the walls, the main ones being paint, murals, and wallpaper.

1. Paint: Painting a nursery is an inexpensive way to get the beautiful nursery you envision. You can get creative and have a lot of fun! Some ideas include painting one wall or opposing walls a bolder, accent color. You could also use stencils to paint shapes on the walls. Stencils can be cheaply obtained from any craft store and are very easy to use. Make sure to practice first on pieces of poster board or cardboard. http://www.doityourself.com/stry/nurserydecorate Another way to decorate a nursery’s walls is with decals. Simply peel and stick the decals to the walls and most will not harm the paint or wallpaper. One more idea is to paint the nursery with blackboard paint. This is a paint that comes in a variety of colors, and the child can write on it with chalk and easily erase it. This is a great way to give children a creative outlet right in their own room! http://www.babyzone.com/baby/nursery/article/budget-baby-nursery If you do use paint to decorate a nursery, consider the fact that matte to satin finishes will wear better—the glossier the paint, the more dirt will show up. Also, very light and very dark colors show dirt too, so you may want to opt for colors in the middle range. http://www.pregnancy-info.net/nursery_babyroom.html Also, to cut down on costs, check the returned paint section of the hardware store for discounts. http://www.pregnancy-info.net/nursery_babyroom.html
2. Mural: Murals can seem daunting, but are actually pretty easy if you have access to an overhead projector. Just make some overheads of any theme you wish. Use the projector to project the image on the wall, then trace with pencil. Fill in with paint and voila—you have a wall mural!
3. Wallpaper: Wallpaper can be a beautiful way to decorate a nursery, but it can also be expensive and difficult to apply by yourself. If you are considering wallpaper, you may want to try just a border around the top or middle of the room for an accent. http://www.pregnancy-info.net/nursery_babyroom.html If you do choose to use wallpaper, make sure it is a washable vinyl, which will be easier to clean. http://www.pregnancy-info.net/nursery_babyroom.html

When you decorate a nursery, remember that classic furniture is better than passing fads. Accent items like lamps and curtains can be the latest styles, while keeping the furniture classic and timeless—that way the nursery will grow with your child for less money. http://www.babyzone.com/baby/nursery/article/budget-baby-nursery There are four main pieces of furniture you will probably want: a crib, a changing table, a dresser, and a rocker or glider.

1. Crib: For the first couple of months the baby will probably be in a bassinet or cradle with the parents. But once baby moves into the nursery, you will want to ensure he or she has a good crib. When shopping for a crib, remember safety first—do not compromise safety for style. Safety regulations mandate that any crib build after 1974 adhere to the following guidelines: the space between slats should be no more than 2 3/8 inches, the corner posts should be the same height or less than 1/16 inch higher than the end panels, and the top rails on the sides of the crib should be at least 26 inches above the mattress set in its lowest position. http://www.epregnancy.com/pregnancy/Designing-a-Safe-Nursery.aspx Do not place a crib near a window with a curtain or cord, or under pictures or bookshelves. Place the crib on a stable surface. Also, to reduce the risk of SIDS, be careful with crib bumpers, do not keep stuffed animals in the crib, and remove mobiles once baby is able to pull up.
2. Dresser: Re-using old furniture to decorate a nursery is a great way to save some money. Dressers, in particular, can be easy to do this with. You can paint or re-finish an old dresser, or find pieces at garage sales or thrift stores. You can also take an existing dresser and just change the knobs, which is an easy and inexpensive way to make an old dresser look perfect for the nursery. http://www.pregnancy-info.net/nursery_babyroom.html
3. Changing Table: You can either purchase a changing table, or put a changing table top on a low dresser. Either way, make sure that supplies such as diapers, wipes and ointment are readily accessible. Also ensure that you have a changing pad with curved sides and a strap to keep baby from falling off the table.
4. Rocker or Glider: For many parents, this element is essential--especially when it comes to middle-of-the-night feedings. The glider or rocker is more for the parents’ benefit, but if you can afford it, it is a beautiful addition to any baby’s nursery. If you have a rocker already, consider adding a slipcover that matches the nursery colors—it will look as good as new.

The most important thing to remember for this step is: don’t go overboard! If you go too crazy with the decorating, it can over-stimulate the baby—not to mention it could be incredibly expensive. You can always add more over the years so the room grows with the baby. http://www.parenting.com/gear-article/Gear/Baby-Essentials/A-Chic-But-Cheap-Nursery

1. Curtains: You can always purchase cute themed curtains. However, if you want to save some money, consider making your own curtains for a fraction of the price of many store-brand designs. Also, if you have plain colored curtains or blinds, consider stenciling an image onto the blinds with fabric paint. http://www.pregnancy-info.net/nursery_babyroom.html
2. Rugs: Whether your nursery is carpeted or has hardwood floors, throw rugs can add an element of décor and really brighten up a room for not a lot of money.
3. Shelves and Storage: Consider adjustable shelving that is both functional and decorative—you can alternate, filling some shelves with functional items such as clothes, diapers, and blankets, and others with stuffed animals and decorations. http://www.doityourself.com/stry/nurserydecorate You can also use inexpensive pails from the dollar store to use as storage containers, laundry hampers, or a toy box. You can line the inside with fabric, if you desire. Or you can nail the bottoms of small pails to the wall, right next to each other, to create a “cubby effect.”http://www.parenting.com/gear-article/Gear/Baby-Essentials/A-Chic-But-Cheap-Nursery
4. Gender-neutral: To decorate a nursery that is gender-neutral, remember that you don’t have to get the whole thing done before baby arrives. After your baby has come home, you can add details to make it more gender-specific, if you wish. Picture frames, lampshades, pillows and art are all good options for this. http://www.babyzone.com/baby/nursery/article/decorate-gender-neutral-nursery
5. Finishing Touches: These design elements include light switch covers, wall pictures and hangings, a growth chart, and lamps with fun bases. All of these ideas can add some extra flair to your nursery.