Involve your child in the design plan. Talk to your child before you begin and keep his or her opinions in mind as you decide what changes you can afford. As you plan each element, narrow down the options to a few choices you will allow and consult your child for the final decision.

Keep in mind that a child’s bedroom should grow with him or her. The Thomas the Tank Engine or My Little Pony wallpaper that your child loves at the age of four may become a sore point in a few years. Try sticking with a basic color scheme for walls and bedding. You can then add throw pillows, lamps and other accessories in your child’s favorite theme and replace them as your child’s interests mature.

The color scheme is a great place to begin.  Does he have a favorite color? Does she prefer bright hues to pastels? Select two or three colors to make up your basic color scheme. Choose wall colors and bedding that reflect your plan.

Painting the walls is an inexpensive and effective way to begin. If your child loves a bright color but you think it is too overpowering, consider painting an accent wall. The wall behind your child’s bed can be a good choice because the bed is the primary focus of the room.

Once your wall color and bedding is chosen, consider accessories. This is where you can bring in your child’s current favorite character or theme. You can add accessories like throw pillows and wall hangings. You can often find themed light-switch plates or drawer pulls to update furniture. Keep the original hardware, though.

Does your child’s room need more storage? Under-the-bed bins are great for storing toys or extra clothes. Modular closet organizers work well in a child’s room. Lower-hanging shelves put clothes in the child’s reach and add extra storage space.

Framed posters and pictures are another way to add personality. Consider framing your child’s own artwork, or buy document frames and hang achievement certificates from school or activities. You can group the frames on one wall and rotate in new certificates or artwork each year.

Don’t forget pictures of family, friends and pets. Cork boards, ribbon boards or photo holders (stands with wire stems to hold photos) are fun ways to let kids arrange and rearrange unframed photos.

   

1. The first thing to consider when decorating your nursery is safety. Be sure to check out safety guidelines before buying or borrowing nursery furniture. You can also look up product recalls on government websites. This is a good thing to do before you start shopping for furniture.
2. Start visiting swap meets, tag sales, and garage sales as soon as you know you’ll be needing baby things. Use any secondhand sources you can think of, particularly for items that you’ll use for a very short time, such as a bassinette, walker,  or jumper.
3. Select furniture and furnishings that will convert to good use as the child grows from infancy to the toddler stage. Planning ahead now will really pay off in the future. You’ll only have to buy once.
4. Choose colors for the nursery that will coordinate with the colors of toys. Then the toys become decorative items themselves.
5. The best way to save lots of money is to do as much of the work as you can yourself.  Paint furniture, sew curtains and quilts, paint the walls, and put up wallpaper.
6. Use your money to buy things that will last through childhood – or at least a few years. Invest in a good bed and chest, but borrow or shop at discount stores for everything else.
7. If friends will be having a baby shower for you, this is a great time to get some things that will enhance your chosen room theme. Register for some things to decorate the room, such as bedding, furniture, and accessories.
8. Select a paint color for the walls that will “grow” with the child. Pale pink or baby blue are adorable for an infant, but may not last long.
9. Use baskets, drawers, and shelves to store toys, clothing, and other infant essentials.
10. Expand storage space by building shelves and adding extra clothes rods for the closet. You can buy simple do-it-yourself kits at home centers.
11. Instead of trying to wallpaper the whole room, paint the walls and decorate with a simple border or stencil a design around the windows, ceiling, and doors.