apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

If money is tight, skip the changing table and just get one of those foam changing pads to put on top of the dresser. Most parents I know change their babies on the bed or the floor. Most changing table surfaces end up going unused after a few months or worse, they end up as clutter magnets with piles of laundry on top ;-)

i would say that, unless you're seriously lacking storage, save even more money by skipping the changing table and just using the top of the dresser to change the baby (with a changing pad, of course). they make great changing tables.

if you need even more storage space, buy a couple of those under-the-bed boxes to storage under the crib.

congratulations! what a wonderful surprise for your wife.

i like this challenge and would love to put together a list, but will wait until i get home rather than using my work time... just want to say that in the interest of saving money i would side with the above posters about the changing table and also avoid some of the unnecessary bedding items like bumpers that are shown to be dangerous.

Ditching the changing table is a great idea....then you can spend that money at yard sales on classic children's books, and/or a gently used rocking chair.

I would ditch the changing table in the above recommendations and just get a changing pad for the dresser.
Also, I would reconsider the window treatment. Babies like dark rooms, and the blinds probably don't block enough light to make it dark enough in there for the little one. I'd either replace the blinds with a black-out roller shade (you can replace them when you move out), or add black-out drapes to the windows.
Instead of a hemp/leather rug, I'd go for something a little softer--cotton chenille or wool. doesn't have to be big, just a comfy place for the baby to roll around on.
It couldn't hurt to try to find a rocking chair at a flea market or yard sale.
And you'll probably want a bookshelf/storage unit of some kind.

It's a very sweet idea for you to do this for your wife. Prepare for her to cry--I know I would!

How sweet and thoughtful!
I am also going to recommend skipping the changing table, and possibly go for the changing table TOP from ikea that attaches to the dresser. Then use the spare funds for a basic rocking chair - antique stores, thrift stores, craigslist, etc!

Excellent style tray, kristin!

okay, lunchbreak... it certainly won't cover absolutely everything needed for a nursery, but it would give the room a complete "look" and covers the basic furniture pieces as well as a few decorative/storage items - i didn't have time to do links, but everything should be searchable with the info given... here's my list:
Ikea Gullivar Crib, white = $99.00
Ikea Hemnes Chest of Drawers, yellow = $149.00
Ikea Lillberg Rocker, birch = $119.00
Ikea Flokati Rug, white = $29.99
Target Babylicious Happy Crib Sheet, dot = $22.99
Target Babylicious Happy Pillow and Case, dot/green = $23.99
Target Tiddliwinks Changing Pad, white = $16.99
Etsy: YumiYumi Lychee Berry Monsters Print = $10.00
Paper Source Suitcase Large , pool = $12.50
Paper Source Suitcase Medium, chartreuse = $10.00
Paper Source Suitcase Small,curry = $8.00
Total Price: $501.46

don't forget to look around your own house for items to repurpose such as small tables, bookshelves, baskets, lamps, etc...

I would do a fun tan and red room with sock monkey accents. Here's how I would go:

Red gingham bedding from Babies R us: $89.99
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2475518&cp=2255986.2256244.2256251.2256261&view=all&parentPage=family

White Jenny Lind crib from Target: $119.99
http://www.target.com/Jenny-Lind-Delta-Childrens-Products/dp/B00005AKUK/ref=br_1_2/601-6441539-7076123?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=1

Pure white dresser and pure white changing table (that can also be toy storage or a bookshelf) buy both for $189.98 from Target
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=sc_pgb_r_4_0_12880081/601-6441539-7076123?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=1&asin=B0006HJDQO

I would make the curtains and a bulletin board from this fabric on sale at Reprodepot for $6 per yard (4 yards for $24): monkey n round playtime, cream (There are lots of coordinating fabrics, too.)
http://www.reprodepotfabrics.com/mnrplc.html

I'd get two of these cute sock monkey 8x12 prints at $12 each:
http://breezeb.tripod.com/prints.html

Then I'd do a string of these monkey vinyl wall decals across the wall or closet door, $7.50 each (6 for $45)
http://www.hellagoodproducts.com/item.php?item_id=474&category_id=48

And you'd have $8 left over!

You just can't beat Ikea when you've got a low price point. They really can make children's rooms look bright and welcoming at a very affordable price. I'd go with bold colors to brighten up the room. The Barnslig matching set is wonderful with greens and reds and blues.

Bright green crib textile set (with hippos!): $12.99
Matching curtains to go over the blinds: $19.99
Matching hanging lamp: $19.99
Gulliver crib: $99 mattress: $39.99
Runner: $19.99
Lillberg rocking chair (birch & white): $139.00
Hemnes Dresser: $149.99

Total cost: $500.94. Accessorize a little with some pillows & pictures and the necessities, like a changing pad form and night light.

Get the Ikea Gulliver crib. I know it was a big joke when they discontinued it and reintroduced it as a new product, plus $10, but they really did redesign the bed base and it's much higher quality than the old ones. Also, everybody has a white expedit bookshelf for a good reason. You can keep toys in it, books, cd players, whatever. There is a ton of storage.

Love the sock monkey room idea!

such great (and really thorough!!) suggestions! I just wanted to echo what others said about adding a seat of some sort - the classic gliders are pretty hideous, but if you buy a cheaper one (think they're ~$150 from kmart, for instance) then it can serve its purpose and then be set free on craigslist when you're done with that stage.

And also you need some sort of soft light - a desk lamp on the dresser, or a nightlight, or one of those "star" hanging lamps that were so popular a few years ago. something so you can see but it's still dim and mellow in the middle of the night. or at a minimum, a dimmer switch for the overhead light in the room.

such a great project!

AT readers are so great! Look at all these fantastic ideas. David, what a wonderful and thoughtful thing to do for your new baby and wife. Please, PLEASE, send us pictures when it's done.

I wholeheartedly agree with the Ikea Expedit suggestion. You can even buy storage bins that slide in and out and it can double as a dresser.

Also, the Ikea Gulliver crib has the right price point and clean lines that work with most decorating styles.

Actually, the expedit now has actual drawer inserts that can work with it too: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70115540

I would definitely add a bookshelf and comfortable chair and skip the stand alone changing table.

As a landlord (we are renting out our house), I know that unless you have a no-paint clause, you can paint. In any case, even with such a clause, you can approach the landlord, and ask to paint on the provision that you will restore it to the original colour before you move out. I would encourage you to do so, as tan is not a nursery colour.

However, in case you decide to stick with tan, this nursery scheme will work in any case. My idea is to keep everything soft and white/off-white, and play up different textures. It is very gentle, yet gender-neutral, and will work with any wall colour. The colour will come when you pick the toys and accessories to decorate the nursery -- perhaps a knitted toy from Anne Claire Petit
http://scrappyfairy.blogspot.com/2007/08/anne-claire-petit.html
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.acorntoyshop.com/images/products/dolls_anneclaire.jpg&imgrefurl=http://
http://www.acorntoyshop.com/products.php?categoryId=4
or Buandtheduck
http://buandtheduck.com/toys/toysCrochet.html,
pages from children's books
http://www.honey-bunch.com/item.php?item_id=167&category_id=1


IKEA Gullliver Crib & Mattress -- can't say enough great things about this crib (we have one). Classic design, and very sturdy.
($140)

IKEA Malm chest of drawers in oak veneer 6 drawers (unless only 3 fit -- but then changing pad will be a smidge too long)
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80053933
($179.00)

Pottery Barn Kids Chamois Bedding in white
-- get the duvet cover in white with a duvet when he/she turns one)
http://www.potterybarnkids.com/products/f170/index.cfm?pkey=cbdgnsh%7Cb
( $29.00)

(and the matching white chamois changing pad and cover
http://www.potterybarnkids.com/products/pk479/index.cfm?pkey=xsrd0m1%7C16%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C%7C%7C%7C%7Cchamois&cm%5Fsrc=SCH)

Real (woven in Greece) flokati rug 2000 gram weight in 5 x 7 -- we have had one in the nursery for 4 years, and if you get a good quality one, they don't shed
http://www.flokati-rugs.com/Products.cfm?CATID=3
($189)

Here's my picks:

Monkey Business 4-piece crib set from Overstock -- $59.99

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Monkey-Business-Blue-4-piece-Crib-Set/2254424/product.html

Bamboo striped rug in blue --$89.99

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Bamboo-Striped-Rug-5-x-7/2542092/product.html?ak=1

The Ikea crib and dresser/changing table above.

Ooops! sorry, mine goes over $500! (Well, you can imagine the budget discussions we have at home)

In my defence, all the things I suggested but for the crib (which is not the major expense) will continue to be used after the child is 3, so they are good investments.

Plus, if you go with only a 3 drawer Malm oak dresser, you can knock off $100. I suggested the 6-drawer version because we found the changing table to be a necessity. We lived without a chainging table for a few months, and just killed our backs. With hardwood floors, even with rugs, we hurt our knees when we tried changing on the floor; and changing on the bed, well, we had a low bed, and so our backs hurt after a while (you had to either kneel on the floor, twist while sitting on the bed, or stand and bend over the bed).

The one thing that you really DON'T need though is a bedding set, with bumpers and quilt. I know that they are cute and come in fun designs, but they are expensive and you won't get much use out of them. Newborns don't roll around in their crib, and so don't need bumpers; in fact, the pediatric association says they shouldn't be used at all because of SIDS. Ditto for a quilt, which you won't need until they are closer to one year old. Plus, if you go with an IKEA crib, standard-sized ones will not fit.

So, I encourage you to go with fun sheets instead. Sheets are really all you will need for at least the first 6-10 months. Pottery Barn has tons of fun ones; the chamois fabric is my favourite. Or how about these ones from Bu and The Duck? They would coordinate with your tan walls, and would be nice for a boys' room in particular:

http://buandtheduck.com/baby/details/1-09004ce.html
http://buandtheduck.com/baby/details/1-09004br.html
http://buandtheduck.com/baby/details/1-09004in.html

http://buandtheduck.com/baby/babyCribSheet.html

And to make your room even more comfortable (yes, it makes my plan even more expensive, I know...) you should get a rocker. In a white/cream themed room, how about a white Thonet (knock-off)?

http://www.rocking-chairs.com/bentwood.htm

And just to finish the room off, you will need lighting. Chances are, there is a central pendant light, so here are some options for you:

-if a boy, either a globe paper pendant (the kind they used to have at IKEA) or http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60102736

-for a girl, either this
http://www.yousaytomayto.com/home/lighting/delight-light-2.html
or a Tord Boontje pendant would be perfect, either
http://www.yousaytomayto.com/home/lighting/garland-light-white.html or
http://www.yousaytomayto.com/home/lighting/garland-light-silver-2.html or
http://www.yousaytomayto.com/home/lighting/midsummer-light-silver-and-white.html

Your room would look lovely with some framed black and white photos of the three of you...

And since I am on a roll (in for a penny, in for a pound), here are some of my ideas for wall decalls...

either a poem, or mursery song above the bed, or maybe the baby's name, or just "welcome" (I would have the words to "you are my sunshine") - in white of course -
http://www.applepiedesign.be/pdf/cata_txt_www.pdf

--or maybe some butterflies or daisies or a summer branch:
http://www.applepiedesign.be/pdf/cata_nat_www.pdf

-or a boy with an airplane, or a girl with butterflies...
http://www.applepiedesign.be/pdf/cata_enf_www.pdf

Well, now *I* want a cozy cream white nursery...!

Hope you will share your final pictures with AT when you are done so that we can see what you decided. Good luck!

I'd go with a Dr. Seuss themed room! Black, white, red, yellow, and aqua.
I would keep the walls nice and WHITE.
White crib sheet , red and white striped crib skirt layered with a black gingham one, cute cat in the hat doll...and lots of Dr.Seuss books which are not only cute in decor but also useable for story time later.
You can copy some of the pages from the books to frame in nice black frames for the wall. Add an aqua colored mat to really make it stand out.
Get some cute vinyl letters with a verse or two from one of his books for above the crib wall art.
Paint a dresser white with the drawers each a different color (try red on one,aqua on another, yellow on a third, etc) Anchor them with black knobs.
A small lamp with a striped shade is a must too. Trust me, a nightlight isn't enough light when you are changing a dirty diaper at 3 in the morning. ;)

Oops, I just read that your walls can't be painted. But I still think the yan would work well with everything else anyway. ;)