Woo-hoo — the nursery is finally finished! With about four weeks left until our little one’s expected arrival (though we’re pretty sure she’ll be fashionably late), we’re thrilled to have a bright, functional room ready. It’s come a long way from the blank canvas it once was:
The closet was one of the bigger challenges: limited space, storage and organization were all concerns.
Storage turned out to be the key. We gained lots of stash space with a crib that has a built-in drawer, a double dresser scored on Craigslist for $20, an existing storage ottoman, and a side table retrofitted with woven baskets as drawers. A padded bench with a large toy bin tucked beneath it added even more spots for toys, clothes, books and all the little extras that come with a new baby. And this is all inside an 8′ x 10.5′ room — the smallest in the house apart from bathrooms. Without further ado, here are the big after photos:
We had a blast finding great deals, like a playful aqua capiz chandelier for $50 from a local lighting outlet. It casts fun shadows on the ceiling for Baby P to enjoy.
We also made no-sew curtains from cheerful printed fabric to create a more balanced look around the small, off-center window. High and wide fabric panels can work wonders to make a window feel centered and grand.
The side table from our guest room makes a perfect spot for a glass of water, a lamp and a few books. Woven baskets fit snugly into the open shelves to act as soft, child-friendly “drawers,” keeping clutter out of sight and creating easy storage that Baby P can one day use herself. We’ll swap out the plant for something less messy when she starts exploring.
We found a cozy bucket chair at a thrift store for $20 and paired it with the ottoman and a faux sheepskin rug to form a comfortable feeding and reading nook that even our dog Burger approves of.
The chair sits next to the window so we can enjoy natural light and a view of the backyard. On the sill sits a small wooden tree toy — one of many thoughtful, eco-conscious gifts we received. Those little touches make the room feel loved already.
Painting transformed this formerly tan guest room into a dreamy nursery. We used a soft aqua on the ceiling and closet paired with pear green walls and crisp white molding. We figure the baby will stare up at the ceiling from the crib, so a gentle, sky-like hue is ideal.
The Craigslist dresser we refinished now provides six roomy drawers for diapers, clothes and tiny accessories. Above the changing pad we hung wire-and-flower mobiles we made ourselves and added handmade shelves for books and toys — functional, kid-friendly features that give the wall personality.
That small basket to the right of the dresser became an instant hamper when we lined a cheap Ikea basket with leftover crib skirt fabric — an inexpensive, woven-texture solution that ties into the other baskets around the room.
We also lined the dresser drawers, which adds a cheerful surprise every time we open them to admire tiny outfits. Baby shoes might be the cutest thing ever, but folded little clothes are a close second.
The three-orb mobile we crafted for about $12 gently sways above the changing pad and should be perfect for keeping a wiggly baby distracted during quick diaper changes.
The long, skinny wall shelves my husband built help keep books from toppling and are easy to update as the baby grows. They’re functional and give us flexibility to rotate books, frames and toys.
We added a vintage-style turquoise fan to improve ventilation — an attractive, functional piece that keeps tiny fingers safe behind the protective cage.
Now to the closet: we painted the interior the same soft aqua as the ceiling, hung a patterned fabric curtain, added a second hanging bar and installed baskets and boxes to maximize storage in that small space. The transformation made it much more useful than it looked before.
We repurposed an Ikea hanging shoe organizer to hold bibs, burp cloths and leggings — another small, budget-friendly hack that keeps essentials handy and organized.
The crib is tucked into the corner to preserve open rug space for playtime. The built-in drawer adds valuable storage (currently empty, along with the ottoman — a hopeful sign that we haven’t accumulated everything yet). We also made a no-sew crib skirt to hide the gap and add texture.
A cheerful mirror we found at Marshall’s got a fresh coat of green paint and was hung securely across from the window to reflect light and make the small room feel brighter. Between the ceiling, the chandelier and the mirror, the crib offers plenty of visual interest for a little one.
Our art wall blends inexpensive craft paper, photos and a few purchased prints for a playful, mixed look. The asymmetrical arrangement feels fun and informal — perfect for a pear-and-aqua nursery that we can easily update as Baby P grows.
The thrift-store bench with toy storage underneath is a happy accident — we redid it months ago and it fits right in now. Its soft celery hue and patterned upholstery complement the room without competing with the curtains.
One sentimental piece on the art wall is a chunky frame reserved for the baby’s hospital wristband; we’ll also create a paper silhouette of her profile to echo one we already have of our dog Burger. Personal touches like these are simple, meaningful and free.
To celebrate the reveal we recreated an early project photo to show the progress. It’s wild to compare the before and after and to notice how much has changed — including my growing bump over the past few months.
Budget-wise, we planned for around $1,500 to cover everything, but by mixing thrifted finds, gifted items and DIY projects we came in well under that. Our final total was $717.16. Highlights include paint, a wool rug, the chandelier, curtain fabric, blinds, refinishing supplies for the dresser, thrifted furniture and a handful of DIY projects that made a big impact without breaking the bank.
Budget summary
- No-VOC paint: $80
- Wool rug: $99
- Aqua chandelier: $50
- Curtain fabric: $105
- Curtain hardware: $10
- Blinds: $37
- Thrift chair: $20
- Chair pillow: $6.99
- Faux sheepskin rug: $19
- Mirror and paint: $50
- Craigslist dresser + supplies: $31.51
- Drawer lining: $1.30
- Closet makeover supplies: $18.36
- No-sew crib skirt: $14
- DIY mobile: $12
- Organic crib sheet and pad cover: $29
- Fan: $55
- Wall shelves supplies: $14
- Ikea lamp: $19
- Ikea basket for hamper: $4
- Art: $42
- Total: $717.16
Coming in far below our original estimate felt great and allowed us to focus on small projects that added character and function. The gifted crib and mattress helped, of course, but many of the biggest wins were inexpensive or upcycled items combined with a lot of DIY energy.
So — are we ready for baby? We think so. Whether you’re planning a nursery or tackling DIY projects for your home, many of these ideas translate well to small budgets and tight spaces: painting the ceiling, making curtains, refinishing furniture, organizing a closet, or building simple shelves. We couldn’t be happier with how the pear-and-aqua nursery turned out and we can’t wait to welcome our little one into the space.