Personalize your baby's space, even if it's only a corner in your bedroom.
Making space for your new baby should be an exciting process -- and it can be, even if you don't have much space available. Use the limited space you do have to your advantage by utilizing every nook and cranny for storage. Your baby doesn't even need an entire bedroom dedicated to his nursery. Small spaces, such as a closet or corner, can be made into a makeshift nursery that's decorated with your infant in mind. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Carve out a space for the baby to call her own, whether it's a small room, a corner in your bedroom or half of a room she'll share with another child. Remove everything from that area or corner so the space belongs solely to the baby.
2. Paint, wallpaper or apply a peel-and-stick border in the baby's area. Adhesive wall decals with baby-friendly images will help designate the space as belonging to the baby. Use a color scheme or images that don't conflict with the rest of the decor in the room, especially if the baby will be bunking with you.
3. Arrange the furniture carefully to avoid taking up extra space or making the baby's area appear even smaller. Use a compact crib or bassinet instead of crib, if possible. (Be sure any crib or bassinet conforms to modern safety guidelines.) Or choose pieces that do double-duty, such as a crib with drawers for storage or a dresser with a hutch for shelves or a removable changing table top. Slim, sleek furniture will suit a small space better than chunky, traditional pieces. Use a tall, slender lingerie chest rather than a traditional chest if you don't need a changing table.
4. Implement storage into your design, utilizing every area of the room you can find. Install tall bookshelves or floating shelves on the wall to hold the baby's items, as long as there is no danger of anything falling on the baby while he's sleeping.
5. Use baskets, bins, decorative boxes or plastic containers to store the baby's clothes, blankets, diapers, extra blankets, toys or things she can't quite use yet, such as clothes that are too big. Store the baskets and bins under the crib or bassinet behind a crib skirt, on shelves or in the closet. Label any containers or bins you store elsewhere so it's easy to find the baby's items when you need them.
6. Accessorize the space sparingly. Add a decorative mirror across from the crib or on another wall to reflect light and visually open the space. Paint the frame or a border around the mirror to make it decorative. Hang decorated wooden blocks above the crib that spell out the baby's name or a mobile above the crib. Extra items that don't contribute any functioning purpose should not be included.
Tags: crib bassinet, above crib, baby area, baby items, baskets bins, changing table
