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.
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