Since
babies are so tiny, they don’t need that much
space in the nursery, right? Alas, if only that were true. While babies
themselves may not take up a ton of space, all of their stuff can fill up a
nursery lightning-fast, leaving you with precious little room for all those
diaper changes, regular feedings and special bonding time with your baby. And
don’t even get us started on the new-mom clutter!
If
you’re working with a small nursery space, try not to stress. Although your
square footage may be limited, your options for creating a beautiful nursery
are truly endless. Not convinced? Read on for a few space-saving tips that will
help you bring style and function to baby’s nursery.
1. Choose a Crib with Built-in Storage–When shopping for a
crib, try to find one with storage-friendly space underneath. For instance, a
crib with a pull-out drawer is perfect for storing your favorite baby boy bedding, extra blankets, spare
diapers and other must-have nursery essentials. Another option? Buy a stylish
crib skirt for baby’s crib. You can use it to hide nursery essentials in a slim
storage bin under the crib.
2. Consider a Mini-Crib–Another crib option that
you may want to consider is a mini-crib. Sometimes called portable cribs,
mini-cribs are often much less bulky and expensive compared to standard-size
cribs. And since many of them come with wheels, they’re also easy to move from
one room to another, making them fit the American Academy
of Pediatrics’ recommendation for babies to share a
room with their parents for the first six months. One downside worth mentioning
is that standard crib bedding may not fit your mini-crib, so it may be a little
tricky to find the right-fitting sheets.
3. Opt for a Dresser/Changing Table Combo–Traditional changing
tables are expensive and take up a ton of valuable floor space. If you’re working with a tight space
and an even tighter budget, skip the changing table altogether and use a small
dresser as a changing table instead. Simply buy a comfy changing pad with
raised sides, secure it to your dresser and voila! You’ll have a functional
changing table that doubles as useful storage now and a kid-friendly dresser in
the future.
4. Install a Drop-Down Changing Table–Living in a cramped
apartment with limited floor space? In that case, consider installing a drop-down
changing table. Unlike traditional changing tables, a drop-down changing table
is mounted to the wall, so it takes up zero floor space. Although drop-down
changing tables are smaller than standard-size changing tables, rest assured
that they’re still perfectly adequate for changing your little one. Plus,
they’re easy on the eyes. Many of them come in attractive
designs that either blend into the wall or match with the rest of your nursery
décor.
5. Create a Cozy Closet Nursery–Putting baby’s nursery
in a closet may sound like a bad idea initially, but just hear us out. Removing
the doors from a walk-in closet and clearing out the space for your baby can be
an incredibly stylish way to make room for your newest addition. Plenty of
space-savvy parents have done it before, as evidenced by the countless closet
nursery tutorials on Pinterest. If you’re an apartment-dwelling mama, go for a bold accent wall with peel-and-stick
wallpaper. It’s a cute (and temporary!) way to add the wow-factor to your
baby’s nursery.
6. Think Vertically–When you’re crunched for
floor space, look for ways to capitalize on unused wall space. For instance,
you could hang cute baskets above the changing table and use them to keep
diapering essentials within easy reach. That small space below the window? It’s
perfect for a small bookshelf to hold the baby’s reading material. Skip the
floor lamps and install wall-mounted lighting instead. And don’t forget the
nursery closet. Installing over-the-door organization and floating shelves
inside the closet can further maximize floor space in a small nursery.
7. Declutter Baby’s Closet Regularly–Having a baby usually
means getting showered with cute baby clothes and toys—usually, far
more than a baby actually needs. To keep the mess to a minimum, you’ll need to
come up with an easy way of managing the new and the old. A simple way to do
this is by keeping a bag in the closet and using it as a dumping spot for
outgrown baby clothes and toys. If you plan on having more kiddos in the
future, keep the bag in the garage for later use. Otherwise, donate the baby’s
old things or consider giving them to an expecting friend.
8. Reimagine Awkward Spaces–Can’t figure out what to
do with that awkward space in the nursery? Try to think outside the box. With a
little creativity, unused nooks and crannies can be transformed into functional
spaces for you and the baby. For instance, you can maximize a small nook with
slanted ceilings by installing a toddler daybed that doubles as toy storage.
Have an empty space between the dresser and the crib? Fill it with a cute
accent chair and use it to hold pillows and stuffed animals.
9. Rethink Seating Options–Although having a glider
in the nursery is convenient, it’s not strictly necessary. In fact, many moms
are ditching the glider for more practical (read: space-saving) seating
options, such as compact swivel chairs and stylish poufs. If you’re not ready
to give up your glider, consider moving it to your bedroom or the living room.
Sure, it may not be as convenient, but at least you’ll have somewhere to rock
the baby to sleep.
10. Create
the Illusion of Space–So, you’ve made use of every unused nook and
cranny in your nursery—now what? If the space is still feeling a bit
claustrophobic, use some tried-and-true design hacks to create the illusion of
a larger space. For example, hanging curtains as close to the ceiling as
possible can bring the eyes up, making the room feel larger. Painting your
nursery walls a lighter color (such as white) can also make your space look
open and airy.
