Furnishing A Baby’s Room On Any Budget

Are you expecting a new addition to your family? Congratulations! If you’re a first-time parent, you’re doubtless overwhelmed by advice, lists of baby items and hours spent looking around baby stores wondering how such a little human could need so much stuff. There are so many things on the market these days and getting everything you need for your little one can be an expensive process! While having a baby registry and a baby shower often yield some lovely gifts from friends and family, there’s plenty to plan for (and purchase) yourself. If you’re dreaming up the perfect baby nursery and aren’t quite sure where to start, let us give you a little bit of inspiration! 

Painting & Decor

If you’ve got the space for a dedicated room just for the new bub, one of the obvious choices for a starting point is whether you’re going to paint the walls – and then what kind of decor you’re going to add. There’s nothing like nesting and painting the room yourself, though getting in a professional can be a wonderful way to take a load off your plate when you’re in baby-prep mode! 

The colour you choose can also set the tone for your nursery – neutral colours are in fashion right now (especially if you’re keeping the gender a surprise), and some people even say that softer hues are best for creating a peaceful sleeping environment for your baby. Sure, a soothing lavender wall is no guarantee that the baby will sleep through the night, but as new parents it doesn’t hurt to hedge your bets. If you want to add a little depth and something interactive for when the baby is older, a feature wall with a unique colour or even a chalk paint can be a lovely way to encourage creativity in the toddler years! If you’re renting, or want to keep decorating costs down, removable wall decals are a beautiful and affordable option to customise your space. 

Choosing a Crib

Once the paint has dried, the new light fixtures have been added (don’t forget the warm toned light bulbs and a few lamps for late night feeds!), it’s time to look at furniture. While babies have a reputation for their unusual waking hours, a crib is your first major purchase when it comes to transforming a bedroom into a tranquil nursery. 

When it comes to the crib, this is something you’re definitely going to want to buy new, particularly the mattress. If you do find a great option (or are gifted one by a friend whose baby is into a proper bed) make sure to replace the mattress with a new one. You can be thrifty with a lot of baby items and save money by purchasing things like clothes and toys second-hand, but mattresses can harbour bacteria if they weren’t cleaned properly.

There are a lot of options to explore when you’re looking for the perfect baby crib. Some have built-in movement to help lull your little one to sleep, others are soft all the way around and can turn into a carrier, or you can go for a classic option. For parents planning on co-sleeping, you might want to consider a bassinet that can be affixed to your bed to give you quick access to the baby for those late (or very early!) wake-ups. Keep in mind that they will outgrow this at around 12 weeks of age. Another option is a mini-crib, which is smaller than a standard crib, but will still be large enough to use until around 12 months old – perfect for apartment-dwellers with limited space, these can fit in your bedroom with you or move into the nursery when you’re both ready. 

It pays to have a think about how your ideal sleeping arrangements will look in the first year but be open to change as well – babies are all little individuals and have no idea that you made them a perfect sleep schedule. This will dictate the type of furniture you choose based on where it will be most of the time. 

Baby Monitor

Once the bedroom is set up, one of the best ways to monitor their sleep (and let you know when they’re up and about) is by adding a sleep monitor to their bedroom. There is a huge range of baby monitors on the market these days, and again this choice will depend on the size of your home and how much you’re wanting to spend. If you’re living in a small space, a monitor might not even be necessary if you’ll never be too far away or perhaps the classic ‘walkie talkie’ type will be enough to ensure your peace of mind. If your home is bigger, or you just like to be observant, there are some amazing high tech options now featuring video and alerts to your smartphone. You can also find some great options that actually help your baby stay asleep, by playing white noise or softly illuminating the room so you can pop in and check on them without needing to switch on any lamps. If you’re into tech, you could also look at wearables that monitor your baby’s heart rate and oxygen levels. 

Nursing Chair  

Whether you’re taking maternity leave, have parents or family coming over to help out, or are planning on bottle feeding, having a designated spot in the nursery is great. Finding the perfect nursing chair is essential, giving you a quiet and relaxed space to feed the new bub. Find one that’s comfortable for more extended periods, usually with a high back so you have support during those sleepy hours, and arm rests to take some of the strain off supporting your baby’s weight the entire time. Whether you’re breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, you and/or your partner is going to be spending hours upon hours in this chair. No extra space? Consider an upgrade to your regular lounge suite instead.

Changing Table

Along with feeding sessions, you’ll also be in for a whole lot of nappy changing one the new arrival is here! While we recommend certain things to be bought new, this is another item where you can go as thrifty or bougee as you like – if matching furniture is your thing, you can get whole sets to match with your crib in stunning wood textures. If your taste is more eclectic, this is a safe item to look for second hand, and you’ll be surprised at the gorgeous pieces you can find. More space conscious? Go for a changing pad on top of a chest of drawers so the furniture does double duty. A word to the wise: make sure you can reach everything you need from your changing station because once your squirmy worm is up there, you won’t be able to move away. Look for one with raised edges and some cupboard or drawer space, as this makes it a lot easier to reach for everything from wipes and cream to a fresh nappy without needing to move. 

Storage Space

If you’ve been doing your research on becoming a parent for the first time, one theme you’ll be seeing over and over is how many things your little one needs, and how quickly they outgrow them. Make sure you’ve got adequate storage space planned for all those extra clothes, toys, nappies, etc. Storage units with pull out boxes make a stylish option for reducing clutter anywhere in your home, or consider an ottoman that operates as a seat and a storage spot, whether that be a dedicated nursery or shared living area!

Furniture Finance

It’s a lot to take in, we know. That’s why financing your baby purchases, like furniture, can be an option for first time parents. It allows you the freedom to prioritise the things you need and set your own budget, while spreading out the cost with set repayments so nothing catches you off guard. After all, you want to be able to focus on enjoying your new baby. Once you’ve found all the furniture, storage, and other essentials, you can easily put together a budget and figure out what you might need a little extra help in buying. 

Rapid Loans offers secured personal loans ranging from $2,001 to $45,000, with a simple online application and dedicated customer service. If you think a personal loan could be the perfect option to finance your biggest adventure yet, get in touch today on 1300 727 431 or apply online. 

This article is intended as opinion only and not as a sole source of guidance. Responsible lending criteria applies. Australian Credit Licence Number 388847.