Homegrown Picks: Small Space Nursery Essentials

If you’re a mama-to-be and stressing about how to make room for baby – rest easy! The truth is, babies don’t need a lot of stuff. You can accommodate your little one in almost any space. Don’t feel pressured to convert a whole room – especially if that means sacrificing an important space like an office or guest room that you use regularly. We’ve seen nurseries in closets, nooks, and tucked into shared bedrooms. And guess what? They are all sweet and functional spaces for babies. 

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First things first, broaden your idea of what baby furniture looks like. You may have to let go of that designer matching set you’ve been drooling over. Trust us – you don’t need it. You may already have a dresser storing clothes, so consider using a changing pad instead of a dedicated changing table.

We love the Summer Infant Changing Pad because it’s lightweight, waterproof, and comes with a safety strap. No dresser? No problem! Any surface can become a changing table with a portable changing pad. Flat pads do double duty at home and on-the-go. Change a diaper anywhere without sacrificing an inch of your square footage.

Another large item you need to consider is a rocker. You’d be hard pressed to find a mom that didn’t love having one, but they can be bulky so choose wisely. Using a chair that’s more “adult-friendly” will help you fit it into other shared spaces. A modern rocker like this one from Modway can work in almost any room.

When it comes to sleeping, cribs can be another space hog! Most moms prefer a bassinet for the first few months anyway. If you absolutely have zero space for a small bassinet, an in-bed sleeper like The First Years Cozy Baby Sleeper is an excellent choice.

Now where are you supposed to put all those itty bitty baby things? Storage can seem like a huge problem when you’re short on space. Maybe you can squeak out room in some existing drawers by purging some things of your own that you don’t need. It might be a good time to think about really letting go of stuff KonMari style (as in, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up). We love this method because it allows you to tackle your clutter category by category – a perfect task for a nesting mama! If you take the time to organize now, you will be able to spend less time dealing with “stuff” and more time with that little one. Ultimately, isn’t that really the goal? But, hey- we all have limits! If there is absolutely nothing left to purge, the next best thing would be to try various forms of hanging storage, like this closet organizer.

Think outside the box here – even something like an over the door shoe organizer can provide storage for baby clothes and accessories without taking up closet rod space. Utilize small rolling carts that move with you and baby around the house.

Speaking of clothes and accessories…let’s talk about what you really need. Baby clothes are cute. The people who make them know that you can’t resist the appeal, especially when you’re emotional and pregnant. Hear us when we say RESIST! It’s best to keep the clothing collection small and practical if storage is already limited. Think in terms of easily matched, gender neutral pieces. As adults we often use accessories to personalize our style, and it’s no different for babies. Stick with basic pieces for layering, and have a small stash of bows or fun socks if you like to add some punch to each outfit.  A 5 pack of simple, monochromatic onesies like these from Burt’s Bees are a great choice.

This way, you can buy pants or jackets in 1-2 colors that match everything. Some minimalist lists include just 20 pieces total (yes!), but you could stretch that according to your space.

Having a baby may take over your life, but it doesn’t have to take over your home! With some creative thinking and a minimalist mindset, you can really cover all the bases to accommodate your little one. Need more inspiration? Check out our Nursery Pinterest board HERE.