One of the biggest challenges I faced upon learning that I was pregnant was how to decorate a nursery in an apartment. Before we moved to Texas in 2009 (and before becoming pregnant), we owned a house in Georgia, to which I had fully intended on bringing home our first child. But as life happened we found ourselves in the Lone Star state. With the housing market the way it was and with no idea of how long we would be in Texas, we decided to rent an apartment.
When we discovered that I was pregnant, my first thought was how to create the dream nursery that I had always envisioned back in Georgia. With an apartment, you don’t necessarily have the freedom to paint walls or drill holes. Those limitations were a real problem for me – at first. But I have since discovered five very easy and cheap ways to turn an apartment bedroom into a warm and inviting nursery.
1: Buy a bookcase.
Since we aren’t able to install shelves on the walls in our apartment, the next best option was to buy a bookcase. It is the perfect solution for displaying piggy banks, holding baby books and adding a touch of uniqueness to the nursery. After searching high and low, I found exactly what I was looking for at Office Depot, believe it or not. And I spent about $120 on something that would normally have cost around $400 or more in a high-end baby store.
2: Purchase cute nursery prints and hang them using Command 3M hooks.
I love, love, love those Command 3M hooks – the ones that stick to the wall without any drilling necessary. They solve my problem of not being able to hammer a nail into the wall of our apartment, and they really do come off cleanly when you need to remove them (assuming you pull them off the right way). I purchased some great nursery prints on etsy.com for under $20 each. Then, I framed them in acrylic picture boxes that cost $3 each. Now, I have some fun and colorful prints hanging on the wall of the nursery…and not a hole was made to do it!
3: Use vinyl wall decals.
There are so many wall decals available these days to transform a nursery into a fun space for little ones. There’s no need for paint on the walls when decals create the same type of look (without the mess). Again, places like etsy.com are great for finding cute and inexpensive decals. But, I have also seen them at places like Big Lots, Babies R’ Us and Target. You can find anything from small butterflies to large-scale trees and animals. Or, if you want to take a different approach, you can find sayings that appeal to you – perfect for over the crib or changing table.
4: Hang some curtains using expansion rods.
It’s hard to believe but we’re actually using shower curtain rods (the expansion kind) for window treatments in the nursery. This idea will only work if you have deep-set windows that allow rods to be hung inside the frame. Curtains are a great way to add some color to the nursery, especially given all of the matching crib sets available. You can use creative tiebacks to pull the curtain panels to the side and hang them on those trusty 3M hooks that I mentioned earlier. No drilling necessary!
5: Use the floor space to your advantage.
When the walls and windows are decorated, the last option for creating a warm space is the floor. Find some braided baskets, or lined wicker baskets, that you can put stuffed animals or blankets in. The larger baskets are the best way to add a pop of color to the room. Other ideas include a large stuffed animal, kiddie chair or rocking horse that you can place in a corner. These are all ways to bring out the fun in a nursery.