Preparing for a new arrival is an exciting time in a family’s life. When you start to imagine the little person you are planning the nursery for, most likely the first thing that will spring to mind is all of the things your child is going to need. You want to design a beautiful nursery that is welcoming and charming but not if it’s going to cost a lot of money. But it doesn’t have to. There are ways to create your baby’s first room while on a budget and still transform it into a place that you can be proud of.

One of the quickest (and cheapest) ways to decorate a room is to paint. If the nursery is to be your child’s permanent room and you don’t want to have to paint in again within the next three to five years, choose a color that will grow with your child. Use versatile colors. When designing a gender-neutral nursery, select colors like the ones shown here from Sherwin-Williams. If you know whether you are expecting a boy or a girl, you can opt for the more traditional colors like blue or pink.

One of the cheapest ways to dress up a room is to paint. And it can make such a big difference! If you want the design to grow with your child, don’t choose anything too babyish. This is especially true for boys. For my son’s room, I chose a patriot red, white, and blue theme. Not only can I use these same colors in my son’s room for years to come, but some of the things I’ve bought to decorate with would also work well in a little girl’s room if later we have a girl.

Most of your budget will be spent on furniture, since it tends to be the most expensive component of decorating a nursery. Measure the room to give you an exact idea of the how much space you have to work with. Knowing the size of the nursery will help you to prioritize what you need in order to make it all fit.

The crib is the focal point of the room. Shop around for a crib that you like and is affordable. You’ll be able to find one under $100.00. The Dream On Me Bethany 2-in-1 Crib in Espresso has simple lines that can be adapted to a number of décor styles including contemporary and country. A great way to stretch your baby furniture dollars is to buy multipurpose furniture like the crib that can be converted to a toddler bed.

The same principle applies to changing tables. Particularly if your on a budget, you might think you’ll just make do with any flat surface like the couch or the floor. But a change table that can also be used as a dresser will be worth it in the long run, because it saves unnecessary stooping or bending yourself into an uncomfortable position. The Berg Furniture Oslo Three Drawer Dresser and Changing Table is designed to work as both a change table and a dresser.

Many of us on a budget immediately think of combing the second hand stores for those treasures we need for bargain prices. However, it is not recommended when buying a crib or a crib mattress. Because technologies and standards are constantly changing, for safety’s sake and other health considerations, plan on purchasing brand new items. When you buy new, you can register the products and should there be any recalls, notices or product updates you should know about, the manufacturer will contact you. If you do find a second hand bargain you just can’t refuse, make sure that the crib you are purchasing meets all current safety standards.

For those expecting parents who opt not to know the gender of their child or for parents who would like to decorate the nursery in a gender-specific way, the Dream On Me Alphabet Animals 4-Piece Baby Crib Bedding Set will be an ideal choice. Especially if you intend on choosing a theme, the crib bedding pattern in a good place to start. This crib bedding set offers a number of theme options, including the alphabet, jungle animals, frogs and pets.

Once you have the basics – crib, crib bedding, crib mattress and a changing table – you can spend the remainder of your budget on accessorizing. It doesn’t have to cost much: stencil your baby’s name on the wall the crib will be placed; add an ABCs border to the walls of the room; create your own wall art from a collage of animal postcards in mat frames made from white or black cardboard. Seek out bargains at a lighting store for an animal or alphabet themed lamp. If you’re a sewer or you know someone who is, fabric ends can be great potential sources of economical curtains or another type of creative window treatment.