You got the big news: a baby is on the way! There’s so much to do in only a few months. Putting a nursery together is a big, important project, and it can be an expensive one—painting walls, buying new furniture, bedding, draperies and carpeting, accessories and lighting. And that’s just the room!
Not everything has to be brand new. Don’t discard an old hand-me-down dresser just because it’s seen better days. All it takes is a little paint and some wall decals, and you have a new piece of furniture designed just for your baby.
Step One: Sand Down the Old Finish
This four-drawer dresser was a sturdy piece with a really rough finish. Be sure to sand the old finish first so the new paint can adhere better.
Step Two: Choose Your New Color
When decorating a nursery, you want to choose a theme and colors that will grow with your child. Bright pink and little bunnies painted directly on the wall are perfect for the newborn, but a five-year-old might have a different opinion. So choose neutral colors in soft, calming shades. You want the baby to sleep, so avoid really bright hues.
Grey is a great neutral. It goes with every color, and works in a boy’s or girl’s room. Be sure to buy enough paint to cover the entire piece—it took three coats of paint to cover the original red!
Step Three: Add Your Decals
Instead of painting a design on the drawer fronts, I purchased wall decals. I picked owls and butterflies for the infant and ribbon candy-colored circles for a youngster.
I love decals; they’re self-adhesive, removable, repositionable and washable. You can use them over and over again, and they won’t damage your walls. Everything you could want for nursery or children’s room decor!
Play around with the decals. Apply as many as you like. Cut out pieces or sections and make your own design. I randomly placed the owls and butterflies on the dresser. I had to cut the feet off (and reposition them) so the entire bird would fit. There are no rules, and you can’t make a mistake. If you don’t like the placement, peel it off and start over!
Step Four: Change Decals as Your Child Grows
The owls are adorable for a baby, but an older girl will want something more grown-up. These ribbon candy circles in bright blue, green and pink will fit the bill. I cut them to fit the four drawers, but the possibilities are endless. Placing them off-center or wrapped around the side of the dresser would give it an entirely new look. In fact, once your child is old enough, let her design her dresser using the same decals you purchased before she was born. Talk about getting your money’s worth!
Merri Cvetan is a Wisconsin-based interior designer who enjoys creating DIY projects that can help rejuvenate a room or room element. Merri writes about her projects for The Home Depot; her use of decals to add new life to a kid’s old chest of drawers is a case in point. To view Home Depot’s large collection of wall decals for a project of your own, you can visit Home Depot online.
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