A Handmade Nursery Makeover
Babies don’t need a huge, expensive transformation; they just need a space that feels safe and filled with love. At the same time, we know that financial stress is one of the leading causes of relationship dissatisfaction — and that tension inevitably shapes a child’s early experience of family and home. My hope is to inspire you to spend less while still crafting a space that feels deeply beautiful, with a recent micro-budget nursery makeover I did for my sister, her partner and their soon-to-arrive little one.
The theme for the nursery was Coastal-adjacent, including a DIY sailboat from salvaged linens, scrap fabric textile art and lots of thrifting. We chose this theme because they live on the coast, but also because my sister’s partner has a lifelong connection to sailing and sailboats.
One of my favourite ways to be resourceful is to make use of all of the abundance already in the world, like salvaged materials and scrap fabrics. Not only do you get beautiful art for “free” but you also keep materials out of the landfill - which is invaluable! The buttons on the scrap fabric art are from my Great Grandmother.
the details
I sourced the white shelf and white picture frame (below) at a local sale for $2 total. The seagull art is a postcard that I got in a set at an estate sale for $1.
We were able to reuse a childhood dresser (made by my sister’s partner’s grandfather) which is not only sentimental and made of solid material, it’s also very cost-friendly - and sturdy. It won’t break and need to be replaced like a more mass produced item.
One of my favourite pieces is an art piece we got at the Sydney Public Market made by a local artist using reused grocery bags. The mirror was thrifted for $8 and painted off-white with leftover paint pots I had at home. I love how it looks like coastal rope!
My maternity photos are one of my most sacred possessions, so I wanted to be sure my sister had them too! When we arrived, we went to a local bird sanctuary and did a maternity shoot. We ended up framing one of their favourites, which made the space feel that much more intentional.
We found this onesie (below) while thrifting and it was too perfect to leave behind. The sailboat quilt underneath was free - I exchanged clothing at a local consignment shop for a trade.
And because the nursery corner was part of their bedroom, it was important to bring the aesthetic throughout the room as well. We sourced a new duvet ($100), rechargeable lights ($19.99) and pillow cases ($12.99) from HomeSense and added a few pieces of coastal decor to their dresser - including a shark I passed along and a concave mirror I got at a yard sale for 25 cents. They are going to put their baby’s first photo in the frame, which is so very, very sweet.
My tips for a more intentional, handmade nursery:
Audit your existing space first. Before purchasing or sourcing new materials, look at what you already own that could be repurposed or refreshed to fit the new theme. When our first was born we transformed an old bookshelf into a closet for his clothes. That closet is now our new coffee bar!
Ground the room with an heirloom piece. Whether that’s looking through your family members attics, or sourcing high-quality items (like dressers, beds, etc.) via thrifting, yard sales or estate sales, heirloom furniture is furniture that can grow with your child, because it’s not only timeless, but pieces are often made with much better materials and craftsmanship than new mass-produced decor.
Make your wall art. Whether you make DIY scrap fabric, press botanicals into frames, draw, frame a piece of textile, or even make a collage from old magazine clippings, art is one of my favourite things to not only DIY, but to add a touch of personality and love.
Focus on tactile and sensory experiences. Choose natural higher-quality materials like wood, cotton, and linen over plastic, as they provide a better sensory experience for the baby and align with a kinder approach of avoiding mass-produced, non-sustainable products. You can also respectfully source natural objects, like driftwood that looks like a whale or a rock from the beach where you sat wondering who your baby would be - all of this brings calm character.
Support local artisans and craftsman. When possible, shop from local artisans, be it finding them online or at your local markets and fairs.
Embrace a slow-curation perspective. Fight against the belief that you need everything now, so that you can embrace a slower, more intentional pace for collecting pieces. Remembering that what a baby needs most is to feel snuggly, safe and loved - which doesn’t require a perfect nursery space at all.
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