Give your baby her own space, even in a one bedroom apartment.
Having a baby requires making room in your home for the baby and all of her things. Create a special place for your baby, even if it's just a nook in a one bedroom apartment. A baby can have her own designated area even if a bedroom is not available. Use a corner of your own bedroom, the living room or the dining room as the baby's nursery. Clear out the designated area and turn it into the baby's space.
Instructions
1. If you have permission to paint your apartment's wall, paint the walls in the baby's corner to distinguish the space. The color should complement the color in the rest of the room, yet play into a baby-friendly color scheme or theme. If you can't paint, consider using a peel-and-stick wallpaper, border or decals to decorate the walls in the baby's area.
2. Use space-saving furniture or pieces that do double-duty. For example, place a changing pad on top of a chest or shelf instead of using a changing table. Opt for a compact crib that turns into a twin-sized bed or use a bassinet if you plan to move to a larger home within the first six months of your baby's life.
3. Separate the baby's area from the rest of the room with a folding screen or by positioning furniture as a divider. Shelves, dressers and screens can topple if the baby tries to climb on the furniture once he's mobile and should not be used as long-term solutions unless they can be properly anchored.
Instead, install a rod or rail on the ceiling and hang fabric or curtains. One side can be a solid color or adult-friendly pattern, while the other can feature child-friendly images that complement the theme or color scheme you're using in the baby's space.
4. Include storage for your baby's clothing and toys and any other baby items you require. Hang floating shelves above the dresser to hold baskets or bins of the baby's items. A small rod can hang from the bottom of a shelf to hang some of the baby's clothes. Consider using a tall bookshelf with fitted bins instead of a traditional dresser to house the baby's toys, clothes and supplies. Slender containers can store extras underneath your bed or the baby's crib.
5. Complete the area with baby-friendly accessories that complement the rest of the decor in the baby's nursery. For example, replace the shade of a floor lamp with a baby-friendly shade, plug in a themed nightlight and hang a mobile above the baby's crib. Hang wooden blocks or fabric letters above the crib that spell out the baby's name to further personalize the space.
Tags: your baby, baby space, baby area, baby crib, baby items, bedroom apartment, color scheme