Many expecting parents have a few months to work on creating a wonderful nursery for their future bundle of joy. They can take their time in picking out new furniture and putting it together, as well as all the décor. Sometimes it can take a while just to decide what theme you want to go with, right?
But, what if you don’t have that time? There are various reasons why some parents have very little notice on the joyful union. Premature birth, forced bed rest, and adoption can all wreak havoc on family planning. Don’t get me wrong, the joy is still there…just a bit more rushed.
For example, when we got ‘the call’ regarding our child (adoption), we had exactly 4 days from the announcement to the birth, which was out of state, making the time even more of a factor. This meant, 4 whole days to buy all the necessary furniture and equipment, decorate the nursery, make travel plans, and mentally prepare…as if.
We didn’t have the luxury of showers ahead of time to help fill the nursery, as well as get the car seat, diapers, and clothing. I’m not complaining, as he is worth every future gray hair that time period caused, but I wish I would have known then, what I know now. This is what compelled me to write on this particular topic.
So, if you are suddenly in a pinch for time, and don’t have the nursery ready yet, read on…
1. Buy used Furniture
New furniture, especially for your first baby, is always a fun and exciting time. But, time is the key word here. If you don’t have it, you might want to consider buying used furniture instead. The reason why is that it will most likely be all put together for you. I remember having to not only purchase it, but also spend hours putting it all together. Those hours were borrowed from my sleep time.
Craigslist, garage sales, and family members might be a good avenue for you in finding some great pieces. It doesn’t have to be perfect. All you need to do is make sure it fits the safety guidelines…which I strongly recommend doing some research on before looking at anything. You can always paint the furniture later, but having something safe and on time is most important.
If you don’t want used, then see if the store will set it up for you upon delivery. It will cost you more, but that’s the price for wanting new in a time crunch.
2. Borrow Furniture
Consider borrowing furniture from one of your other rooms, at least temporarily. Instead of running out to buy a traditional rocker, borrow a leather recliner chair from another room. Who knows, you might end up liking it better than you would the rocker.
Also, borrow a dresser from the guest room…again, for now. Shelving and artwork can also be borrowed, either temporarily, or for good. You don’t necessarily need baby photos on the wall, and could get away with some abstract art. Of course, if you do want baby photos, I have a great tip for that as well.
I bought some cheap black and white frames, and then downloaded a few black and white adorable baby shots. You can easily have them printed out in minutes and pick them up at a local one hour photo. Most of this can be done online, within minutes, with the exception of picking them up and putting them in the frames.
3. Painting Ideas
Painting can be time consuming, I realize that. So, here are some ideas that might be quicker for you:
- Leave the walls the same color, but do some light stenciling
- Paint one wall in a bold color for contrast, while leaving the others the same
- Use a chalkboard paint on one wall
- Paint the alphabet in a childlike manner on existing painted walls
A little fresh paint will help the room feel new, but it doesn’t have to be the entire room. Another tip; if the ceiling is in good shape, leave it alone.
4. Removable Decals
I didn’t use removable decals for the infant stage, but when we transitioned the nursery into the toddler room, I did. Look for them online to get your best selection. We did an aquarium theme and found some wonderfully bright and colorful fish for the wall.
They are incredibly easy to put up, and will add a lot of character to a room. You can also do this after the baby is born.
5. Stuffed Animals
You can use stuffed animals as quick décor. Finding a wide variety of them is easy. With various shapes, sizes, and colors, you could have a theme in just stuffed animals. Place them on shelves, or on top of an armoire.
Setting them in a corner will also add some character to the room. And, a quick way to do a Noah’s Ark theme? Simply buy 2 of each one.
6. Hire Someone!
When all else fails, hire someone. Ask a friend or family member to help you out with the painting, or putting furniture together. If you have to leave town as I did, perhaps they can do it before you return with the newest family member.
These are just a few ideas that I knew would have really helped me, had I thought of them when we were in that stage. Perhaps you could use one of these, or it might stimulate another great idea of your own. Good luck, and get going!
Kathy Barber is a freelance writer, as well as a mom. When looking at reviews at http://www.reclinerchairreviews.com, it occurred to her that perhaps others could be helped with tips that could have helped her when creating their nursery. Kathy also writes on topics such as cooking, online businesses, and medical. She is also co-owner of a medical practice with her husband. When they are not working, they enjoy spoiling their son.