Best Nursery Inspiration for Small Spaces
A nursery short on size doesn’t have to be short on style.
A nursery that’s short on size doesn’t have to be short on style.
We pulled together our best tips for designing a nursery when size isn’t on your side alongside our favorite real nursery photos from our favorite place (Instagram, of course) to inspire you to make the most of any tiny space. We’ve even linked everything to make it super easy for you to get the goods.
Go Small or Go Home
Think your space is too small for a nursery? Think again. This mom turned a closet into a nursery—proving where there’s a will, there’s a way. The secret is maximizing every inch of available space and finding compact furniture and storage options that fit, then adding some artwork for the finishing touches. (📸: @luckyandi)
How to Get the Look: The mini crib is where it’s at for small spaces. A lot of mini cribs out there will have features like being able to roll and/or fold away, and most babies will be comfortable in something this size for longer than you may think. (Though if you find yourself needing a full-sized crib or toddler bed and you have the space to fit it, many mini cribs also have extension kits available.) The one pictured here is from Stokke, and it features lockable wheels for easy transport and can grow with your little one thanks to the extension kit; another favorite is the Babyletto Origami Mini Crib, which folds to about a third of its regular width and rolls for easy storage when not in use. The wallpaper is Modern Herringbone from Livette’s Wallpaper and the bird print is from Minted. The mobile is from Crate and Kids; it’s no longer available, but this pom pom tassel mobile Uccellino Designs has similar vibes.
Make the Most of Any Space
This photo looks like a peek into a cheery, bright nursery—but look closely. (And swipe right on IG!) This beautiful boho chic space is a nursery, a laundry room and a walk-in closet all rolled into one. It’s proof that it’s definitely possible to create a special spot for your little one even if you don’t have a room to dedicate just to baby in your small home. Adding a divider like a panel of fabric or a row of shelves and lots of personal touches like a rug, plant and some baskets help to turn a functional space into a more personal one. Does the hum of the dryer count as white noise…? (📸: @thenewsmallhouse)
How to Get the Look: Both Crate and Kids and Target have a nice selection of curtains that can be hung as fun, bold room dividers to close off a space just for baby in an existing room. Lorena Canals has rugs that are both stylish and washable (so you can worry less about baby’s space looking and feeling clean), and HomeGoods is a go-to for all things storage like baskets and bins.
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Go Bold
It sounds a bit counterintuitive, but making a big statement in a small space can actually help bring a tiny room to life. A bold wallpaper or an oversized light fixture are two easy ways to do that. They make an impactful statement and set the style and color palette for the rest of the space. (📸: @smalltownstyleme)
How to Get the Look: Wallpaper has come a long way since your grandma’s bathroom. Both traditional wallpaper and removeable, peel-and-stick wall decals come in almost any color, pattern or style you can imagine. The removeable wallpaper here is from Rocky Mountain Decals (this style is no longer in stock, but the Harlow design and the Zoey design are both very close). The chandelier is by Joss & Main from Wayfair, and a statement crib like the Camellia from Million Dollar Baby can bring a bold flair to any nursery.
Stack Your Storage
This can’t be said enough when it comes to small nursery spaces: good storage (and lots of it) is your BFF. Bins, baskets, shelves and bookcases are key when you’re trying to maximize a small space. They’re just right for stashing diapers and wipes, clothing, books, nursery decor and pretty much anything else you want to keep out of sight and organized. (📸: @courtneylawrencestudio)
How to Get This Look: Target and IKEA carry some of the best storage solutions for small spaces. Pictured here are Target’s Threshold Coiled Rope Baskets (these are no longer available, but this round-handled style is very similar) and a shelf unit similar to IKEA’s Kallax(a parent fave!). The crib is the Babyletto Scoot and the quilt is the Clementine Reversible Quilt from Clementine Kids.
Up, Up and Away
A small footprint often means you won’t have a lot of free floor space to play around with when you’re designing a tiny nursery. But you will have a few empty walls to work with—so maximize that vertical space. Wall-mounted bookshelves, floating shelves and even hanging clothes shelves can store books, toys, baby clothes and more. It will free up floor space and add some style to those blank walls. (📸: @autumnscorneruk)
How To Get This Look: This particular IG influencer is UK-based, but there’s no shortage of wall accessories to choose from stateside. When possible, you’ll want to go for shelves with a lip or some kind of barrier to keep things from falling off, like these book ledges from Crate & Kids. Etsy also boasts a huge selection of hanging shelves like this distressed option from Home Springs Decor and this whimsical beaded hanging shelf from Olive World Co so you can hang baby’s clothes and display decor all on one unit. The Booksmart Read & Play Shelf from Pottery Barn Kids is a go-to for vertical book and toy storage, and wall- or door-mounted shoe organizer pockets create vertical storage for diapers and burp cloths in a pinch. We also love the hanging basket trend for stuffed animals and diapering supplies.
Babylist Staff
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Babylist editors and writers are parents themselves and have years of experience writing and researching, coming from media outlets like Motherly, the SF Chronicle, the New York Times and the Daily Beast, and the fields of early childhood education and publishing. We research and test hundreds of products, survey real Babylist parents and consult reviews in order to recommend the best products and gear for your growing family.
