10+ DIY Baby Nursery Ideas: Decor & Decorating On A Budget
Do you need easy, money-saving baby nursery ideas? I was in the same boat a few years ago when we found out we were expecting our first child. Nursery DIY projects are a great way to create a space you will love without having to spend a ton of money.
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Decorating your baby’s room can be a lot of fun, but overwhelming at the same time. We get it, but hopefully, this list of budget DIYs will inspire you to tackle a few projects yourself.
Tips For Designing Your Space
Biggest Mistake In Nursery Decor
I searched all over Pinterest, read numerous blog articles, and even looked at images in House Beautiful.
For example, I love the idea of a tiered basket to hold all of your diaper necessities. However, once you have a baby (or an older baby), you realize that they might just pull that wonderful holder over on themselves while you are trying to pin them down to change their diaper.
Consider Safety Over Design
I am not an expert on childproofing or safety. However, I do know that some of those beautiful pictures you see of baby nurseries are not only not practical, but they are not safe.
Make sure to stay up-to-date on all the new guidelines when designing a space for your child.
Always Anchor Furniture & Shelves
Make sure to anchor all shelves and dressers to the wall properly. This is very important for the child’s safety, especially once they start roaming around.
10 Budget DIY Nursery Ideas
DIY Nursery Ideas
Get inspired with these real-life nursery ideas for your space.
Nursery Nook in the Main Bedroom
If don't have a ton of extra space for a separate nursery? The fun colors in this main bedroom still make this DIY nursery idea feel like a special place for your little one. We love the fun accessories, like these velvet baskets.
Makeover Furniture Pieces
There is no need to buy all new furniture when you want to have an older piece you can redo. This ombré dresser was painted using homemade chalk paint with colors from the same swatch. Your nursery is the perfect place to have fun with unique pieces of furniture.
Think Outside The Box For Shelving
We love these spice racks turned shelves that we used to store our children's keepsakes. You can paint them fun colors that match your baby's nursery and then display their toys and books as part of the nursery shelf decor.
Gender-neutral DIY Nursery Ideas
Add personal touches to your gender-neutral nursery in order to showcase your love for your baby. From a comfortable glider to lots of storage, this nursery shares a lot of great projects.
Soft Color Scheme
Did someone say budget-friendly? We love it when DIY projects can help you stay on track. With a new baby arriving, your nursery needs to stay within that budget. These soft elements help get this room organized and pretty.
Boho Farmhouse Style Nursery
Green is not always a boy's color. This baby girl's nursery is warm and inviting with added neutral colors. We love this modern nursery's special accent wall and simple nursery furniture.
Fun Painted Wall Accent Walls
This honeycomb wall is a fun way to add personality to your nursery. You could change the color scheme to fit any theme or design you are going for.
Roll Items For Easy Access
If you are a fan of Maire Kondo, you may know that she suggests you roll things. I have found this to be very helpful to fill some of the cloth cube containers so that you can see all of the baby blankets (which here are my favorites) and burp cloths.
#9 Fun Patterned Curtains
Create DIY Blackout Curtains
I wish I could say that I sewed my blackout nursery curtains. However, if you have read some of my other DIY ideas, you know I have an awesome mother who can sew almost anything.
However, I do always find the fun fabrics I want to use. My mother created these amazing curtains with a simple pocket-hanging rod. She also added an extra layer of blackout material so the baby nursery would be mostly dark when we wanted it to be.
Here are a few of my favorite DIY no-sew cloth ideas (No Sew Curtains & No Sew Bunting Flags) you may want to consider for your nursery decor.
#10 DIY Felt Mobile Idea
Even though I am a no-sew kind of girl, I still loved the idea of creating a DIY felt mobile.
You can create this by spray painting a few embroidery hoops to match your color scheme. Any beginner can sew little jungle animals or other items out of felt. I attached all the pieces together using a fishing wire.
So far, the DIY mobile has held up for several years, and I am so happy that I added it to my DIY nursery decor.
Related DIYs
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Relax and enjoy this time as you prepare for your family to grow. I know that is easier said than done.
Great tips! Our first is arriving in May and although we know the gender, we have done lots of greens to keep it somewhat gender neutral for future babies!
Hi Rachel. Yes, green and yellow seem to be the most common gender-neutral colors. I loved adding a little twist with teal and orange to our diy nursery. Congrats on the little one!
Love these nursery decor ideas!! It’s also so great for organizing. It makes me miss those days
Hi Sarah. Yes, storage is a must for a baby nursery. I always know that things need to be easily in reach when having a young baby!
Omg I absolutely move the spice rack shelves, such a clever idea! Bookmarking this as we prepare for baby number 2
Hi Karissa! We love our spice racks as DIY nursery shelving! They were super easy to spray paint the colors of your nursery. Congrats on baby #2!
These are so great! I love any kind of storage related ideas, as I’m a bit of a neat freak.
Hi Jen! Yes, it is so hard to stay organized with a baby. After 3 newborns, I know you have to stay on top of your organization in your baby nursery and things need to be EASY! Thanks for stopping by our DIY site!
I love the little elephant in the mobile! While I probably would not choose orange (one of my least favourite colours), I love these gender-neutral ideas. I totally agree that too much grey is just too bla for a newborn. Still, you’ve kept the colours to pops, rather than awashing the nursery with colour that is too overwhelming for a small child. Love it!
Hi Rachel! Thanks for the ideas about how color can really add to a gender-neutral baby nursery. I love that everyone has their own color preferences. I do not have orange anywhere in my house except for the baby nursery!