In the first few years of a baby's life, the nursery pretty much becomes your second home, so it needs to be a place where you want to spend time and make memories. From late-night feedings to tummy-time workouts to restful slumbers, this sanctuary gets a lot of use, and its design needs to be practical as well as stylish. Unfortunately, we all have to deal with a little thing known as a budget, which can put a damper on our plans. But don't give up on your dreams quite yet. Here are 10 IKEA nursery ideas that will give you and your little one the idyllic respite you deserve, without breaking the bank:
1. Keep it simple.
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There's not always a need to pick a theme for your nursery. Keep it simple with an all-white space, which creates a calming atmosphere. Megan from The Fresh Exchange has done exactly that with textured baskets and a floor cushion, adding a simple saturated pop of color to an IKEA dresser via a Sarah Sherman Samuel-inspired hack. The final touch? A set of wall-mounted shelves to show off baby's first accessories.
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Get the look: IKEA Ekby Valter Brackets, $5
2. Tie in boho elements.
If you're on the hunt for gender-neutral nursery ideas, look no further than this scheme by Ciara Self. Using a black, white, and beige color palette, she has created a minimal design that works for both herself and her little one. The statement rocking chair (yes, it's from IKEA) is the perfect focal point for the room. Oh, and let's not forget the Instagram favorite, the IKEA Sinnerlig Pendant.
Get the look: IKEA Poäng Rocking Chair, $269
3. Update your existing furniture.
Chances are, you already have some IKEA furniture in your abode. Shop your own home and give your furniture a makeover with a new coat of paint and swanky hardware — we are all about the IKEA hacks. This DIY from House of Hawkes uses the Tarva dresser as a base. Kathryn painted the chest of drawers in an on-trend neo mint shade and finished the look with brass knobs from Zara Home.
Get the look: IKEA Tarva 3-Drawer Chest, $119
4. Make your crib stand out.
Turn a simple IKEA crib into a royal bed fit for a princess. Alexandra Steadman added a canopy to her little one's sleeping area, taking it from off-the-shelf to a luxury setup. Mix and match higher priced items with staple pieces to bring about a unique design.
Get the look: IKEA Sniglar Crib, $79.99
5. Style their stuff.
While you may want to keep the rest of the nursery clean, there's always room to showcase a few cutesy pieces of decor. Picture ledges are the perfect way to display books, soft toys, and trinkets, as well as art. Customize your own by painting them a complementary shade to match the rest of your color scheme or keep them white as in this nursery idea by Lauren Coleman.
Get the look: IKEA Mosslanda Picture Ledges, $14.99
6. Make it multifunctional.
We're big fans of finding ways to make our furniture pull double-duty. Take this set of drawers: It functions as both storage and a changing table, and there's even room left over to display accessories.
Get the look: IKEA Hemnes Dresser, $249
7. Mix and match.
If you're letting your walls do the talking, like photographer Janelle Marina did in her daughter's nursery, keep the furniture simple. This timeless crib can be reused for any future children, and bonus: It allows you to drop the bottom and remove one of the long sides, transforming into a toddler bed as the baby gets older.
Get the look: IKEA Gulliver Crib, $99
8. Go contemporary.
Your nursery doesn't have to look childlike. Instead, opt for something that fits your personal style. Remember, you'll be spending just as much time in this room as baby. Make like Rebecca of Six Things Blog and add soft tones with storage (added leather pulls optional) and black and white photography for a contemporary take.
Get the look: IKEA Ivar Cabinet, $70
9. Think outside the box.
We always turn to Francesca for DIY tips, and this easy-peasy spice rack hack is one of her simplest to date. We've seen them used as shelving before, but Francesca turned one of hers upside down to create a cute clothes hanger. Just take off the plate that holds it to the wall, turn it around, and reattach. Et voilà!
Get the look: IKEA Bekvän Spice Rack, $4.99
10. Add pops of color.
Affordable open storage? Tick. The Kallax bookcase is the perfect piece of furniture for displaying all your little one's favorite toys in an organized fashion. The simple design allows you to inject some personality into your nursery idea, à la designer Kim Scodro, while giving you an opportunity to hide stuff away with the help of storage bins.
Get the look: IKEA Kallax Shelving Unit, $69.99