Congratulations! Finally converting that old, neglected spare room into a happy and welcoming nursery for your new baby is a milestone in itself. If you want to truly transform your unused room into an environment that your child will love to grow up in, here are some helpful tips to get you started.
1. Use Peel-and-Stick Wall Decorations
When your child is an infant, you may love the idea of painting bunnies and other small animals on the walls of the nursery. In a couple of years though, your child may yearn for a favorite character like Elsa, Spider-Man, or Spongebob Squarepants. In this scenario, you would then need to re-paint the entire room. Why not paint the room in a single solid color and install easy to remove stickers, decals, or wallpaper to personalize it? It will save you time, money, and a lot of energy, plus make the nursery a much more versatile room.
Bonus tip: Hanging a quilt or beautiful piece of fabric on a wall is another great, low-cost way to decorate a nursery.
2. Install Thick Curtains
It’s no secret that a baby’s sleep pattern can be quite erratic, leading to exhausted, frustrated parents and a fussy kiddo. In some cases, even the faintest light can wake them up. Thick (or even better, blackout) curtains are an ideal solution to ensure that the nursery provides a consistent level of darkness for sleeping. Installing curtains also gives you an opportunity to add color, pattern and texture to the room. As your child grows, the curtains can be easily replaced with a new set.
3. Choose Easy-Maintenance Flooring
Flooring is an important, but often ignored, aspect of a nursery. After all, it is on the nursery floor that your baby will play, crawl, and eventually take some of their first steps. Ideally, the flooring should be soft enough to cushion falls while still being easy to clean and maintain. The spills are inevitable, so you might as well be prepared. Many parents have found that waterproof laminate or vinyl floorboards are a great flooring option. Cork is another excellent choice because it’s environmentally friendly, naturally antimicrobial, and feels soft and supportive under your feet. Add a throw rug — ideally one that’s machine washable — and you’ll be set.
4. Add Versatile Storage Solutions
Let’s face it, babies come with a lot of stuff. From bottles to toys and everything in between, it can often seem like your child owns more than you do. With that in mind, it’s a good idea to invest in some smart storage solutions to keep your little one’s nursery clean and tidy. When you have a place to put all your child’s things, you’ll be less likely to leave them out where they’ll start a clutter pile (We all know how it seems to multiply!) or get in the way later.
- Max out closet space. Baby may have a lot of clothes, but they don’t take up much space. Make the most of a closet by adding pieces with drawers or storage cubes and adding more shelving if possible.
- Stash it. Bins, baskets, and boxes are perfect for corralling all sorts of nursery items and hiding them out of sight.
- Think vertically. If the room for your nursery lacks square footage or a closet, utilizing wall space by installing shelves, book rails or hanging baskets will help solve storage problems. Just don’t hang anything over baby’s crib for safety reasons.
- Make furniture multitask. Choose a dresser and use it as a changing table — a multifunctional piece with storage will serve you better long term.
In Closing
Room makeovers are never easy, but by following the tips outlined here, you can transform your spare room into a space that your child will love to live in for years to come.
Need quick, hassle-free storage space for the contents of your spare room? Find a unit near you and rent online.
Leave a Reply