Eames, Miller, Starck… You may have noticed that these giants of design have been infiltrating everyday décor recently. There are lots of companies that specialize in making high design accessible – if not affordable. So what do you do when you have the design sensibilities of Jonathan Adler but not the Gwen Stefani salary?
Perhaps you pick a few key items to splurge on, while for everything else you find a less expensive, but still inspired, piece. Here are a few of my favorite ways to accomplish just that.
A little paint will work wonders.
This crib from DucDuc is one of the hottest mod cribs on the market right now. The clean lines, personalization and gorgeous colors are simple, bold and inspiring. While $1000 really isn’t excessive for a convertible crib, you can definitely steal this look if you are working with 
a tighter budget. Ikea’s Hermelin crib sports the same clean lines and brilliant color (and if you don’t like blue, prime it and paint right over it!). If you are craving the personalization, stencils and paint will do the trick. A word of warning: you may want to paint only the parts of the crib which your little one won’t be touching -- those rails make an awfully tempting teether!
Go with design-inspired instead of designer.
This limited edition rocking chair is truly a piece of art: not only does it have the visual appeal of a silken ribbon falling through the air, its design 
is based on the Fibonacci sequence. Luckily, there are similarly shaped rockers to be found – like this one, for less than $20! It may not be constructed according to Fibonacci’s rules, but it has the same fluid lines and modern appeal as the 
Mamma.
Many designers will tell 
you that lighting can make or break a room – and this delightful butterfly pendant lamp certainly seems to have the power to make a room fabulous. But there are ways around the price tag. Pendant lamps are plentiful and can be found in mod prints and patterns as well as whimsical themes, like the Kaxig lamp.
Perk up the plain.
While a Keith Haring original might be your ultimate wish, budgetary restrictions may prevent you from decking the walls with dancing men. But you can still infuse Haring’s spirit into your nursery. Sticky (but removable) decals allow you to transform walls, windows and even your changing table!
I
f you love the idea of animals traipsing across the nursery walls but loathe wallpaper borders or lack Van Gogh’s painting skills, here’s another option: wallpaper decals. The removable elephants, lions and giraffes (not to mention trees, monkey and ostriches) come in brilliantly colored wallpaper patterns. If you are feeling a bit DIY, you can create similar decals yourself, customized to match your nursery. Pick up a cast-off wallpaper sample book from your local home improvement store and a container of liquid starch. Once you’ve cut out your animal of choice, simply apply it to the wall using the starch. Unlike wallpaper paste, it’s completely removable, just like the pricier decals.
Incorporate inexpensive elements.
Although a designer room would be fabulous, sometimes all it takes to achieve the desired effect is a few well-placed elements. A mobile using 
simple, bright shapes turns you little one’s crib into a mini-MOMA. A reproduction Eames coat rack adds a burst of color and whimsy – your baby might not recognize the famous man behind the design, but she’ll appreciate the bright globes! Even something as utilitarian as your baby 
monitor can bring a touch of modern design into Baby’s space.
With a little bit of creativity, you’ll find that it’s not too difficult to create a nursery worthy of your little Todd Oldham. The best thing of all? Each one of these items can bring that high design feel into the nursery without the high design budget.