Check overstock.com for rugs, and Craig's list for any furniture you need (that can be refinished/repainted to match your nursery decor). Good luck!!

Relax. Babies don't need pendant lamps and cute bookshelves and expensive things. They need a relaxed, loving mommy.

Lamps can be easily spray painted to match any decor. I recommend looking at thrift stores and clearance aisles for something that has the shape you want. If the color is off, change it!

Lamp shades can also be customized. I like to use plain white and add a ribbon trim, or stencil something on them.

I would have to agree with the "relax" comment. I remember obsessively looking at this website before our babe was born. It turns out that you sometimes don't quite know what you need until you meet your little one. I do think it is nice -- and possibly a necessity -- to have things complete before she is born. Then you can really focus on being that relaxed and loving mommy without wondering where things go. One thing that has been very useful and I seem to remember being cheap were some collapsable square bins from target. They have been filled with diaper stuff, toys, blankets, bedding, books, etc. Makes for good organization -- or at least to keep the clutter out of sight! :) It sounds like you have some lovely things already for your sweet girl. And remember, you will only accumulate more! Have fun and many blessings!

I'm still decorating for my 5 year old. Sure those glam nurseries are pretty to look at but you don't need it. Also garage sales are going to be in everyone's driveway soon so start looking at those and grab some spray paint!

i second the relax. my daughter's nursery didn't really get finished until . . . well, i guess it isn't really finished & she's 15 months old now. ;-) for the first 8 months, the nursery was just the place we would change her. now, i'm glad it came/is coming together more organically & isn't so matchy-matchy.

Babies don't care what their rooms look like. In the beginning, it's best to be set up to be functional anyway. Need a bookshelf and some lamps? Craigslist, tag sales, Target. The room doesn't have to be a designer showpiece. It mostly needs to be comfortable for you ... you're going to be spending a lot of time in there.

I do recommend getting yourself a good, roomy, comfortable chair for feeding, reading, and lulling the baby back to sleep.

Hopefully your last few months before your daughter arrives will be stress-free.

I would check Craigslist and thrift stores for bookshelves, you may even find the Expedits you want. Target has good options, too. Most people I know skip a changing table in favor of a changing pad on top of a dresser.

I know that there are very mixed views on YHL, but their nursery at their old house was adorable.

I think this website is both a blessing and a curse when you are mid-nervous-breakdown obsessing about the perfect nursery (and I have also been there!). On the one hand, it has such great ideas, but on the other, it could add to your pressure to find the perfect everything, because it seems like everyone else's nursery is perfect and the nesting urge is so strong. Hang in there, it sounds like you have already bought some great stuff (and the big ticket items), and the rest will come, and if it doesn't all get done right away (or at all) it's not the end of the world.

It also is a giant pain when you don't live near an IKEA. You can get Closet Maid shelving that is similar to Expedit (or half of an Expedit) at Lowe's, Home Depot, or Target. Closet Maid also sells fabric bins in fun colors. Target also has cute lamps and rugs. Good luck!

My intitial thought was to say something like krebscout- relax! But, I remember what it's like to be a first time mom and freaking out wanting everything to be perfect (probably because you know your life is about to get out of control), so I will try some specific suggestions. I looked up the fabric you are talking about- looks pink and purple- should be no problem to find things that go with a white, pink, and purple palette. I suggest Target- get any plain white bookcase- maybe paint the inside to go with your fabric to dress it up. You can search the rugs and lamps on Target's site by color and there are plenty in the pinks and purples. It would also be easy to get a white lamp with a plain shade and cover it a patterned fabric in a similar color palette using spray adhesive (I did this in my son's room- it really is easy and there are instructional videos online. Finally, it sounds like you have all the basics, so take your time. It will be ok if you don't have a bookshelf by the time the baby comes, you can wait to get things as you see something you like. Good luck.

nursery's are designed for parents... not babies so don't stress out and don't forget that when someone comes into the nursery they are not looking at your lights or rug but that cute little bundle in the crib. so don't stress. the most important element the baby cares about is a quality mattress so they are safe and comfy and that they get clean diapers and fed :)

One thing to keep in mind is that your nursery furniture doesn't have to come from a nursery-specific source. Looks for rugs, lamps and bookcases everywhere.... it'll save you money and the items can be used elsewhere in your home/ life after the kid grows up.

Also, it seems like your bedding is pretty busy/ pattern heavy. All the more reason to go basic with the rest of your items....

I had a mini freak out when we found out I was pregnant with twins but once I pulled myself together I realized it wasn't that bad. Just a need a few multiples of things!
Our nursery is coming along- I too love to look at Ohdeedoh for inspiration but can't really afford much. Start cruising Craigslist, local garage sales, and thrift shops for stuff- and remember you don't need much! Focus on the essentials!
I've got most of our basics nailed down and plan to make just about all of the decor-type stuff including the crib mobiles. Learn to sew (and knit) so you can make curtains, pillows, blankies etc! Check out Etsy for ideas too.

I too was gripped by the idea that I had to make something perfect and I had to make it NOW. But I ended up starting his nursery (at age 20 months, which is when we moved into our own house) with just a toddler bed and a dresser with a changing pad on top, and a closet organization system. I wanted to get a matching table/chair set and a toy box and some shelving, but as we've been settling in, I've found I like the space more on the empty side (more room to run around!). I did eventually DIY a found console radio into a toy box, and it holds a LOT. The only thing I need now is some art, and possibly a wall-mounted bookshelf, but the room is definitely usable without.

I just wanted to say that it is totally normal to feel this pre-baby freakout about the nursery. It's nesting hormones. It doesn't mean you aren't going to be a relaxed & loving mommy! Lots of good suggestions above. Good luck!

The other thing to consider in regards to lamps, decor, etc. in a nursery is that once your child becomes mobile, things like table lamps on petite lovely tables become true safety hazards as they are so interesting with their cords and switches. I recommend keeping it simple and functional until you really know your daughter. You might find that she responds well to a specific color very early on and it might be something you hadn't thought of like red! You never know.
The nurseries ohdeedoh features are lovely and wonderful but actually not always practical or "real" I find.
I also second the Target suggestion and BabiesRUs has some great storage solutions as well that will probably fit in with your decor ideas.

Try consignment sales!

Ask your family and friends. There's a good possibility that someone you know has just what you need collecting dust in a basement or garage.

I guess what I'd say is that you really don't need the high-end brand-name stuff to get a good look. And if you're willing to get a little crafty and to repurpose things that weren't initially for a nursery your pennies will go far. I've tricked out our impending baby's nursery quite well with practically zero money (to the point where I hope to submit photos here once the final touches are on!) My strategies:

(a) I've religiously surfed Craigslist, searching a number of keywords for what I was looking for - usually twice a day. (Hey, you're probably on the Internet that much anyway, do it on your lunch hour.) I eventually got an enormous $500 Land of Nod 100% wool rug for $75, a mid-century walnut dresser and a walnut Eames chair & ottoman for under $100 each, a nice changing table for $25, and a whole host of other goodies for practically nothing - it just took a lot (a whole lot) of boring, repetitive, varied keyword searching.

(b) I haunt local thrift shops and garage sales when I have the time - and I am willing to repurpose things that aren't really meant for the nursery. You can find amazing stuff for $5 and under that a little paint or a quick sewing job can transform into great nursery goodies.

(c) I read this blog and Craftzine's blog a lot, looking for cool DIY projects that would spruce up the nursery, and I've been willing to get a little crafty. My sewing skills borderline suck, but when I found $20 worth of awesome 1950s barkcloth I knew that I could soldier through making curtains - and now people ask me where on earth I got them because they're so awesome. And paint can unify any number of disparate objects.

(d) I've spent a lot of time looking for super-cheap artwork and vintage decor stuff - mostly off Etsy, where you'd be AMAZED at the things you can get for under $20 and sometimes for under $10! You should especially consider looking at printable PDFs which can be REALLY cheap and stuck into a cool thrift store frame (that maybe you paint to match) for maximum effect.

...All that said, DON'T STRESS. Do what you have time for - the dirty little secret is that half of babies don't move into their nurseries for months anyway, because it's easier to keep a bassinet in the bedroom when they wake up every hour and a half! Time is your secret ingredient - don't feel like you have to have it all done by your due date, or you'll go crazy.

Good luck!

Thank you all for the great comments and being so nice. I have settled down in the last few weeks and think I was in nesting overload!
I am very excited for the baby and have found a few things here in there. Target has been a great place! I agree the nursery is more a space for parents and the baby could care less and I agree this website sometimes makes me feel like I need all this stuff. But will take my time and enjoy it. Thanks again will be checking out all the great tips!!!

I didn't really start my son's nursery until he was six months old. It was painted and furniture was in there but that was about it. Even then, it still took a few months to "finish" (although we're still making changes and rearranging to better fit what is needed--like blackout shades rather than the cute ones in there). I agree with the other moms on here--don't worry too much about having it all done beforehand (easier said than done, I remember). When it was all said and done, I didn't end up with the nursery I'd envisioned while pregnant but I think it is one that I think better reflects his burgeoning personality.

Good luck!

Andrea, I don't know where you live, but if you have Craigslist, keep an eye on the baby section and the furniture section. Among the items we got from Craigslist for our son's nursery this winter:
* red two-shelf bookcase, $15
* birch Child Craft dresser/changing table, $40
* yellow upholstered glider/rocker, $80
* Arm's Reach hanging cradle, $67
* new Boppy pillow with organic cover, $25

Because the room was/is so small, I had to pass up several Expedits, all for under $80. And there were many crib bedding sets, which we weren't going to use, and strollers and other gear. So with some patience and dedicated scrolling, you can do even better there than Target!

By the way, we got the Walmart Modbaby Parklane (it came down to that or the Olivia) and we really like it. Good luck and happy baby!!

The best stuff is quirky and one-off. It is not found in chain stores! Make your nursery uniquely yours... Take the expensive shipping costs as a sign that you should hunt closer to home. Check out used furniture stores, charity shops, CraigsList, the classifieds, estate sales and look for furniture that can be transformed with a little elbow grease and some paint.

Neither of my children had nurseries when they were born -- we finished them later -- there is no huge hurry. The nursery is mostly for the parents anyway; children don't spend too many waking hours in their nurseries.

Given the fabrics you are using, turquoise would be a great colour to introduce for lamps and other accessories, so keep that in mind.

Try to find some vintage lamps, like this

http://minordetails.typepad.com/md_weblog/2008/07/playful-lightin.html

or like this

http://www.etsy.com/listing/28999733/vintage-nursery-lamp

(this site is particularly inspiring: http://minordetails.typepad.com/md_weblog/vintage/page/2/ )

And one last piece of advice: you don't mention what sort of bedding you are having made, but bedding is not safe for babies, not until they are much older. And bumpers are NEVER safe. It looks like governments are now thinking of banning commercially-made bumpers entirely because of the hazard they pose.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/ct-met-bumpers-20101212,0,3414552.story

http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/ct-met-bumpers-update-20110108,0,3176775.story

Try your local thrift store or salvation army :) Sometimes you'll find something good! Also the websites craigslist.com and freecycle.com.

Also.. the What to Expect app. on my droid has a forum for swapping items, haven't really checked it out, but there has to be something similar on the web. Do you think your inlaws/parents/relatives would be able to help with some of the more expensive items?

I know pottery barn has some good sales..

Such a pretty crib! and all of the other things you have sound great too!

We all know the nesting feeling and it can be overpowering! :)

But you probably will be tweeking the room as your baby grows, for the next several years. So it might be better to start without everything and fill in when you find stuff that you love.

Congratulations!!!

TRY CRIAGSLIST IN YOUR TOWN!!! I GOT A FEW IKEA THINGS FROM THERE FOR A 1/4 OF THE PRICE! :)

Babies want to sleep with their moms..don't worry too much about the nursery.

If you can afford $300 for a crib, $1,000 (*strangled sound*) for a dresser, AND to have your crib bedding made for you...then you can afford some lamps and a bookcase. Geesh.

If you have your eye on an IKEA bookcase, then hop on over to Walmart or Target. They have the exact same things. Its wood. It has shelves. You put it together. Its cheap. Voila.

And really...its not the end of the world if your nursery doesn't look like a magazine print out. The baby will get here whether the room is perfect or not, and you'll realize tout de suit that it really doesn't matter all that much (hopefully anyway).