Unique Nursery Decorating Ideas

Past, Present, Perfect: Here's how to create a vintage space with a modern twist:

Retro Color: Choose accent colors that give a nod to the past, such as a classic turquoise or a vibrant yellow.

Sweet Sleeps: For a vintage look, go for the DaVinci Jenny Lind stationary crib ($170; amazon.com). Room going too far retro? Balance the look with the mod Eden Baby Furniture Madison Crib. ($480; sears.com)

What's Old is New Again: Incorporate heirlooms. Don't have any vintage pieces? Look to Etsy and eBay and turn other people's treasures into your own.

Thrift Your Heart Out: Scour secondhand stores to find pieces you can update. The swivel rocker pictured above was plucked from the Salvation Army and given new life with a custom yellow slipcover.

Give it a Twist: Use strategically placed wallpaper, like on an armoire door, to take a basic piece of furniture to a whole diff erent level. Give a changing table a vintage look by painting it a lively color and then sanding the edges to mimic wear.