MY DREAM NURSERY ON A BUDGET - UNDER $2,000.00!
After 10+ years of owning my own baby brand, I finally had my own. It’s been such a wild ride. Dreaming of starting S+N while at my desk at Michael Kors in midtown Manhattan — all the way to today, where I have my little girl in our photoshoots. It’s surreal.
Becoming a mom has opened my eyes and inspired me in so many new ways. One of my favorite parts of this journey has been decorating the nursery. No surprise there — as a little girl, there was a time I wanted to be an interior designer. Honestly, I even considered it once or twice in adulthood.
We’re lucky to have some extra space in our house — a third bedroom that’s doubled as an office, extended closet, workout room, and storage space for many years. The perfect place for a nursery, right? After many months of procrastinating (aka finding homes for all that stuff), we finally had an empty room. Ready to be transformed.
I don’t love the color pink and I don’t love frilly stuff, so my goal was to stick with neutrals — modern and traditional mixed together. I layered in some blush pinks (more than I thought I would!), but in a subtle, soft, feminine way.
I whipped up the whole vision in my head — like I usually do — then went straight to Google and Canva to start pulling together my inspo board.
THIS WAS THE INSPO BOARD I PUT TOGETHER FOR THE VISION OF HER ROOM - 
THE ROOM BEFORE: A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING
This room has lived many lives. Over the years, it’s been my office, my partner’s office, his closet, my closet, a workout room (I used to have The Mirror on the wall where the dresser now lives), and a storage catch-all for pretty much anything we didn’t have a real home for.
So when we found out we were expecting, I knew this would be the nursery — I just didn’t quite know how we were going to get there.
It took months (and many late-night decluttering sessions) to finally clear it out. Letting go of the storage mindset and imagining this space as something brand new — a soft, peaceful, thoughtful nursery — felt like a total reset. And once the room was empty, the vision came to life so quickly in my head.
What used to be our everything-room became her room — and now it’s one of my favorite spaces in the whole house.
If you know me and have been to either of the Sammy + Nat stores, my house, or the office, there are a few things you’ll always find: lots of white (linens, walls, furniture), solid wood features (our cash wrap, antique dressers), clean, modern “base” lines — always layered with texture, detail, and pops of color to make it feel like me. I wanted to bring that same feeling into the nursery, just a bit softer.
When we found out we were having a girl (yay!), I was so excited — and to be honest, I knew from day one. I felt it in my bones. I really believe my sister and I both had girls so we could be the moms we never had. Creating a nursery, a home, a life with her — it’s all part of that.
SO WE STARTING CLEARING IT OUT
Once the last box was out, I could finally see the room. Not as a dumping ground, but as something full of softness and light. The deep clean helped — windows scrubbed, closet vacuumed, baseboards wiped — but it was more than that. It was the beginning of turning this space into something meaningful.
I gave the walls a fresh coat of Behr’s Palais White (my forever favorite), touched up the trim, and started playing with layout by placing the crib where it felt most natural. That became the anchor — and everything else began to fall into place around it.
Our mom had some beautiful pieces of furniture and art that my sister and I have carried through various apartments and homes. Some expensive, some not. We’ve also had our fair share of IKEA and random cheap stuff in our NYC days. As we’ve gotten older, we’ve collected some nicer pieces… but I’ve always loved mixing and matching: old and new, inexpensive and luxe, rich colors and soft neutrals, matte textures with little hits of shine. I knew this was the key to making this nursery gorgeous - on a budget.
So when I started dreaming it up, I could picture it all — that’s when the late-night deep dives began. Up until 2am, adding everything to registries and shopping carts, screenshots on Canva, pins on Pinterest... culling through tons of websites to bring my vision to life. In the end, it came together just as I imagined — a blend of all the things I love most.
MOM HACK: I kept the bones of the room pretty much untouched — neutral walls, classic lines, nothing overly themed — and used that simplicity as a foundation. I chose timeless, functional furniture that could grow with her over time, and let the personality of the room come through in the smaller decor pieces: the rug, the bookshelf, the blush curtains. Those are the things that are easy to update down the road — a regular chair can replace the rocker, framed photos can take the place of board books, and new colors can be swapped in whenever she’s ready to put her own spin on the space.
Leaving out costs such as room upgrades (paint, flooring, paneling etc) all cut down on spend (and headache).
ALL THE ITEMS THAT BROUGHT THE NURSERY TO LIFE (and how much we spent)
OUR BIG TICKET ITEMS
THIS GORGEOUS DRESSER AND MIRROR ARE FROM CRATE + BARREL. I FELT LIKE THIS WAS AN INVESTMENT FOR HER BEDROOM FOR MANY YEARS TO COME, SHE WILL HAVE THIS HER WHOLE CHILDHOOD.
MOM-HACK: I PUT GIFT CARDS TO CRATE + BARREL ON OUR REGISTRY WHICH HELPED ALOT- AND A DEAR FRIEND GIFTED US THE MIRROR.
DRESSER: $1499
MIRROR: $399
WE PAID: $475
THE RUG
I ORIGINALLY PLANNED TO GO WITH SOMETHING SIMPLE AND NEUTRAL — UNTIL I STUMBLED ACROSS THIS BEAUTY. THE SUBTLE MOROCCAN PATTERN GIVES IT JUST ENOUGH CHARACTER AND I LOVE THE MIX IN OF BLUSH PINK. IT ADDED THE PERFECT TOUCH OF WARMTH WITHOUT OVERPOWERING THE ROOM.
MOM-HACK: POTTERY BARN HAS REALLY GREAT QUALITY RUGS (SUPER SOFT) — AND OFTEN HAVE GREAT SALES. START EARLY IN YOUR PREGNANCY AND KEEP TABS ON YOUR FAVORITES… YOU MIGHT JUST CATCH A CLEARANCE STEAL LIKE I DID.
WE PAID: $319
Babyletto crib Hudson 3-in-1 Convertible Crib - White
THE CRIB
A MAJOR MOM WIN: THIS 3-IN-1 CRIB WAS A HAND-ME-DOWN FROM MY NIECE — AND I COULDN’T BE MORE GRATEFUL. IT’S SIMPLE, MODERN, AND CONVERTS TO A TODDLER BED, WHICH MEANS IT’LL GROW WITH HER.
MOM-HACK: SAY YES TO HAND-ME-DOWNS. THE CRIB IS ONE OF THE BEST PIECES TO ACCEPT — IT DOESN’T NEED TO BE FANCY, JUST SAFE, FUNCTIONAL, AND SIMPLE ENOUGH TO FLOW WITH YOUR ROOM’S STYLE.
WE PAID: $0
VINTAGE BLUSH LINEN BLACKOUT CURTAINS
BLACKOUT CURTAINS ARE A MUST — THESE LINEN ONES FROM QUINCE.COM LOOK LUXE AND KEEP THE ROOM DARK FOR NAPS AND EARLY MORNINGS. I USED ONE PANEL PER WINDOW AND EXTENDED THE ROD TO FRAME THE SPACE JUST RIGHT.
MOM-HACK: OFTEN ON SALE FOR $99 (FROM $159) ON QUINCE.COM — PLUS, GET $40 OFF YOUR FIRST QUINCE ORDER.
WE PAID: $213.98
CURTAINS (European Linen Room Darkening Curtain): $160
CURTAIN RODS (Ivilon Drapery Window Curtain Rod): $26.99 Ea.
ROCKING CHAIR
I COULDN’T BELIEVE HOW MANY OVERPRICED NURSING CHAIRS WERE OUT THERE — SOME WITH SO MANY GADGETS, NONE OF WHICH I NEEDED. I JUST WANTED SOMETHING COMFORTABLE, THAT ROCKED, AND LOOKED BEAUTIFUL IN THE ROOM.
MOM-HACK: WE COVERED THE COST OF THIS CHAIR BY HAVING A TAG SALE — SOLD A BUNCH OF THINGS WE NO LONGER NEEDED AND PUT THAT MONEY RIGHT INTO THIS PIECE.
WE PAID: $499
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Now that the big stuff was covered, I could focus on the smaller things. A lot like wedding planning — make the big decisions first, then have fun with the details.
Next up: bookcase, pictures, side table... all little moments of personality.
I took a DIY approach to these — reusing frames we already had, printing photos at home, and styling a simple bookshelf with books, toys, and a few special gifts from friends. These finishing touches made the room feel personal, warm, and uniquely ours — without spending a fortune.
A POP OF PERSONALITY
These clear acrylic book ledges from Amazon are one of my favorite touches — they let the books shine while keeping the walls feeling clean and open.
MOM HACK: Curate the shelves with books that match your color palette to pull the whole room together visually. The rest? Tuck them into a cute rope basket below for easy access (and to avoid visual chaos).
Speaking of baskets — this wicker one is from HomeGoods and it’s the official home for our ever-growing collection of plushies. We joke that the stuffed animals multiply overnight — and honestly, they do! I love having a cozy spot to keep them contained but still within reach for quick cuddles or spontaneous story time.
WE PAID:
Bookshelf Ledges from Amazon - $36.99
Basket from HomeGoods - $38 
ARTWORK + PICTURES
When it came to wall art, I wanted something that felt personal but didn’t break the bank. I found these playful, colorful prints (we sell them at Sammy + Nat) and ordered simple frames from Amazon — the whole project cost just $112. The “Hello New York City” piece is especially close to my heart. I lived in NYC for 17 years, and it’s where so many of my favorite memories were made. Every time I look at it, I feel a little jolt of joy. It’s hard to see here, but there’s also a print of the ABCs of San Francisco — meaningful to her dad, who lived there for many years.
Little touches like that helped us blend both of our stories into her space. I’ve never liked buying art just to fill wall space — it feels empty to me. Whether it’s expensive or cheap, I really believe every piece should have some kind of meaning or speak to you in a way that makes your space feel like your own. That’s what makes a home feel personal, layered, and lived in.
There are many websites you can find that sell prints and you can search places or things and tons of different prints pop up that you can buy and frame yourself. Check out Society6 - one of my favorites.
Some of my favorite ways to make art meaningful: Choose prints or photography that reflect places you’ve lived or traveled, animals you love, or memories you want to preserve. I’ve made it a habit — when I visit somewhere new or special, I try to bring back a small print or photo as a souvenir. Hanging it on the wall turns it into a story, not just decor.
THE LITTLE TOUCHES I BOUGHT MYSELF
Some of the finishing details I picked up on my own — like the lamp from HomeGoods, the sleek tissue box cover from The Container Store, and these cute rope baskets from Amazon (great for stashing anything and everything!).
The books and that adorable llama musical toy? Those were registry favorites — and they really brought this little corner to life.
Don’t underestimate how much personality the little things can add. And rope baskets? Truly the MVP of nursery storage.
WE PAID:
Lamp - $39
Tissue Box -$14.99
Baskets from Amazon - $29.99
Ceiling Light - $69
LIGHTING
Lighting might not be the first thing you think of when designing a nursery — but trust me, it makes a huge difference. It sets the mood, brings warmth, and can completely change the feel of a space.
We knew we wanted to swap out the basic ceiling light and introduce a fixture that added personality while tying in some of the natural tones used throughout the room. This bohemian rattan lamp from Home Depot was the perfect pick — it adds texture and charm, complements the wood tones in the room, and was only $69. A win all around. We also knew we needed softer lighting for bedtime routines. Harsh overhead lights aren’t exactly soothing when you’re winding down for the night, so we added a simple table lamp on the nightstand for those late-night feedings and book-before-bed moments. Between the statement ceiling fixture and the cozy bedside glow, the lighting now feels intentional and layered — just like the rest of the room.
AND THAT’S A WRAP… FOR NOW
Putting this nursery together was such a labor of love — and honestly, one of the most fun projects I’ve ever taken on. From hand-me-downs to investment pieces, and a few DIY moments in between, it all came together in the most meaningful way.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what we spent on the key items:
Crib: Hand-me-down (free!)
Dresser + Mirror: $475
Rug: $319
Rocking Chair: $499
Curtains + Rods: $213.98
Artwork + Frames: $112
Lamp: $39
Ceiling Light: $69
Tissue Box Cover: $14.99
Rope Baskets: $29.99 for 5
Book Ledges: $36.99
Basket for Plushies: $38
TOTAL SPEND: $1,846.95
And this is just the beginning… As a brand and store owner, I’ve spent years curating the best of the best — from quality to design to practicality. That’s what I’ve always chosen for my stores… and now, for my baby.
Stay tuned for my full registry picks — I’ll walk you through every single item I selected (the ones you’ve seen and a ton you haven’t yet).
