We went furniture shopping this weekend. We agreed on a Munire crib and a Best glider. When I think about everything else we still need to purchase (rug, window treatments, dresser, lamp, bookshelf/side table) it's starting to add up. I'm just wondering if I should bother spending that much money on a nursery.
What have you done or what are you doing for a nursery?
My mom bought the crib and changing table/dresser. I wish I would have splurged on a nice glider/upholstered rocker. We got a Poang rocker from ikea, which is ok and I won't replace it now, but I wish I had gotten something nicer.
MIL, SIL, and H painted the nursery. We bought a nice crib (Baby's Dream) and glider (Little Castle). We are using an existing dresser as a changing table, an existing bookcase, and my mom gave us an old "diaper rack" which is really just fold-out shelving to store things at easy reach next to the changing table. We haven't even put up decor yet, but my mom brought a bunch of stuff that was hanging in the nursery when I was a baby, so we won't need to buy much of that. We have plantation shutters, so we skipped any additional window treatments. I think we'll still need a small side table to go next to the glider, but the nursery is kind of in disarray because my mom is staying on the futon in there (2Br condo, so nowhere else for her to stay). I'll have to wait until everything is in its permanent location before I get everything finalized.
@charky Do you like your Jenny Lind crib? That was my front runner for the longest time. Glider is definitely something we want to splurge on, too. Window treatments and rug are must-haves for us because there are currently none in the room
We only spent about $500 on nursery furniture and decor. We were given a changing table, and got a crib for $140 and glider for $120 from BRU (glider was on super clearance). We're using a cube storage unit with baskets and drawers from IKEA in lieu of a dresser. Curtains from Target, small rug from Ross. We bought some prints off etsy and framed them with IKEA frames.
So none of our stuff is "high-end" but I am happy with the sturdiness of everything I got and the overall look. Everything should last through toddlerhood at least, and I think we'll be able to reuse the crib and changing table for a second kid.
My parents bought our cribs. We bought a glider and dresser. I bought a rug at target and a storage cube with some bins. I also got some art on etsy and frames from BB&B. I need a little side table for the glider and a lamp but other than that we won't be buying much else for nursery. I had redone the closet (since I use part of it) before I got pregnant. And my mom is making the skirts, sheets, and window valences so I did have to spend money on fabric. And also paint since that room hadn't been painted.
I think you can do a nursery for cheap. Everyone is different on decorating if they don't do much, do a lot, buy cheap, or buy custom made stuff. My prints were around $40 and the frames were $30 but I don't plan to buy anymore. The dresser and chair were around $400 total but we had money put aside for those items. Rug was $50 which was the cheapest I could find for the size I wanted. I find it hard to not splurge but at the same time I don't want the nursery to look too busy and don't fill the need to have every wall space filled.
We are spending a lot, because we are replacing the windows and carpet the baby's room and in the adjoining room. We also splurged on a glider (Best Chair), but are getting a cheap crib ($200 from Babies R Us) and an Ikea dresser that will double as a changing table. We got cheap curtains from Target and are using a lamp we already have. I don't know if we are going to get a rug, but it would be a cheapie!
We are spending a lot, because we are replacing the windows and carpet the baby's room and in the adjoining room. We also splurged on a glider (Best Chair), but are getting a cheap crib ($200 from Babies R Us) and an Ikea dresser that will double as a changing table. We got cheap curtains from Target and are using a lamp we already have. I don't know if we are going to get a rug, but it would be a cheapie!
Yeah, we're spending a lot total too, since we're moving walls around and recarpeting the whole upstairs. But we wanted to do that eventually anyway, this is just a good time for it.
Yep! We have been putting this stuff off, but baby has given us the push to finally get it done!
We've gone super minimalist. I re-assembled the crib we used for DD and moved the dresser from DD's room to the baby's room because the changing pad fits on top of it perfectly. We had the room re-painted simply because I had always disliked the color on the walls in there, but I haven't gone all out with hanging anything or doing window treatments or anything like that. The baby won't even sleep in there until he/she is 5/6 months old.
All books, toys, etc. will be stored in DD's room or the living room for the foreseeable future. When DD (now 6) was a toddler, all of her toys were in the living room anyway because that's where we spent most of our time. Her room was just for sleeping, really, until she was about 3.
RexManningDay and KaraOrNot oh yeah, this nursery "project" is already costing a fortune! We needed new windows for the nursery which turned into why not start replacing all the windows on the second floor? Plus finally patching some siding while we're at it. And well that turned into we have carpenter ants and need to remove a tree and install a termite system. Fun times. So in the grand scheme of things, this nursery furniture is a drop in the bucket.
We got a nice crib and changing table handed down from a friend. I bought an upholstered glider for $300 from Costco, but I'm not sure if that will go in the baby's room or somewhere else. I do need to get the (new, poorly installed) carpet stretched, and I may get new curtains. Everything else we'll just wing as it comes up.
All our nursery furniture is from Ikea so not too expensive, but what's getting us is 2 cribs and 2 crib mattresses! I would like to get linens and curtains from PB. We're going to reuse a recliner we already have in the nursery instead of buying a new glider.
Post by thatgirl2478 on Jul 21, 2014 13:22:52 GMT -5
With DD1, we went ALL OUT. We bought a FANCY crib (that converts to a full size bed) & a FANCY dresser (ie - expensive - $1500 for 2 pieces). We had a bookshelf and a rug, but we bought a glider (FANCY - $350)... Guess what? Babies chew on fancy furniture as much as cheap stuff. And, once it's been chewed on it looks crappy - even the fancy stuff.
So, DD still has her FANCY stuff, but we're not making the same mistake for DD2. We're spending about $150 on a crib and spent $220 on an IKEA Hemnes dresser/changing table. No glider (no room in her room, plus we have one in DD's room that we never REALLY used much), no bookshelf - she'll have wall shelves but other wise there's no room in the room since her room needs to function as a guest room too. Honestly, we'll mostly use her room for sleeping & changing until we figure out another bedroom option...
I did up a whole nursery when DS1 was about 3 months. It looked great but we never used it. DS1 slept with us for a long time.
Honestly, it was a huge waste of money. We didn't even play in there that much because we preferred to play in the living room where I could keep an eye on him while I cooked or did household stuff.
We moved overseas when DS1 was 19 months and I sold the crib, glider and decor for less than half of what we paid for it. I wish I had been more savvy back then and bought second hand.
The woman that bought our crib did her whole nursery off Craigslist. I saw photos - it looked just as good as mine if not better and was a lot less money.
For this one (#3) I'll get a Moses basket+stand or arms reach cosleeper second hand because we'll have this baby room in and/or bed share for most of the first year. I'll bring the glider into our room from the boys room.
FWIW, I am having way more fun decorating for my almost five year old than I did decorating a nursery. We're moving and he's already picked out a new duvet cover and some wall decals with robots on them.
Post by demandypants on Jul 21, 2014 13:42:49 GMT -5
lol, poor second children. I searched high and low for DD's perfect nursery setup. Saved on a crib, but spent on an all wood, dovetail joint dresser that "she can use forever!"... tall wooden bookcase. PB Kids rug. The twins nursery will look more like this- two dressers we already have from DH's childhood. Two Ikea (or other inexpensive cribs). Rug, ceiling fan, paint, curtain. And the rocking chair from my mom from when I was little which I used for my DD too. So we will have twice the babies in the room and probably spend half as much.
We went kinda crazy with C - we were starting from scratch and needed EVERYTHING. I think we spent around $3k on nursery furniture - convertible crib with all the conversion parts, crib mattress, dresser/changing table combo, chest of drawers, night stand (as a side table), and glider with ottoman.
our logic was that one of two things would happen: a) this would be C's forever furniture, for use until she moved it our of our house with her or b) we would use all of this for a future kid and get C new stuff.
it all stayed in pretty good shape. we used a teething guard on the crib, so at worst, there are wear marks from where we would lean in to get her, or where movers nicked it.
we happen to be down the barrel of scenario (b) right now. we also lucked in to redoing C's room on the cheap (my uncle offered us my great-grandmother's bed frame, i bought a dresser on craigslist, nightstands are ikea, and a chair at world market - add the mattress and lamps in and i spend less on her big girl room than on her nursery!!).
since i don't have to buy furniture this time around, i'm splurging on bedding. where i spent maybe $200 total for C's room (curtains included), i spent that on curtains alone this time!!
i would skip the rug - the baby won't likely play in his or her nursery anyway. curtains, lamps, decor can all come with time. no need to get it ALL DONE NOW. i would recommend the dresser, if nothing else to have a changing surface in the room. if you have a bed or futon in the same room, you can wait on the dresser, too!
Yes! I love nursery talk. We were very fortunate to have a lot of help from my parents, inlaws, and aunt in setting up our nursery. My husband and FIL built custom wainscoting on the bottom half of the walls, and we painted the top half a pale pink.
For the crib, we went with the Munire Keyport from BBB. It was ~$400 with the 20% coupon but we do plan on this being her bed for childhood/adolescence as well.
Our bedding and mobile were shower gifts from Pottery Barn Kids, which you can kind of see in the picture above.
For the glider we got the Best Tryp from BBB which was definitely a splurge at $500. However, since we had to give up our only other bed in the house for the nursery, it was important to me to have a chair comfortable enough to sleep in if I had to. It fully reclines and is super comfortable.
For the dresser, we're just using a white wicker unit that was mine growing up. I added a fresh coat of paint and changed the knobs to pretty crystal ones. We put a changing pad on top and it seems like it will work fine. I like the sentimental aspect of it.
I also splurged on the lighting. We had a $40 crystal chandelier from Ikea that I fell in love with years ago and always said I wanted it in my daughter's room one day. When we found out it was a girl, my mom surprised me with the chandelier the same day. I loved it, but it unfortunately hung too low in the room and poor H would clunk his head on it. I tried to find a flushmont chandelier instead and of course the only one I liked was a $$$ one from PBK. I used the gift card I got from my work to buy the Mia chandelier from PBK.
I picked up an inexpensive storage cube organizer at Target over the weekend to go at the bottom on the closet to keep the nursery clutter free. For decor, one wall will have the RIBBA picture ledges from IKEA that we'll use to display books. It's a storage solution and wall art in one. Over the crib, we're doing a white tree decal and over the dresser just some Etsy prints framed with plain IKEA frames with a small mirror I'm planning to get at HomeGoods or the like. As soon as we get the decor finalized, I'll have lots of pics!
Post by rachelgreen on Jul 21, 2014 14:06:24 GMT -5
We have family that is buying us our crib (not expensive from BRU, the Delta Chalet) and matching dresser. We want to splurge on a glider. KaraOrNot - did you try out your glider? If so, what stores in our area carry it?
We really should replace the windows in the nursery as well. They need it badly.
My mom bought us a crib on super duper sale. I painted a dresser white my DH boss gave us to match the crib. I bought a glider at a thrift store and just replaced the cushions. I bought some decorations for the room and maybe spent $100. I think the total of the nursery with the crib, mattress, glider, cushions, and decorations was $300.
Post by perkyderky on Jul 21, 2014 16:01:29 GMT -5
I bought my crib, short dresser with the changing station, plus a taller dresser and nightstand shortly after Stanley announced they were stopping production of their Young America line. I got all 4 pieces for less than what they are (still) advertising on their website--which still isn't inexpensive, but is much, much more reasonable than regular retail--and at least the dressers and night stand will be OK for years to come. Also, one of the furniture manufacturers I work with a lot gave me their Friends and Family discount rate on the swivel-glider recliner I wanted, so that was a steal of a deal as well--that too will go in my sun room once the kiddo doesn't need to be nursed. I'm kind of a stickler when it comes to furniture, so I am willing to pay more than most on it. Our local CL in general sucks, so I really couldn't count on buying much second hand from there and I don't have any local friends with younger children--at least none I share a great deal of taste with (and I fear that any of my friends that could have children after us will likely say the same about me--I'm curious about the creative "thanks, but no thanks" stories that will come up after I offer up any of my gently used items.).
I had "vintagey" hot air balloon prints in that room to begin with, so unless they clash horribly, I plan on keeping those in the room as well. My Aunt made me a fabulous nursery rhyme quilt and some other wall hangings as back up in case my prints don't work. I'm working on finding a rug that works with the shape of the room and the furniture--the walls of my nursery were already a pastel yellow and the furniture is light grey. I had the bedding custom made because I didn't really love any of the existing gender neutral options in the stores---I'm really not a "theme" kind of girl and everything seemed to pigeon hole you into one. We definitely went a little over board, especially since we expect this to be our only child. We waited 9 years to have this kid, and as a 35 year old first time Mom, my taste is my taste, so...yeah.
Post by hillarywhitney on Jul 21, 2014 17:50:34 GMT -5
We have a crib, dresser (to be used as a changing table too), and glider with ottoman in the nursery. We got the dresser from Ikea, my mom bought the crib for us, and the glider was our splurge. We didn't have to get any window treatments (we have plantation shutters) and are not putting a rug in the nursery yet (maybe down the line). We have a carpet in the bedrooms.
And we have some prints from Etsy on the walls, along with two small shelves from Ikea.
I found it overwhelming at first when adding up the costs. Getting the dresser from Ikea definitely helped with the budget
We have family that is buying us our crib (not expensive from BRU, the Delta Chalet) and matching dresser. We want to splurge on a glider. KaraOrNot - did you try out your glider? If so, what stores in our area carry it?
We really should replace the windows in the nursery as well. They need it badly.
The Lullabye Shop. I wasn't expecting much, but it is much larger than I thought. They have a ton of chairs to try out and the employees are super helpful. They custom ordered the color we wanted and it was ready in 3 weeks. Plus, they have an awesome return policy (like we could return it if we didn't like the color) and offer service if something breaks. We should go sometime!
We rent a house, and are anticipating moving to a different state after the new year, so we aren't decorating a full on nursery. Heck, I should take a picture of the paint color in the room we're using. It's an awful bright purple (was our landlords teenage daughter's room) and we're having a boy. The decor I like clashes (navy blue and lime green), but I figure the baby won't know and hopefully the next house has neutral walls.
We are only buying a glider (ordered from BBB) and getting a dresser before baby arrives. He'll sleep in a pack n play until after the move and I'll buy a crib then.
We have family that is buying us our crib (not expensive from BRU, the Delta Chalet) and matching dresser. We want to splurge on a glider. KaraOrNot - did you try out your glider? If so, what stores in our area carry it?
We really should replace the windows in the nursery as well. They need it badly.
The Lullabye Shop. I wasn't expecting much, but it is much larger than I thought. They have a ton of chairs to try out and the employees are super helpful. They custom ordered the color we wanted and it was ready in 3 weeks. Plus, they have an awesome return policy (like we could return it if we didn't like the color) and offer service if something breaks. We should go sometime!
Sounds good to me. I went in there once before with my MIL but we were looking at the cribs and bypassed the chairs.
We got our crib and glider handed down to us by my aunt and uncle and they are in very good condition. We are using a bookshelf we already have and will buy a long dresser for sure and maybe an armoire/tall dresser and nightstand too, depending how much space we have.
I got our bedding from eBay, it's the Dwell Studio owl print. I got an awesome deal on it and just need to get some matching prints for the walls.
We need to paint and get new blinds/curtains for the nursery, so I'm sure that will be a pretty penny. I probably need to look into that soon, huh?
Mom and dad bought our crib and dresser- Romina Imperio in distressed gray. In laws are buying our glider--PB comfort swivel glider in Gray twill. Mom and I split the cost on this pottery barn bedding set.
H and I are very lucky to have such a generous family. We paid about $150 of our own money for the nursery. Our parents took care of the rest.
We have done nothing. We really need to get it together.
The plan is a Davinci crib (~$250), spending a little more on a comfy glider, and hopefully getting a dresser that we will use as a changing table on Craigslist or at an estate sale. I have a crib skirt/teething rail and possibly matching curtains I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with and wall decor off Etsy. I'm hoping to keep it under $1,000 for the whole thing.
I love decorating so I'm excited about the nursery. Now that we know we're having a girl we need to really get working on the nursery. I wanted to keep the same room color (a light sage) not matter what the gender and make sure all of the big items worked in both of our spare bedrooms. For example the dresser and bookcases will be low enough to fit under the windows in both rooms because we have very limited wall space otherwise. Here's my inspiration board so far:
We have a crib from CL that matches the cherry color of our trim and an antique dresser (also from CL) that we need to do some major work on. It's the perfect size and has lots of unique details with the scalloped front and beading detail so it's worth the effort. We're going to repaint it to be solid white and build a new solid cherry top we'll stain to match the trim. Both spare rooms have cherry craftsman style trim with white closet doors (we took the old dark oak slab doors and made them white craftsman ones) so the white/cherry scheme works well in both room. My dad is going to build two small white melamine bookcases for under the window similar to these PB kids ones:
The chair is Best Chairs Storytime Benji in a yellow and white pattern. It glides, reclines, and has a tall enough back for my head (I'm 6'). I'm torn on the rug right now. I want something that isn't too little kiddish and has enough colors to work with various color schemes so it will work long term. The chair and rug are our two splurges. The crib and the dresser together only cost us $200. Of all the furniture pieces the crib is the shortest term item so I didn't want to spend a lot on it. My FIL actually offered to build a solid cherry crib which would have been awesome but it would be an heirloom piece we'd have to keep for forever and I'd be worried about every little bite mark and scratch. This one can get destroyed and I won't feel bad about getting rid of it.
My mom and I are going to sew the curtains, roman shade, a crib skirt, and a couple matching sheets (I'll also probably register for some neutral ones). For art I'd like to get the watercolor in my inspiration board or something similar. When we change the room in the future that piece would work in multiple locations of the house. I've also been collecting some sepia toned pictures of my grandparents when they were kids I'd like to hang up in the room. I'll probably get a starburst mirror for over the crib. I'm looking at this mobile for the space as well:
DH has already built nice cherry storage towers in both bedroom closets with adjustable shelves and double rods on one side. Both rooms have brand new solid hardwood hickory floors and solid cherry trim my dad and I made from the two year remodel we just finished. The windows will be replaced at a later date along with the window trim (hence the valance, roman shades, and curtains to make the non-matching trim less noticeable).
So far we are just in the ideas stage, because we don't know what we're having yet.
I really want to do a raindrops and umbrellas theme and have been pinning a bunch of stuff centered around that:
The crib will be moved from C's room (basic white Graco Lauren) and the glider will be too (Best Chairs Quinn in gray), but we'll get a new dresser/changing station. I'm thinking an Ikea Hemnes.