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Small-space living is full of challenges. But, throw an extra person in the mix, and a home already short on square-footage can feel like a sardine can. So, it makes sense that certain interior perks (ahem, a closet) might just have to be kicked to the curb to make some room.This was the case when I found out I was pregnant last year. I knew I wanted to stay in my current home, but just needed to figure out how to make it work. After a few good Ikea hacks, tiny furniture, and storage baskets galore — I turned my walk-in closet into a full-fledged nursery for my baby. Ahead are the pics, and tips on how you can create a serene spot for your kiddo with what little space you’re working with.
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Prior to the baby, this 80-square-foot space was my (dream) closet! We have a lofted bed — located right above— so it provided a nifty little area for my belongings. Once I found out I was pregnant, we knew we needed a space for our little girl. At first, we thought we were going to have to move out. But, after mulling on it a bit, we realized we could make this space for Tallie, and thanks to some serious hacks and rearranging, we were right.
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We knew the closet-nursery situation would be a temporary solution — as least until Tallie gets old enough to need a full-size crib. In the meantime, small furniture pieces, like this Stokke Sleepi Mini Crib, did the trick. It's great for small-space living, and also expands into the larger iteration when she outgrows it.
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We removed all the shelves (which were on the walls) in the room, and kept the racks where my clothing hangs. We covered up the clothes using a sturdy wire from Ikea, and selected white curtains (also from Ikea) to make the room appear bigger. It's great, because I can easily just open the curtain for easy access to my clothes and jewelry.
You can do so much with the Ikea Dignitet wire and Merete curtains. This isn't the first time I've used them around the house. The "door" to the nursery is actually a similar makeshift creation.
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I still wanted to add in some decorative elements, but being tight on space, I had to select things that made sense. This chair by Land of Nod is great, because right now I can sit in it, but then as Tallie grows, it can become her own little seat. The Tellkiddo hamper doesn't take up much space either — along with the Bright Lab lights, which are hung vertically.
We used to have her changing pad and a small Ikea table, but quickly realized it wasn't the most efficient use of space. We do most of her changes on the floor on a Keekaroo Peanut Changer, which I would definitely recommend to all new moms.
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I worried that painting the space would feel a bit overpowering, since it's so tiny, but decorating with wall decals would be a fun way to add more personality. These dot decals by Land of Nod were so perfect, and went with the color scheme. The cubbies were built in to the lofted area before we moved in. They are actually too narrow to hold any major storage baskets, so I figured I would just add little decor pieces in them. (When it was my closet, I used them for jewelry and hair products.)
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I didn't have a place for all my necklaces, so had to leave some out. Tallie's teething necklaces are also hanging up here . This basically sums up how intertwined the space currently is — it's a little bit of hers, a little bit of mine.
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This was one of the only shelves we left from the original closet for books and knickknacks. We also added hooks to the frame for added storage options. I usually hang up my diaper bag and our jackets here.
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Storage baskets are key! I love Eliza Gran's pom-pom basket for toys and this smaller fringed one from Lulu & Georgia for other odds and ends — like her favorite Jess Brown dolls and sock monkey.
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Instead of filling the walls with a ton of art, we added personal touches in smaller doses. I printed a few favorite Instagrams and taped them up. There's also this little painting that my fiancé drew for me for Mother's Day last year. It was actually one of the first things we put in the room.
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All smiles!
Since the nursery is so tight on space we created a little play area in our home using a tent from AllModern and peppered in some playful elements like this oversized giraffe and mat.
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