- Nursery Articles -
26 Creative Small Nursery Ideas to Save Space
When decorating a small nursery, every design choice you make has a big impact. So it’s especially important to thoughtfully plan the space to strike a balance between function and style.
Creating the perfect room for your new baby can be a challenge when you’re working with limited space, so we’ve compiled some small nursery ideas to help make designing your nursery a breeze.
How do you maximize space in a small nursery?
When decorating a small room, it’s important to be creative and clever to get the most out of your space. We’ve put together some of our favorite storage solutions that maximize space without compromising on style.
1. Use floating shelves
Using floating shelves in small spaces is fantastic because it provides additional storage space while still looking trendy. To level up the storage on these shelves, try using floating shelves with pegs to maximize your space even further.
2. Make your storage a statement piece
Make your furniture multitask and add a trendy piece to your room by having your storage double a statement piece, like this giraffe-shaped wicker basket.
3. Use hanging storage on the side of your crib
In a small nursery, getting the most out of your unused space is essential—but you don’t want your storage solutions to be an eyesore. Try using chic end of crib storage to add more storage space without detracting from the look of the room.
4. Get creative with wall hooks
Wall hooks are a popular way to save space in tiny rooms. Get creative with this storage solution by stacking the hooks vertically and hanging storage baskets from them.
5. Add storage to your bookshelf with wicker baskets
Using bookshelves for storage can elevate the look of your room, especially when accessorized with wicker baskets. Keep your baby’s stuff out of sight (but not out of mind) with some clean and trendy wicker baskets.
6. Install book ledges behind the door
Adding a book ledge behind the nursery door is a great way to maximize the potential of unused space. Since they don’t protrude very far off the wall, a book ledge can add visual appeal and a significant amount of storage space to your small nursery.
How do you style a small nursery?
Small nurseries don’t have to compromise on style. Here are some of our favorite design hacks to make your nursery feel bright and spacious.
7. Opt for coordinating prints rather than solid colors
While solid neutral colors may seem like the best choice to open up a room, using coordinating patterns can tie the room together and make it feel larger. Bedding, windows, and rugs are all great places to use patterns or prints to add vibrance to the room.
8. Go for a minimalistic design to open up space
When working with limited space, opting for tasteful, minimalistic nursery design can help the room feel more spacious. Try combining solid colors with pops of pattern and color for a chic, balanced look.
9. Accent with vertical stripes to make a small space seem taller
Vertical stripes on your walls or curtains can draw the eyes upwards, making the room feel bigger than it really is. Conversely, adding horizontal stripes—like these blackout curtains —can make your space feel wider.
10. Use a light color scheme to make the room feel bigger
Using a light color scheme can make your room feel bright and airy since light colors are more reflective than dark ones, maximizing the amount of natural light in the space.
11. Use a baby crib mobile as decor to free up wall space
A baby crib mobile makes an adorable and practical room decoration, but it can also serve a more functional purpose. Baby mobiles can help soothe your baby and provide sensory stimulation that is great for your newborn or infant’s development.
12. Opt for a bright statement chandelier
When designing a room, it’s important to balance out decorations and open space. So when working with a small space, where better to put a sizable statement piece than the ceiling? Opt for a statement chandelier to turn a previously underutilized space into a chic decoration, without taking up valuable real estate on the walls or floor.
13. Choose light-colored furniture to brighten up the room
Light wood furniture an make your nursery look more airy and spacious because it doesn’t attract attention in the way darker furniture does. Try using off-white tones with light blues or pinks, or opt for a buttery yellow for a gender-neutral option.
14. Use mirrors to add light to the room
Add small mirrors opposite the windows to magnify light and create an illusion of spaciousness in the room. Decorating with mirrors can be a creative way to add sparkle to a room, and is a great alternative to traditional photo displays.
15. Create pegboard wall decor
When decorating a small nursery, every inch matters. Create multipurpose wall decor by using a pegboard to hang storage baskets and decorations, freeing up valuable floor space.
16. Use lighting fixtures to mimic the effects of natural light
It’s well known that natural light can help make your space feel bigger and brighter, but in a small space, getting creative with lighting fixtures can give you similar effects. Try using a chic floor lamp to brighten up the nursery—and double as a statement piece.
17. Add a nightlight to give the room soft lighting
For a friendly option for tired eyes, try installing a soft nightlight. This is a great alternative to bright overhead lights when your baby is asleep, and can also help them feel soothed and lulled to sleep throughout the night.
How to save space with furniture
Using multipurpose furniture is one of the best ways to maximize space and reduce clutter in small rooms. Keep reading for some of our top space-saving furniture ideas for your nursery.
Instagram: @kerrilynn30
18. Choose a crib with built-in drawers underneath
Cribs are usually one of the biggest pieces of furniture in a nursery, so why not select one that doubles as storage space? Try a storage crib with built-in drawers underneath to maximize the usable space in your nursery without compromising function or style.
19. Choose larger furniture
Investing in a few larger pieces of furniture will make the room feel much more elegant than several small pieces, which can cause a room to feel busy and cluttered. Try using an armoire or chest in place of a dresser to minimize floor space and draw the eyes upwards.
20. Combine your dresser and changing table
Having both a dresser and changing table can take up a lot of floor space in a small nursery, so try combining them by using an extra-wide dresser with a changing pad on top.
21. Use tall furniture to draw the eyes upwards
Tall furniture, like a tower bookshelf, is a win-win option that draws your eyes upwards and takes up less floor space. Fill the shelves with storage baskets, photos, or even changing table supplies to save space in other areas.
22. Opt for a ladder bookcase
Ladder bookcases are a stylish and functional piece of furniture that can elevate the look of your nursery while taking up a minimal amount of floor space. Whether you opt for a tall bookcase for maximum storage or a kiddo-sized one, a ladder bookcase is a stylish and timeless storage addition to your small nursery.
How do you organize a small nursery closet?
Maximizing the usable space in your closet is essential when designing a small nursery. Here are some of our best tips to make the most of your limited closet real estate.
23. Add storage baskets to the closet
Adding storage baskets along the top or bottom of the closet can significantly increase the number of items you can store inside, without causing the space to look messy or crowded.
24. Add an extra clothing rod to the closet
One of the best parts of storing baby clothes is how little space they take up. Try adding an extra clothing rod between sections of the closet to increase the usability of the space without having the closet look crowded.
Instagram: @rootedingreenlove
25. Use your closet doors for storage
The inside of your closet doors is a great place to hang additional storage. Whether you store backup diapers or baby accessories, you can’t go wrong with adding changing storage to the inside of your closet door.
26. Choose extra slim hangers to free up closet space
Extra slim hangers can help reduce the cluttered look of a full closet, without compromising on quality. Since baby clothes are so small, they are perfect for storing with extra slim hangers, leaving you with newfound closet space to store more items.
Designing a nursery is one of the most exciting parts of planning for your new baby to arrive. To make the most of your limited space, it’s important to thoughtfully plan a comfy nursery with all the essentials like a crib and changing table.
While planning a small nursery may be more challenging, these ideas can help you find solutions without compromising style or functionality. If you’re ready to start designing your space, check out these nursery theme ideas for your bundle of joy.