How to Make Space For Your New Baby In the Bedroom
Keep your baby close and your decor game closer with these ingenious shared-room strategies
Bringing home a baby can lead you to make many decisions with regard to your home; from baby-proofing furniture and rearranging layouts to creating a dedicated nursery for slumber, storage and more. If you’ve been longing to add a nursery to your home but have held back due to a desire to co-sleep, a sheer lack of space, or anything in between, take heart. By turning a corner of the master bedroom into a nursery nook, you can ace the decor game and keep your baby close. Can’t wait to get started? Consider these tips your guiding light.
Choose a corner
Once you’ve assessed your room’s true potential, consider which corner would work best as your nursery. It’s wise to leverage your room’s architectural features into your nursery layout. If you have a seldom-used built-in wardrobe (and you’re blessed with alternative storage), it may be worth stripping down the doors and interiors and carving a nursery nook into its cavity. Similarly, a vacant recess could accommodate slim shelves, or an empty wall could host an aerial cupboard.
Here are 10 things to know before designing a nursery
Once you’ve assessed your room’s true potential, consider which corner would work best as your nursery. It’s wise to leverage your room’s architectural features into your nursery layout. If you have a seldom-used built-in wardrobe (and you’re blessed with alternative storage), it may be worth stripping down the doors and interiors and carving a nursery nook into its cavity. Similarly, a vacant recess could accommodate slim shelves, or an empty wall could host an aerial cupboard.
Here are 10 things to know before designing a nursery
Convertible Crib With Drawer
Go for a convertible crib
A bassinet or crib can act as the centrepiece of your nursery corner and add equal doses of form and function. If you plan to co-sleep with your child, choose a crib that can be connected to the master bed (not all cribs have this facility). You can re-install the side rail as your child grows older and learns to sleep independently. Additionally, a crib that converts into a toddler bed or full-sized bed can give you more bang for your buck in the long run!
Tip: Select a style and colour that blends seamlessly into your existing furniture scheme. If your bedroom is dominated by rosewood, for instance, a crib within the same colour palette could be a fitting addition. Alternatively, if yours is a contemporary bedroom with muted colours and minimalist finishes, a subdued, frill-free crib could work well for your room’s pared-back look.
Look for baby beds and bedding in Houzz products
A bassinet or crib can act as the centrepiece of your nursery corner and add equal doses of form and function. If you plan to co-sleep with your child, choose a crib that can be connected to the master bed (not all cribs have this facility). You can re-install the side rail as your child grows older and learns to sleep independently. Additionally, a crib that converts into a toddler bed or full-sized bed can give you more bang for your buck in the long run!
Tip: Select a style and colour that blends seamlessly into your existing furniture scheme. If your bedroom is dominated by rosewood, for instance, a crib within the same colour palette could be a fitting addition. Alternatively, if yours is a contemporary bedroom with muted colours and minimalist finishes, a subdued, frill-free crib could work well for your room’s pared-back look.
Look for baby beds and bedding in Houzz products
Create a flexible partition
A flexible barrier can be a great way to create a sense of distinction between your zone and your baby’s. Frame your crib with blackout curtains like the ones pictured. This way, you can still keep the window curtains open without worrying about daylight filtering in to wake up the baby. Plus, the rest of the room is yours to do as you please.
A flexible barrier can be a great way to create a sense of distinction between your zone and your baby’s. Frame your crib with blackout curtains like the ones pictured. This way, you can still keep the window curtains open without worrying about daylight filtering in to wake up the baby. Plus, the rest of the room is yours to do as you please.
Establish a smart storage system
With your baby come clothes, diapers, blankets and a plethora of other items. Given that you might have a limited floor footprint, think vertical. Maximise your nursery wall space by installing floating shelves or a tall shelving unit. Keep daily essentials like diapers, creams and wipes lower down for easy access, and occasional-use items further up.
Look for storage in Houzz products
With your baby come clothes, diapers, blankets and a plethora of other items. Given that you might have a limited floor footprint, think vertical. Maximise your nursery wall space by installing floating shelves or a tall shelving unit. Keep daily essentials like diapers, creams and wipes lower down for easy access, and occasional-use items further up.
Look for storage in Houzz products
Additionally, go for modular storage baskets and bins, or even a bench or ottoman with hidden storage to keep your baby’s things organised.
Tip: While investing in a new storage unit may be a good idea, you might have limited options if your room is pressed for space. In this case, reallocate your existing storage (it’s a great time to don your spring-cleaning hat and get rid of unnecessary items). Clear out a few shelves of your wardrobe or dresser (those closest to your nursery corner) to make room for your baby’s supplies.
Tip: While investing in a new storage unit may be a good idea, you might have limited options if your room is pressed for space. In this case, reallocate your existing storage (it’s a great time to don your spring-cleaning hat and get rid of unnecessary items). Clear out a few shelves of your wardrobe or dresser (those closest to your nursery corner) to make room for your baby’s supplies.
Hang a net canopy
What better way to banish pesky mosquitoes and conjure a whimsical ambience all at once than with a diaphanous net canopy? Net canopies are available in a variety of designs, colours and materials, both online and in baby stores. Remember to check the circumference and diameter of your canopy before making your purchase, to be certain that it covers your crib without leaving any gaps.
Tip: Be mindful that a canopy can swallow considerable vertical space. If your room is small, consider going for an elasticated mosquito net that can sit atop your crib. These usually come with a zipper, making it easy to pop your baby in or out.
Browse through nursery photos in Houzz to steal ideas for your nook
What better way to banish pesky mosquitoes and conjure a whimsical ambience all at once than with a diaphanous net canopy? Net canopies are available in a variety of designs, colours and materials, both online and in baby stores. Remember to check the circumference and diameter of your canopy before making your purchase, to be certain that it covers your crib without leaving any gaps.
Tip: Be mindful that a canopy can swallow considerable vertical space. If your room is small, consider going for an elasticated mosquito net that can sit atop your crib. These usually come with a zipper, making it easy to pop your baby in or out.
Browse through nursery photos in Houzz to steal ideas for your nook
Highlight your wall
Your nursery wall should provide a meaningful backdrop for your decor. Use wallpaper or chalkboard paint to accent the zone and separate it from the rest of your room. Also, hang something simple, such as artwork or a clock, to create a visual anchor for your nursery corner. If you have a long wall, consider putting up charming paintings or petite animal tableaux to magic up a sense of childhood wonder. The great thing is, you can continue preserving your wall as an accent feature once your child graduates to their own room.
Tip: If your room is small, choose light palettes in shades of white or grey for your nursery nook. These can make your room look airy and bright. Conversely, dark colours in a small space can appear overwhelming and cause your room to visually shrink.
Wondering how to make chalkboard paint on the cheap?
Your nursery wall should provide a meaningful backdrop for your decor. Use wallpaper or chalkboard paint to accent the zone and separate it from the rest of your room. Also, hang something simple, such as artwork or a clock, to create a visual anchor for your nursery corner. If you have a long wall, consider putting up charming paintings or petite animal tableaux to magic up a sense of childhood wonder. The great thing is, you can continue preserving your wall as an accent feature once your child graduates to their own room.
Tip: If your room is small, choose light palettes in shades of white or grey for your nursery nook. These can make your room look airy and bright. Conversely, dark colours in a small space can appear overwhelming and cause your room to visually shrink.
Wondering how to make chalkboard paint on the cheap?
Lay down a rug
A rug can be a clever way to zone your nursery and give it shape and form. As a bonus, on nights when you’re pulling the graveyard shift, your tired feet will thank you for it! If space is at a premium, a small accent rug could be a worthwhile choice. Make your crib the focal point by placing the rug beneath it, and sliding it halfway under. Alternatively, if you’re trying to draw attention to a specific area, place your decor pieces on the rug to create a cohesive vignette. Heavy rugs can help absorb loud sounds, as can thick fabrics such as curtains and wall hangings.
Tip: When it comes to choosing a rug, it’s all about balance. Assess your bedroom design to see what’s missing. Is your room steeped in solid colour? Does it brim with patterned pieces? Use your rug to counterbalance your decor scheme. A muted palette can benefit greatly from splashes of colour. A room with solid blocks of colour, on the other hand, can do well with a design featuring intricate motifs and patterns.
A rug can be a clever way to zone your nursery and give it shape and form. As a bonus, on nights when you’re pulling the graveyard shift, your tired feet will thank you for it! If space is at a premium, a small accent rug could be a worthwhile choice. Make your crib the focal point by placing the rug beneath it, and sliding it halfway under. Alternatively, if you’re trying to draw attention to a specific area, place your decor pieces on the rug to create a cohesive vignette. Heavy rugs can help absorb loud sounds, as can thick fabrics such as curtains and wall hangings.
Tip: When it comes to choosing a rug, it’s all about balance. Assess your bedroom design to see what’s missing. Is your room steeped in solid colour? Does it brim with patterned pieces? Use your rug to counterbalance your decor scheme. A muted palette can benefit greatly from splashes of colour. A room with solid blocks of colour, on the other hand, can do well with a design featuring intricate motifs and patterns.
Install a pendant or chandelier,
A striking light fixture can add instant pizzazz to your nursery nook. Opt for a dimmer switch to ensure that you can dial the lighting up or down to suit the time of day.
Read more:
8 Fun & Playful Nursery Room Designs on Houzz
Baby Decor: The Time is Ripe for a Gender-Neutral Nursery
Tell us:
Planning a nursery corner? Which of these strategies do you plan on using? Tell us in Comments below.
A striking light fixture can add instant pizzazz to your nursery nook. Opt for a dimmer switch to ensure that you can dial the lighting up or down to suit the time of day.
Read more:
8 Fun & Playful Nursery Room Designs on Houzz
Baby Decor: The Time is Ripe for a Gender-Neutral Nursery
Tell us:
Planning a nursery corner? Which of these strategies do you plan on using? Tell us in Comments below.
The first step to making room for your baby is decluttering. Remove unnecessary furniture, eliminate redundant storage and pare down your room to a bare minimum. By doing so, you can gauge how best to use the available space.
Find a decorator in Houzz professionals to help redesign your bedroom