Kids – even babies – seem to need a lot of stuff. Plus you need storage space for all the diapers, clothes, toys, and books that will inevitably end up in the nursery. Not all families have the luxury of dedicating a large room for the new arrival though. Some nurseries are little more than a closet or one part of the parents’ bedroom.
Creating the perfect nursery with everything you need (crib, dresser, changing station, storage) in a small space is quite the challenge. But a little bit of creativity and planning goes a long way for small rooms. How can you maximize the space in your tiny nursery? Here are a few tips to get you going:
Go Vertical – Use the Walls!
Floor space is precious real estate in a small nursery. A crib – even a mini crib – will take up a lot of space and you don’t need more big pieces in there. Go vertical and use the walls for additional storage instead. Most people hang pictures or photos on the wall. Why stop there when you can do so much more?
Use floating shelves above the crib or changing table to hold supplies like diapers, extra clothes or baby wipes within easy reach. Some furniture pieces can be wall-mounted, even if they’re not advertised as such. Putting storage on the walls has another advantage – you don’t have to bend down to pick up stuff. Hang them at chest level or higher for easy access.
Use Multipurpose Furniture
Multipurpose furniture is a godsend for small nurseries. A prime example is the Tulip Leander 4-in-1 convertible crib. It can convert from a crib to a toddler bed, daybed, transition bed, and junior. Convertible cribs are economical in the long run as you don’t have to buy new furniture when your baby becomes a toddler.
Search for furniture like cribs with attached drawers that can pull double duty. They are handy for storing supplies and you can separate the shelves to use as a standalone unit later on. You can also skip the changing table altogether. Try alternatives like a portable changing station, a changing mat on top of the dresser or a crib-top changing station.
Maximize Closet Space
Most closets are designed for adult clothes and accessories. Attach a second railing to the wall and instantly double the hanging space for baby clothes! A space-saving alternative is to put the dresser in the closet to make the small room feel bigger. You can also remove closet doors and hang curtains to give more space to the nursery.
The best option is to get a professional closet storage system like the UnMess Convertible Wardrobe. It comes with two hanging rods and three shelves that you can arrange in any configuration you like. If your closet is large enough, you can fit two of them side by side for even more storage. The best part? You can remove the rods and use the wardrobe as bookshelves or a study table when your child starts school.
Reclaimed Unused Space
Most rooms have unused space in some corner or the other. The space below the window or under the crib is probably empty. Get a few storage containers for supplies like unopened diaper bags, extra towels etc. and keep them under the crib or changing table. A short, two or three drawer dresser can go under the window. Add a soft cushion on top and it can even double as seating space.
Consider using tall dressers instead of double wide ones. The Rustico Moderno 5 drawer dresser gives you plenty of extra space without taking up more room on the floor. You can even use the narrow space behind the door for storage with book ledges. Or get an over the door rack for hanging clothes.
You can never have enough storage, especially in a nursery. Try to make sure that every piece of furniture you bring into the nursery has some storage. Purely decorative pieces may look nice in the showroom but do you want them cluttering up your baby’s room? Think out of the box when planning the nursery and you’ll be astounded at the results!