Welcoming a new baby into your home is one of the most exciting — and expensive — things you will ever do. You wouldn’t dream of skimping on your new baby’s needs, but the cost of furnishing and decorating a nursery can easily climb into the thousands of dollars if you get carried away. Luckily, it’s possible to put together a beautifully appointed nursery for much less. Here are some tips for creating a nursery on a budget:      

Pick Paint Wisely

Choosing the colors for the baby’s room is one of the first things most new parents do. Neutral colors, such as soft grey and taupe, are a money-saving choice because they serve as a blank backdrop. Don’t worry about it being boring. You can add personality with wall decals, framed art and other accessories. As your baby grows and your tastes evolve, you won’t have to repaint the room every time you want to change things up.

Choose Used or Hand-Me-Downs

You don’t have to buy everything new. Furniture, such as the changing table, crib and glider chair, can all be purchased second-hand for a fraction of what you’d pay for them new. There’s also a good chance that friends or family members whose children are a bit older than yours would be happy to offer you their hand-me-downs. Of course, you’ll want to buy a new crib mattress and changing table pad, but that’s a small investment. Additionally, you’ll want to check online to make sure there are no safety recalls for older models of cribs, car seats and other baby essentials.

Opt for Double-duty Décor

A great way to set up a nursery on a budget is to let your baby’s books and toys serve as decorative accents in the room. Hang wooden or acrylic shelves to hold books with colorful covers and a menagerie of stuffed toys. It’s not only an inexpensive way to decorate, it also serves as much-needed storage space.

Make Furniture Multi-task

There are a number of ways you can make nursery furniture useful beyond baby’s first year. Look for a crib that converts to a toddler bed, a changing table that becomes a dresser and a glider that will fit the style of your living area or master bedroom once late-night feedings are a thing of the past. As with paint, choose neutral finishes in a classic style for the most versatility.

Go for Stylish Storage

Baskets, bins and  stacking storage cubes are inexpensive, stylish and can add color, texture and storage space to the nursery. Use them to hold clean diapers and wipes, toys, bath accessories and other essentials. Just remember to move them to higher ground when your baby starts crawling to avoid mishaps.

Talk to the Pros

Don’t forget to talk to other recent new parents to find out what they used the most and what they felt was a waste of money. It’s easy to get caught up and think you need every gizmo and gadget around to care for your baby properly, but many gimmicky items end up going unused. Let the experiences of other parents help you save money as you set up your baby’s nursery on a budget.