A nesting parent will stop at nothing to prepare for their baby. The house will be cleaned, the closets will be organized, and everything will be baby-proofed. Naturally, it will lead up to the best part, setting up the nursery. Will it be pink, blue, or green? Traditional, modern, or themed? It’s a rite of passage for expecting parents and one that can be truly enjoyable and fun. However, what happens when you don’t have that spare bedroom or old office to transform into the baby’s room? No matter what type of space you live in you shouldn’t miss out on this wonderful experience. There are plenty of tips and tricks for creating a healthy space for your baby.
1. Closet Nursery
If you don’t have that spare bedroom but do have some extra closet space. You can remove the doors and have a little nook for your little nest. Mini cribs are very popular right now, and you won’t need a full-sized crib for quite a while. So, place the crib and use the walls for storage. You can even decorate it.
IMAGE SOURCE: Domino
Even if you’re e not doing a closet nursery the mini crib is a wonderful idea for any small space. You can use it anywhere to free up room for storage, a rocking chair, or anything you might otherwise have to skip. You can even have the crib in your bedroom which is probably where your little one will sleep for a few weeks anyway.
I have always questioned why most cribs don’t come with storage. They have so much space underneath. They are usually way taller than a bed and we put drawers under those. So, find a crib with storage under it, or DIY your own! You can opt for that and share a little closet space instead of buying a dresser.
Instead of trying to fit new furniture into a small space, see what you already have and repurpose it. Use your own dresser as a changing table. Just place a changing mat on top with your clean bottom essentials and there you go! You can take that old hutch and paint it or just use it for baby storage. Any furniture in your home can be dedicated for your baby. Not only does this save space but money too.
IMAGE SOURCE: Elizabeth Street Post Blog
Having a stationary changing table can look great, but realistically you will end up changing your baby everywhere. Find a rolling office organizer and create the ultimate mobile changing station. They usually have three tiers. So, you can have diapers, wipes, and creams on top. Use the second for bath time, and first aid items on the bottom. You can even keep a change of clothes, so you are ready for any accidents. It’s perfect to wheel around from room to room and it will keep your bathroom clutter free as well.
The corners of a room can be a dead space, but with a little creativity, they can be very useful for storage. Hanging baskets can give any nursery a cute rustic feel while also eliminating the need for shelves. They can be used for toys, blankets, or organizing skin care. Corner shelves don’t offer a lot of storage, but they can add to the décor of a room. Make sure the hanging baskets are far from the crib though. If they hang too close, that’s a disaster waiting to happen.
IMAGE SOURCE: Lucky Andi Blog
Find a crib that doubles as a dresser, a changing table, or offers storage. You can even create a DIY piece that connects all three. This will save maximum space. When you combine furniture or furniture that is all one piece you save floor space. Instead of spreading three or four large pieces you only need one area to act as a whole room. It can be a fun project to design your own multi-purpose piece and build it, but if you need to save time there are plenty of options out there to buy.
DON’T FORGET to check out our NEW online Nursery Design Course! It will walk you through, step-by-step how to create a non-toxic, cruelty-free nursery. These 11 tips are just to start you off, the course is a deep dive into why vegan materials are healthier for you and your child. Learn more HERE or click on the button below!
Another way to avoid needing shelves or a dresser is to use your doors as storage. You can hang a shoe organizer on the back of your doors to keep anything from diaper supplies, bath time essentials, and clothes, the possibilities are endless! You can add command hooks for hanging diaper bags or blankets, or even install shelving.
IMAGE SOURCE: Container Store
Tension rods or curtain rods are not just for hanging things. You can place two of them to sit baskets or other boxes for easy storage. Or you can hang storage boxes above other furniture to use the height of the room as well.
10. No Closet?
The beauty of baby clothes is how small they are! Instead of trying to free up closet space just hang their clothes out in the open. You can do this by placing small rods in the space to hang them. It can be attached to another piece of furniture or the wall. You can also buy free standing closets that usually come with shelves at the bottom or even drawers.
IMAGE SOURCE: Apartment Therapy
Have you ever seen the grated walls in a hardware store? They turn any wall into a multi-purpose dream! You can paint them or cover your cork boards with fabric. Attach baskets for storage or laundry, use hooks to hang bags or blankets, attach a rod to hang clothes. This is perfect if you have wall space but lack floor space. It is completely customizable, and you can make it work for your every need.
We hope these tips have helped plan out your baby’s space! Just remember that it will be wonderful no matter what. Having a nursery just helps with keeping everything organized, but your little one will probably take over the whole house anyway. Your baby is going into a lovely home and that is the most important thing. So have fun with it and we hope you make amazing memories in your space.
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I’m Deborah! My mission is to show others by demonstration, that no living being, human & non, be sacrificed for beautiful, non toxic, healthy & durable furniture & decor. More about me.
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