Baby On The Way? Make The Perfect Nursery In Your Small Apartment

July 28th, 2011 by Crystal Beran| Posted in Apartment Guide, Apartment Interiors, Apartment Life 2.0, Apartment Living, Decorating, Etsy & DIY, Tips & Tricks | 1 Comment »

New baby in a small apartment? This can be an overwhelming time – particularly with limited room. Here are some ideas to help you make space for the little one! Quick Social Media tip for expecting parents – as of July 27, Facebook users can now list ‘that they are expecting a child in their profiles’ says the Inside Facebook blog. Just another cool way to share your good news with your friends

Room Dividers

Until the baby is a little older, it’s easy to separate a nursery off from another room using room dividers. An infant doesn’t need a whole bedroom to herself, though she does need a quiet space that is free from activity, the flashing light of the television screen or computer monitor, and the noise of an active household. Portioning off a piece of a room, especially a low-traffic room like a bedroom, office or dining room, may be a great place to make a small nursery. The divider you use to portion off the nursery can also be a great decorative feature for the room, check this one from Etsy or click here for more ideas!

Lose the Crib

A crib may be a common feature of childhood, but it is a large piece of furniture to fit into a small apartment that is already crowded. Bassinets are a great alternative to cribs for newborns. They are small and portable so the baby can be moved around the apartment. A baby doesn’t need the space of a large crib, and by the time she grows into a toddler, she’ll probably be able to escape from one anyway. You can always chose to get a crib as the baby later on, but when the baby is young, there’s no need to take up all that space with an enormous piece of furniture. These are often quite decorative as well, and handmade varieties are easy to find and fun to shop for. Another really cool idea is the Stokke Sleepi, which converts from Baby Bed to Crib to Toddler Bed as your child grows. And such a cool design!

Better Organization

Adding a whole extra person to the house (and all the things that come along with that small and yet fully needy person) may require some better organization. Going through closets and cleaning out things you don’t need will help make some room for the new baby and then organizing closets with functional shelving can help make space for all the baby’s things. A closet space can even be used to house a changing table if there isn’t a lot of floorspace in the apartment.

Decorating

Making any space feel like a nursery requires a little bit of decoration. While many people like to paint their nursery rooms in soft colors, apartment complexes may not be keen on the idea of repainting a room (and painting again before you move out can be a hassle). Wall hangings, quilts, cloth curtains and artwork can be a great way to transform any room or nook into a nursery space. Unique, handmade decorations make a great addition and can help a space really feels like it belongs to your new baby. There are lots of these types of decorations on Etsy, and many of them are offered at very reasonable prices compared with store-bought products. New parents that have a crafty streak may also be able to get some ideas about decorations they can make themselves.  Check out these vinyl wall stickers from Etsy!

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