How to Design a Star-Worthy Nursery on a Budget

Courtesy Bratt Decor

Stars have access to the absolute best of everything, and it’s no exception when it comes to their little ones.

And from gilded cribs to silver velvet feeding chairs, nursery designer-to-the-stars Mary Bauer (below) has seen it all.

Now, the president and CEO of Bratt Décor — she’s worked with everyone from Jennifer Lopez and Kourtney Kardashian to Ali Landry and Jewel — is ready to share some of her easy-to-follow tips and tricks to help you create a spectacular nursery for your little super star.

Check out her design secrets below.

Choose a great crib. Whatever your budget, don’t scrimp on the crib. Not only does it set the tone for the entire room, but it’s the place where your baby spends the most time without you so it should be a safe and comfortable space.

Celebs including Jennifer Lopez, Sean Combs and Dianne Farr are big fans of our wrought iron cribs, but these gorgeous cribs can cost up to $1300. For a similar look, try Stephen Bauer Baby’s equally beautiful Joy Crib ($495). We also stock modern, wooden cribs that retail for as low as $320. But no matter where you purchase your crib, just make sure that it’s safe and fits the look you desire.

Choose a sophisticated color palette. Paint is the cheapest way to decorate your space. Right now, the hottest hues are neutrals, such as gray, cream and taupe. When we designed Mario Lopez and Courtney Mazza‘s nursery (above), we used gray as the primary color. Not only is it elegant, but it was also a great choice since the couple didn’t find out the sex of their baby before she was born.

Courtesy Bratt Decor

Find furniture that complements the theme. We know that not everyone can afford to buy an expensive nursery set. And we definitely recommend you invest your money in the crib. So check out more affordable brands or look at second hand pieces when picking out a dresser and changing table. Just make sure they match and work together with your crib to give the nursery a cohesive look — it adds a more designer feel.

And, don’t forget the diaper pail! A favorite among designers is the Playtex Diaper Genie Elite ($35). It has sophisticated lines and a smooth white finish so it works well in any room. It also has a convenient foot pedal, so you never have to take your hands off your little one.

Personalize your space. Adding personality to your nursery decor doesn’t have to be super expensive. To make the space more meaningful to you (and your baby!), create your own personal touches by including vintage photographs, your baby’s silver cup, framed family heirlooms, christening gowns, etc.

Adding artwork is also a big trend in celebrity spaces, and can really give your nursery a rich look. It can also be done inexpensively. For example, take beautiful photos or illustrations from old children’s books and frame them yourself.

Add a comfy chair. Babies need to eat often, and having a great place for feeding makes life so sweet. Make sure you choose a fabric that works with everything else you’re doing in the nursery. There are great options available in all different price ranges, or for a more affordable option, recover something you already own and love. My favorite resources for chairs are angelsong.net and littlecastleinc.com.

Comments

lol. any mother living in the real world will tell you that designing a nursery is all about the parents, not the baby. the baby needs milk and snuggles, it doesnt need a room designed at a cost of $2000-$25000+. you cant buy the kids love, but you can attempt to show to all your friends how crazy you are. i saw pics of j.los nursery for the twins. it was beautiful. like magazine picture beautiful but i cant actually imagine putting my child to sleep in there. crazy. its like you are trying to prove that you love your child more than any other person.

if you must get worked up about a nursery, perhaps focus on the walls. it will at least be a few years before they want to put their own posters up or destructively start coloring on the walls, etc. otherwise, i hope you invest in very versatile furniture because all that baby crap is useless in just a few short years.

- amw on March 21st, 2011

and i totally disagree about spending money on the crib! the mattress, yes, but the crib? it will be gone in 2-3 years. buy a nice bed when the time comes.

- kate on March 21st, 2011

I never understood how you can put a baby in a wrought iron crib, they start chewing the rails as soon as they can stand up. My son chipped a tooth while chewing on a metal car so I can’t imagine having them in iron cribs?

- Kate on March 21st, 2011

I don’t think anything will make readers happy, which is a shame. anyways, I believe the title was ‘how to design a star-worthy nursery on a budget’ not ‘how to design a realistic nursery on a budget’

- sarah on March 21st, 2011

I totally agree on spending a decent amount on the crib..so many cribs that are cheap are also cheaply made. I found that out with my second child. Strapped for cash I bought a brand new crib for $150 from Sears…it completely fell apart only 6 months of use. The first crib we bough for our first child was actually from a consignment store but was originally a $400 crib we paid $200 for and it lasted 3 years til our daughter outgrew it and I handed it down to our son who was a year and a half by then. It was then given to a relative and still going strong after her child used it. I thought Sears would be a great place to buy baby furniture, the crib was a well known brand name also…just one of their no frills low end models..single drop side instead of double…etc…I think the crib is very important, along with a comfy chair too…the rest I believe you can find good deals on and then make it all come together with cute but versatile decor that will grow with your child. Unless you co-sleep…the crib is a very important purchase. That is where the bulk of my money would go if I were designing the nursery again.

- Kelly on March 21st, 2011

Buy a crib, a changing table, and a rocking chair, paint the nursery neutral green, and be done with it. You don’t need anything fancy for a baby.

- Tess on March 21st, 2011

Money aside, this doesn’t look like a very fun room.

- Jacqui on March 21st, 2011

I think this is a great article, as it helps parents that are on a budget obtain a little bit of luxury for their little one. I agree, the crib is the most important purchase as that is where your baby will be laying their little head for approximately the next 2 years, thus you need to make sure it is safe, which will probably cause you to invest a little more money into it. I personally have used some of these great tips to design my daughters nursery, and it is now a nice comfortable space for us all, especially during those 3 am feedings.

- April on March 22nd, 2011

I think the room looks great. Not everyone can afford to do an expensive nursery but if you can go for it. A baby room doesn’t have to be filled with animals and crazy bright colors. You can have a beautiful room that the child will enjoy even when they get older. People go out and purchase inexpensive cribs for whatever reason but the crib is the most important because it is what the child sleeps in. A cheaper crib will be made at a cheaper quality level and may not be the safest. If you want to spend less on something choose a cheaper dresser and tray. You can’t skimp on safety for your child’s crib.

As far as iron cribs I believe that people have misconceptions. They are sturdy cribs and last a long, long time. This article is great and gives tips on how to put it all together. I know that when I have kids one day I will be getting Bratt Decor.

- Tina on March 22nd, 2011

When you consider how much time you end up spending in your nursery, I think it’s absolutely imperative to create a space you *want* to look at. Nesting is part of the whole pregnancy process, so why not make it enjoyable! It’s great to see a smaller designer that has options for a lot of different prices/styles. Big name baby stores are great for accessories but I love to see pieces that I can make an extension of the style in the rest of my room! Plus, when you consider the fact that a lot of us have more than one baby, you can purchase a higher end product that can be used multiple times rather than having to get new furnishings each time around. The iron cribs could even be heirloom pieces when you think about it..they last forever! I really want their Venetian in pewter…

- Lindsay on March 22nd, 2011

As someone who has babysat and watched many friends become parents, and has a sister who’s a nanny – the crib is VERY important. If you can’t afford a new one that’s higher end – look for hand me downs.

When your little one starts to stand and pull themselves up, and the side of thier crib comes off since you didn’t think it was important to invest in it since they’ll be useless in a few years I think you’ll wonder why you didn’t stretch your budget. I saw it happen and it’s not pretty. My own father built the crib my sisters and I used, and it’s making its way through another generation now. Well made cribs are important.

- Kaitlin on March 22nd, 2011

I love the silver color!

- Terri on March 22nd, 2011

I bought the crib from the designer above and let me tell you it is beautiful. I have a star nursery with a realistic budget. I bought the crib direct from Bratt Decor (cut out middle man), was given hand me down furniture painted it white, added glass knobs from target, bought balloon shades from target and fabric to match and made the bedding. I will add pictures soon. P.S I meet Mary at her showroom while she was doing a photo shoot for a less expensive iron crib $500 that was gorgeous. She was so nice and kind and treated me like a celebrity knowing that I was only buying the crib and gave me some ideas on cutting corners for cost.

- betty on March 22nd, 2011

I agree with Betty! I bought a gorgeous silver crib/toddler bed from Bratt — it was a big expense but I consider it a long-term investment. The quality is fabulous. It is stunning and the toddler bed can be used as a bench in the future. I recycled antiques, bought designer fabric online at a discount, and created an amazing room on a budget. It can be done!

- Dianne on March 23rd, 2011

A nursery is another room is your home and it can look however you want it to look. If you see fit – spend whatever you want on it. All of these people with comments on how much to spend is just absurd. It’s all relative. Spend what YOU can afford and what YOU want to. If that is $25k then good for you – if that’s $400 then good for you too. Too much opinions on how other people should spend THEIR hard-earned money.

- Sarah on March 23rd, 2011

It’s a shame this Bratt Decor company is backordered on items for months on end, so not like anyone can actually purchase. I tried ordering a crib called the Blu and was told it would be here in 5-6 months. That’s just idiotic considering I need it for when the baby comes. I’ve heard this is very common with them.

- Sarah on March 23rd, 2011

Oh and hand me downs are not always the best idea in cribs. It’s the main reason why drop sides were outlawed. Too many people re-assemble incorrectly or pieces are missing, creating dangers for children.

- Sarah on March 23rd, 2011

The most important thing is a healthy, happy baby. Not how chic the room looks.

- jane on March 30th, 2011

I think that pic looks nice. In my experience, I have to say don’t buy any stuff animals. First, everyone will give you one, and on the other hand, your baby cannot grab things for the first couple of months, and when the baby can finally reach on his own to objects, he will feel more interested for toys like building blocks or books with texture. I also think the gray color will not be my choice for a baby room. I also like sophisticated looks, but think that kids like colors, so I will go for one or two pastel colors of my preference and make it really a kids room and not another office with kid toys.
In my home, all those stuff animals were never used. One little thing for their little hands will be enough. It’s better to invest in a good crib that transform in a junior bed. A good mattress, good sheets, and also a good chair for nursing, so your back will not hurt.

- CC on March 30th, 2011

Where did those grey curtains come from? I want them for my babies room!

- Erin on March 31st, 2011

I think a lot of readers are missing the point of this article. It’s encouraging moms to decorate their baby’s nursery on a budget, while still creating a space that’s aesthetic and something they can absolutely love. I definitely agree that a well-made crib is essential, and sets the tone for the entire nursery. I ended up buying a Bratt Decor crib at a baby boutique for 50% off, since it was a floor sample. That crib along with the other furniture I already had (in antique white) were perfect for my baby’s nursery. I then painted the room a pale blue, and added touches of yellow and gold. The only other piece of furniture I bought was a changing table, which was 50% off at Target. And most of the decor was from Amazon.com. The end result is something I’m proud of…my mom who’s staying with me goes in the room everyday and loves the room so much, she wishes our baby would arrive as soon as possible. And when I brought my friends over, their babies kept going back inside the nursery to play. So yes, decor IS IMPORTANT, and there are so many creative ways to create the nursery of your dreams on a budget.

- Olivia Huynh on April 2nd, 2011

i saw Jennifer Lopez’s twins’ cribs. They had bumpers–which is NOT recommended by pediatricians for safety reasons. I don’t think People Magazine should have shown this picture, since photos influence people, and you don’t want people to imitate Jennifer and decorate their cribs with bumpers since they’re considered unsafe. Why on earth would people want to decorate like celebrities anyway? Many celebrities aren’t even there that much to take care of their kids. They HAVE to decorate lavishly to make up for their absence.

- Micheline on April 3rd, 2011

I was looking at this stuff and it is definately not budget friendly! I love the wooden nurserys that convert into beds it may be $500 now but you get so many years of usage out of it, Its super practical. You may spen $1500-$2000 dollars on your nursery but i would recommend getting classy looking things that will last your child years.

- Lauren on August 30th, 2011