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Baby room decorating ideas for small space


15 Small Nursery Ideas That’ll Transform Your Space

By

Kitty Lascurain

Kitty Lascurain

Kitty Lascurain has been writing about home design and home lifestyle topics for over 10 years. She has written for multiple publications in the U.S. and U.K, including Real Simple and Cambridge Style. A parent of two, she's covered everything from designing nurseries, kids' rooms, and treehouses to effective ways to organize children's clothing for The Spruce.

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and

Lacey Ramburger

Lacey Ramburger

Lacey Ramburger is a personality assessment expert based in Kansas City, Missouri, with more than five years of experience. Her areas of expertise include Zodiac, Myers-Briggs, and the Enneagram. She is the author of the book "Being Whole" and dozens of articles on personality assessments and relationships.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 10/08/21

Ann Living/Instagram

Decorating a nursery space takes creativity, especially when the space in question is roughly the size of a suburban closet. Need a little inspiration? Whether you’re making the best of a smaller-than-average bedroom or designing a ​​shared space, these small nursery ideas can make a big difference. 

Don't get discouraged! Your “Eureka” moment is just a few short moments away.

We Researched the Best Places to Buy Nursery Decor Online

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20 Clever Ideas for your Small Nursery

Working with a small space for your baby’s room? Use these nursery ideas to set up your nursery in a small space. With these simple small nursery ideas, you can set up a functional nursery, even if you’re tight on space!

Working on your little one’s nursery organization can be a fun project, but if you’re tight on space, or want to keep your baby products to a minimum, the idea of where to put everything can quickly become overwhelming.

There is no shortage of products and gadgets marketed to expecting mothers. but there are really only a few essentials that you need (and plenty of baby products that you don’t need).

Whether you live in an apartment, tiny house, are sharing a master bedroom with your baby, or just want to maximize the square footage you’re working with, here are small nursery ideas to set up a tiny nursery with limited space.

And make sure to see which items I think are must haves in your baby’s nursery for sleep!

Follow these six tips (and plenty of examples) to setup a nursery in a small room and maximize the space you’re working with:

Small Nursery Idea #1: Maximize Wall Space

If you’re looking for small nursery ideas, there are lots of things that you can hang on an empty wall to make your nursery more functional. Utilizing the walls space helps keep things organized, even in tiny nurseries.

Hang all your diaper changing supplies above your changing pad with a pegboard. Use buckets and baskets like Taryn Whiteaker to organize diapers, wipes, tissues, baby creams, and more. You can use this for craft supplies for older kids as your baby grows!

Hang baby girl headbands and bows on the wall with this simple but cute DIY headband holder from Tinker With This. Make your own or buy an adorable custom one with your baby girl’s name on it.

Gray House Studio wall mounted a DIY diaper changing station that is cute and functional for small spaces. She shares how she made it with a few simple materials in her tutorial. This helps keep all those diaper necessities organized and at your fingertips!

Ledge shelves are thin so they don’t take up a lot of space. Make your own from CRAFT’s tutorial or buy shelves to store books, stuffed animals, decor, and other baby necessities.

Add decorative hooks to the wall to hang things like a hamper, diaper caddy, or storage bags. See how Always A Project made these bags to hang from the wall to store miscellaneous baby items.

Small Nursery Idea #2: Pick Products that Multitask

When choosing the pieces of furniture for your baby’s small room, choose ones that multitask. You’ll save money and space by using products that can do double duty.

Skip the changing table and use a large dresser with a changing pad on top instead. Removing the closet doors can give the room an open concept feel, making it a more usable space. Ashlee’s dresser and changing station in the closet saves a ton of space!

Create a narrow table using an Ikea wall shelf and desk legs. Hey Let’s Make Stuff shares how she did this to save valuable wall space, saving space and money. See even more amazing IKEA Nursery hacks to see how you can save even more space in your baby’s room!

You can buy a crib that has drawers attached to it. Then you have a bed and dresser all in one! This makes it so easy to find things as well.

Small Nursery Idea #3: Choose Furniture Wisely

You might not need all of the traditional nursery products and furniture such as a rocker. Look for furniture that will fit your small nursery well, as well as outside-the-box products that are innovative and save you space.

These adorable mod cribs are the same height on all four sides so you can configure your nursery however you want! See how we got two to fit in this tiny adventure-themed nursery. They also turn into toddler and twin beds so you can use them for years!

Choose a bassinet for small spaces if you plan on room sharing in a tiny space before moving baby to their room. Many of the bassinets are on our list can hold babies up to 35 pounds!

The Ready Rocker portable rocker is genius! Skip the big nursing glider and grab one of these to rock your baby in your bed, living room, kitchen, even outdoors! You can take it with you to rock baby wherever you go! Watch the video to see how it works and buy one here!

Small Nursery Idea #4: Utilize Door Space

Take advantage of any doors in the room to add even more storage and save valuable floor space in your baby’s nursery. Hanging things on the door keeps them organized and saves space!

Kelley’s organized door solution in the closet is totally customizable. You can add bins, baskets and other accessories so that it fits your nursery storage needs.

You can hang a lot of baby stuff in this over the door storage organizer. Stuff it full of rolled up baby blankets, extra pacifiers, lotions, bibs, and more.

Small Nursery Idea #5: Use Smart Storage Solutions

Use storage solutions that can hold a lot of items, without taking up a lot of space. These small nursery storage ideas will help keep your tiny space organized.

Pack a rolling cart full of goodies! Wendy stuffs this cart full of diapers, receiving blankets, lotions, creams, and more and shows all the essentials she included in this storage saving solution.

Create your own hanging closet storage crates with this tutorial from Table and Hearth. These can be customized to match your nursery’s decor and are perfect for holding larger items.

Add a second pole to the closet to store double the amount of baby clothes and easily convert to a toddler accessible Montessori wardrobe as your child grows. Keep baby clothes organized in the closet this way too.

Don’t forget about the extra space under the crib. You can buy additional storage boxes to store extra sheets, blankets, and mattress pads and tuck it away for when you need it.

Small Nursery Idea #6: DecoratIng Tips To Maximize Space

Sometimes space is in the eye of the beholder. You can use decorating tips and tricks to make your small space have big style!

Using the right colors can make any room look larger. Use colors like whites, grays, and pastels for furniture like the crib and rocking chair. Paint the walls to make small rooms appear bigger. This pretty neutral palette from Lynzy and Co. looks so light and airy.

Pretty lighting can brighten up a space and add dimension to your baby’s nursery. The Life of Two Texans has a pretty chandelier that adds so much dimension to their pretty space. Notice how your eyes are drawn up?

Accent patterns like vertical stripes painted walls can make narrow spaces seem taller while horizontal stripes can make a room seem wider. Look how tall the walls look in this photo from Project Nursery.

Paint the ceiling. A ceiling that is painted a different color than the rest of the walls creates a dramatic decorating effect and makes the room seem larger. Look how our eyes are drawn up in this orange nursery.

Remember that you probably don’t need as much stuff as you think you do. If you’re tight on space, pick smart storage solutions and use decor tricks to make your small nursery work for you!

Amy Motroni

I'm Amy and I'm so glad you've stopped by! As a Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant, my goal is to walk you through the process of getting your baby to sleep, so your whole family gets the rest they need!

My blog is full of things to help you celebrate motherhood including baby nursery ideas, sleep schedules and sleep tips, fun printables, baby registry must-haves, and so much more.

Latest posts by Amy Motroni (see all)

Small Children's Room (50 Photos) - Interior Design Ideas

A small nursery is no reason to despair. If you properly organize the space, then everything that the child needs will fit in it. Our advice on decorating the interior of a small children's room will help you visually expand the room, as well as decide on the choice of finishes, furniture and decor. nine0005

Style choice for a small room

Of all the variety of styles in design, those that are mostly light shades are suitable for decorating a small nursery. These include modern, nautical, classic, Scandinavian, provence and loft.

Children's room in modern style

The strict conciseness of modern in the children's version is diluted with bright colors, but retains the correctness of the lines. A discreet interior without much decor creates the impression of cleanliness and order, accustoming to accuracy. nine0005

The decoration of a small children's room in a modern style is predominantly monochromatic, occasionally there are discreet geometric prints. This style is more suitable for boys and girls from 10 years old.

Children's room in a marine style

Does your child dream of travel, distant islands and sunken treasures? Maritime style will help to translate dreams into reality.

It is characterized by the combination of white, blue and red (solid and striped fragments) with a noble wood texture. In the interior of a small nursery in a marine style, there must certainly be attributes such as a steering wheel, anchors, and fishing nets. Drawings and decor in the form of shells, fish, starfish, as well as an aquarium (preferably made of acrylic glass), a compass wall clock, an inflatable lifebuoy, models of sailboats and yachts will also look appropriate. nine0005

For curtains, it is better to use a translucent matt tulle reminiscent of sails, but also coarse matting, linen or cotton fabric in blue and white colors will work. Tiebacks for curtains can be made from ropes, tying them with beautiful nautical knots.

Children's room in classic style

Delicate cream shades, luxurious wavy draperies, shining gold and silver, elegant ornaments, carved furniture - in such an environment, every child will feel like in a fairy tale. nine0005

A small children's room for a girl should be decorated in airy or marshmallow tones, and for a boy - use more lacquered wood, elements of blue, gray and beige.

Scandinavian style nursery

Children who love winter will surely love the clean and cool Nordic interior.

The main feature of the Scandinavian style is the abundance of light, which is especially important for small children's rooms. Everything in it is reminiscent of northern nature: parquet and bleached wood furniture, shades of snow-capped mountains and icy rivers, gossamer chandeliers or snow globes. The windows remain open most of the time, allowing the sun to pass through, and at night they can be closed with light roller blinds. nine0005

Provence style nursery

French Provence is pastel tenderness, small floral patterns, chintz fabrics, lace, frills and thin smooth lines. This romantic style is more suitable for girls, and of all ages - from babies to high school girls.

The unobtrusive lightness of Provence will create a wonderful peaceful atmosphere in a small nursery, in which it is pleasant to play, study and relax.

Loft-style nursery

This style is characterized by industrial features: unfinished walls (imitation of brick or masonry, concrete slabs), exposed ceiling beams, metal lamps on brackets or laconic pendant chandeliers, urban photo murals, simple furniture. All this gives the room a free and slightly casual look. nine0005

A small loft-style nursery can be a good option for an active boy. In an environment where everything looks reliable, unbreakable, you can play ball, climb sports walls and hanging ladders, swing on rings and train on the horizontal bar.

Colors for a small children's room

Decorating a small nursery requires moderation in the choice of colors. Of course, I want to surround the baby with bright things, but it is better that toys be like that. Wallpaper, furniture, floor or ceiling coverings will look much more harmonious in a restrained and neutral palette. nine0005

White children's

The snow-white color and its light shades will visually expand even the tiniest nursery, make it lighter and more comfortable. In addition, the light background is ideally combined with both pastel and saturated elements.

Beige children's

The decoration of a small children's room in beige tones is ideal for children of any gender. You can complement beige with green, pink, and blue details, natural wood products, gold or silver inserts. nine0005

Yellow children's

Room design in warm sunny colors is a versatile option. Yellow color uplifts, gives energy, stimulates mental activity. In such a room, the child will become friendly and cheerful.

Any shade of yellow can be mixed with green, blue, purple, grey, white or pink of equal intensity. Orange and red colors are allowed only in small inclusions, otherwise they will attract all attention to themselves. nine0005

Children's green

The color of grass and spring leaves is the easiest to perceive. It is ideal for decorating a small children's room in natural tones, looks great next to a tree.

Green is easily diluted with white, grey, orange, yellow, brown, turquoise, violet or pink. It is the color of peace and security, resting the eyes.

Pink baby

Traditional for little princesses, pink creates a serene atmosphere. Such a delicate, doll-like children's room will appeal to every girl. You can combine dreamy pink with all pastel shades, as well as light green and chocolate. nine0005

Children's blue

Blue color is equally suitable for both boys and girls. The interior of a small nursery looks best, made in blue with white additions, but beige, pink, and yellow shades are also appropriate.

Materials and finishes for a small nursery

Materials for any children's room should be chosen with great care. Firstly, they must be environmentally friendly, do not emit harmful substances, synthetic odors, and secondly, they must be resistant to mechanical damage. In addition, no less important are the aesthetic appearance and affordable price. nine0005

Floor

In a small nursery, it is very desirable to make a warm floor. Of the coatings, wooden parquet, high-quality laminate, cork wood are suitable. For toddlers who are just learning to walk, soft carpet or carpet tiles will be indispensable.

It is better to refuse linoleum and fashionable bulk options - it is solid plastic, besides, it is very slippery. In general, too smooth hard floors in such rooms should not be done: one careless movement can lead to injury, and children love to jump, run, dance and fool around all the time. nine0005

Walls

To make a small room seem more spacious - the walls should be light and discreet. It can be painting, wallpaper (except vinyl - they do not allow the walls to breathe and sometimes even cause allergic reactions), decorative plaster. Small, elegant patterns, thin stripes, photo wallpapers with a perspective or 3D effect are allowed.

It makes sense to leave one of the walls or part of it for children's creativity. A slate surface (board or special paint) is perfect for drawing with chalk. You can also buy paper wallpaper-coloring, which will provide the baby with interesting leisure for a long time. nine0005

Ceiling

For finishing the ceiling in a small nursery, light whitewash is best suited. In order to forget about cracks and crumbling plaster for 20-30 years, the paint can be applied over the painting fiberglass.

If you need volume, then a two-level plasterboard construction will fit perfectly here. A glossy stretch ceiling, as well as upward lighting, will help to make the room visually higher.

Textile

Fabrics used in the baby's room should be hypoallergenic and collect as little dust as possible. For curtains, thin tulle, linen or cotton is suitable. You can also use bamboo blinds and Roman blinds. nine0005

When choosing bed linen, it is advisable to focus on soft colors that blend harmoniously with the interior. Textiles in contact with the skin must comply with sanitary standards, not have a chemical smell and not shed. It should contain completely natural fibers.

Arrangement of furniture, appliances and accessories

To make it convenient for a child to play and do business, you should take care of the correct arrangement of furniture, provide shelves, drawers, and cabinets for storing clothes, toys or books. If every thing has its place, this will teach the baby to order. nine0005

Small square children's room

In a square room, you can put a bed against one wall, a closet against another, and a work desk near the window. The remaining space can easily be filled with a Swedish wall, sports rings or some additional rack.

Narrow (rectangular) small children's room

To balance a rectangular nursery, you need to place wide transverse elements (bed - one or bunk, low bookcase with shelves, chests of drawers) along the narrow walls, and tall slender cabinets near the long ones. nine0005

If the window is located on a short wall, it should be covered by one curtain with pronounced transverse folds, and in the opposite case, vertical curtains from ceiling to floor will come in handy.

Small children's irregular shape

If the children's room has a non-standard layout, then there is a wide scope for imagination. For example, you can order unusual furniture with beveled corners, make an interesting niche for a bed out of plasterboard or wood, hang a hammock, and put low ottomans or bean bags instead of ordinary chairs. nine0005

Proper lighting in the nursery

The room in which the child spends a lot of time must be well lit. This affects not only the general atmosphere, making the room cozy and welcoming, but also vision.

The soft, diffused light of white and yellow LEDs is best perceived. In second place in terms of safety are incandescent lamps. According to researchers, they are as close as possible to the type of radiation to sunlight. Bright neon colors can irritate the eyes, and fluorescent lamps (containing mercury) are generally not recommended for use at home, especially in a nursery. nine0005

As for lamps, in a small children's room it is worth giving preference to spot options, placing them all over the ceiling. In the center you can hang a small chandelier, for example, in the form of a ball, bell, butterfly. On the wall near the bed, a compact sconce will not interfere, and a table lamp or a directional pendant is ideal for the work area.

Small children's rooms - photo

Our gallery will help you to look at ready-made design options for small children and be inspired by new ideas. It contains photographs of rooms for both boys / girls, and in size - there are design examples for 6, 8, 10 sq.m. nine0005

Design of a small children's room 5-6 sq.m.

Design of a small children's room 7-8 sq.m.

Design of a small children's room 9-10 sq.m.

Design of a small nursery for a boy

Design of a small nursery for a girl

Video: Small children's room - interior ideas

nine0000 Small children's room (90 photos)

Every caring parent wants to create the best living conditions for their child, so they give him a separate, sometimes quite small, but personal room. The main task is to make it as comfortable as possible for the child to live, so you need to take into account many different nuances. Color, style, furniture, decorative elements - each of these points becomes an integral part of the design. In our article, we will look at various design solutions used to equip a small children's room. nine0005

Small nursery design features

Strange as it may sound, but a small children's room has its advantages. Firstly, you can create a cozy little world in it, a small space that will create comfort and a sense of security for the child. Favorite toys and books are always at hand here. In addition, in a small area, you can put things in order much faster, collect scattered toys, stationery and things. A child can easily do such cleaning without the help of parents and, thus, from an early age, learn to be independent. nine0005

For teenagers, the small size of the room also has its advantages. In a small room there is no place to accommodate "adult" storage systems, therefore, parents will not have a reason to visit the room once again, and the child gets his own personal space. By the arrival of friends, who will also surely like such a “lair”, you can quickly clean up. A small room will never be cluttered with unnecessary things - they simply have nowhere to stay here.

Decorating a small nursery, parents can save on the amount of finishing materials and furniture in favor of their quality, because it is very important for children to live in an environmentally friendly environment. When starting repairs, it is worth consulting with your baby how he wants to see his little world. At the initial stage, it is important to decide on the items that are really important in the setting in order to avoid clutter. Before finishing work, fully think over the future lighting system, the arrangement of lighting fixtures, sockets and switches in order to hide all the wiring in time and not damage the fresh finish. nine0005

Colors

Most parents probably see a small nursery in bright colors and this is completely justified, because such a design contributes to the visual expansion of space. But this does not mean at all that contrasting tones should not be present in the room, just their number should be limited, combinations of dark and light halftones are welcome, with which you can create accents and adjust the space. When choosing, it is worth considering which side of the world the windows face: if to the north, then it is better to decorate the finish in lighter cold colors, and if to the south, you can experiment with warm saturated colors. nine0005

White, beige, light gray colors are a universal option, which are suitable for any room, regardless of gender and age of the child. With their help, you can create a great backdrop for a future bright and cozy environment.

For a boy, you can decorate a room in a traditional blue palette, and a girl's "mansions" - in delicate pink. Green is suitable for both genders. It has a great effect on the psychological state, so for a child it can be the most acceptable option. It is worth paying tribute to the sunny range of yellow shades that create a cheerful atmosphere. But, according to psychologists, a large number of them in a small children's room can cause irritability over time, so colors should be used sporadically, combining with other palettes. nine0005

Finishes and materials

A variety of materials can be used to decorate a small children's room, but it is better that they are of natural origin. You also need to pay attention to the age of the child: if the baby has just begun to explore the world, moving on his own, you probably won’t avoid contamination in the form of spilled drinks, crumbs, “wall paintings” and so on, so you should choose more practical, easy to clean materials.

Floor

The floor in the nursery must certainly be warm, because kids play here much more often. The surface can be decorated with laminate, parquet board, lay a soft rug in the play area, or completely clothe the floor surface in carpet. nine0005

Walls

The walls of a small children's room can be painted or plastered. Wallpaper is also becoming a frequent option for finishing - alternating plain and patterned surfaces, you can create interesting combinations. It is worth considering that vertical lines can visually increase the ceiling surface, and horizontal lines can expand the volume of the room.

Photo wallpapers will help create a special atmosphere in the nursery. Their use in the room of a preschool child is especially relevant: images of various cartoon, fairy-tale characters, pirate ships and magical forest glades can create an amazing atmosphere. nine0005

Ceiling

For finishing the ceiling, paint, plaster, wallpaper are used. An interesting option is stretch fabrics, which can be matte, glossy or have an image.

For a small nursery, it is better to install a shiny stretch fabric that will reflect the surfaces, visually increasing the area of ​​the room. Also, in a modern finish, plasterboard ceiling structures are equipped, they are decorated with built-in lighting, creating an airy effect.

nine0006 Furniture for a small children's room

The choice of furniture is the most crucial moment in the arrangement of a child's room. The small size of the room does not allow placing large wardrobes and spacious beds here. The set of furniture depends on the age of the child and, accordingly, his needs. If it is enough for a preschooler to equip a crib, a small table and a wardrobe for clothes, then a teenage child will also need a full-fledged desk, various shelves, bookcases, additional seating furniture in case friends come. Furniture must be chosen narrow, preferably with closed facades. Instead of a bed, you can install a sofa that can be folded in the daytime or a wardrobe bed. nine0005

When choosing furnishings, give preference to light colors that will not create the appearance of cluttered space. Pay attention to the quality - it is better that the furniture is made of wood, which is the most environmentally friendly and reliable material. A cheaper option, but quite having the right to exist in the nursery, is furniture made of MDF. Wicker and plastic interior items can also be used.

Lighting and decor

nine0004 For a small nursery, good lighting is very important. It will avoid dark corners and nooks and crannies in the room that can scare a small child. General lighting will be provided by a chandelier or spotlights placed along the entire plane of the ceiling. Additionally, you will need to illuminate the desktop with a table or pendant lamp, a play area and a bed.

The decoration of the nursery depends on the age, gender of the child, as well as the theme of the room. A preschooler and a toddler of primary school age can decorate a room with hand-made crafts, often bright toys, floor mats, photo wallpapers, vinyl stickers become decorations. A teenager can complement the interior with photographs of his idols, stylish posters, graffiti. nine0005

Small nursery: taking into account age characteristics

At the beginning of the article, we already mentioned that the age of the child is of decisive importance in the arrangement of a small nursery. It's no secret that over the years our tastes and preferences change, so the environment should also correspond to the growing vision of the environment.

Design of a small room for a preschooler

What will be the design of a small nursery for a preschooler (2-5 years old) is usually decided by parents, but you also need to listen to children's sympathies. Perhaps the child has favorite fairy-tale characters whose presence in the room will please him, or your child loves a certain color immensely - it can also be introduced into decoration or textiles. nine0005

As furniture, a small bed, a bookcase for toys and books, a table with a chair for creative work are installed. Be sure to lay a soft rug on which the child will play. For a bed, it is better to choose a model with built-in bedside tables and drawers, which will simultaneously serve as a storage system for pastel and other accessories.

A loft bed can be a good option, where the first tier is occupied by a locker and a play area, and the second is a sleeping place. In a room where two children live, the design has a bed on both tiers, which saves space. It is important that the objects are streamlined, do not have sharp corners, which carry a certain danger for the baby. nine0005

Design of a room for a child of primary school age

Older kids already have their own preferences in the color palette and the theme of the room. Girls will surely like the mansions of a beautiful princess in a soft pink design with a light canopy, a dressing table, floral prints in decoration and textiles.

A boy can decorate a small children's room in a nautical style. Here, photo wallpapers depicting the open spaces of the sea, ancient ships, glossy ceilings with endless sky blue and wooden floors resembling a deck will be used here. At the same time, elements of the Swedish wall, associated with ship masts, rope ladders, ropes become a useful and decorative element. nine0005

In the midst of all this splendor, do not forget to make room for a desk, which should be located away from the play area so that nothing distracts the child during classes. You will also need shelving for books and a larger wardrobe.

It is more difficult to arrange a room in which two children of different sexes live. In this case, a neutral color solution (gray, beige, green) is chosen as the main one, or the area of ​​\u200b\u200beach child is highlighted with a separate paint. nine0005

Design of a small room for a teenager

Teenagers consider themselves too mature to fill the room with bright colors, pictures, bows, images of fairy-tale characters. The room can be arranged taking into account the interests of the child. For boys, this may be the room of a young athlete, race car driver or musician. Also relevant are youth men's interiors in the style of hi-tech, loft, where some roughness of decoration is combined with modern technologies.

In the room of a teenage girl, in addition to the bed, another important element appears - a spacious closet where a variety of clothes are stored. For a small room, it is better to purchase a closet with mirrored doors that increase the space.

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