The Best Baby Gear For Small Spaces
When our oldest was born, we did the normal things that every parent does. We planned, we registered, we had a baby shower. And we were so thankful for all of the stuff that we were gifted. With a 2,600 square ft. home, we had plenty for space for all of the things! But, you learn pretty quickly what you need and what you could have done without. I’m talking to you, wipes warmer! By the time #2 came around, we had moved into a home with only 1,560 square ft. and we thought we were pretty good at deciphering the best baby gear for small spaces.
Our current home is a whopping 1,300 square ft. (It seems we have a knack for downsizing!) We were able to create a nursery for our newest little guy (#3) in a converted closet and there really just isn’t a lot of space around the house for extra stuff. So we really had to minimize the baby gear this time around. Hopefully this list can help you out if you also are working with a small space!
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Mini Crib
In such a small nursery, we were really limited with the options we had. If we wanted to be able to walk into the room, we definitely needed to go with a mini crib. We chose the Dream On Me 4 in 1 Aden Convertible Mini Crib. It fits perfectly in the space and is as big as the average pack and play, so we know it will work for him for awhile.
Rock ‘N Play
The Rock ‘N Play was a life saver for us! Since our sweet babe had trouble with re-flux, we found that letting him sleep in the Rock ‘N Play really helped him out. Tired mamas love sleeping babies! Plus, the Rock ‘N Play folds up, so we could easily move it to another room for nap times or store it away in the small space next to his crib.
Door Jumper
When your square footage is limited, finding a spot for a baby activity center or jumper is pretty much impossible. However, with a door jumper, we can hang it up when the little guy needs to burn some energy and tuck it tightly away in the closet when we are done.
Diaper Caddy
We aren’t lucky enough to have room for a changing table and I honestly just don’t really think they are necessary. As long as you have a portable changing pad, you can change that baby on the bed, a couch, or even the floor. We keep ours in an awesome diaper caddy that also holds diapers, wipes, toys, etc. That way we can carry around from room to room.
Storage Ottoman
We love these inexpensive little storage ottomans from Ikea for baby toys! They are so versatile in that they can hold pretty much anything you want hidden. Plus, they can serve as extra seating, a little side table, or just a spot to prop your feet up. And the covers are washable!!!
Sleep Sheep
Obviously there isn’t a lot of room for extras around here, but having a way to play white noise close by is a must. The Cloud B Sleep Sheep is awesome because it can be attached to the crib so it’s not taking up valuable space somewhere else. Plus, we can take it with us on the go!
Under Bed Storage
Probably one of the best space saving things we did for this baby was to get a plastic under bed storage container. Thanks to the addition of a make-shift bed-skirt, we can keep extra blankets, sheets, and out of season clothes hidden.
Things We Don’t Have/Need
- Baby Bathtub – Our home already has a bathtub. And a couple of sinks. Both of which work just fine for cleaning the baby.
- Changing Table – With a portable changing pad, almost any flat surface with supervision can serve as a changing place.
- Wipes Warmer – Unless you plan on providing a heated bidet for your little one in the future, room temperature wipes will do just fine.
- Diaper Genie – Pretty much any trash can with a lid will keep in the stench.
- Bassinet – It may be helpful for some, but was just something that would take up too much room for us.
- Baby Swing/Bouncer – Our Rock ‘N Play definitely served as both of these.
- Bottle Warmer – We bought one, used it for a week, and then sold it.
If you are working with a small space or home, I hope that these ideas can help you out! Don’t forget to let me know in the comments if you have any other awesome space saving ideas for babies!
Baby Boy Farmhouse Nursery Reveal
How can our sweet littlest guy be almost 6 months old already??? Time in the NICU seemed so long, but since he has been home things have just flown by. Especially, since summer vacation for the bigger kids is here. I’m happy to announce though, that we have finally finished up the nursery! Today I’m sharing all of the details and sources in our Baby Boy Farmhouse Nursery Reveal!
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This space has come a long way from the walk-in closet that it used to be. Coming in at only 4’3″ x 7’6″, designing in such a small room was definitely a challenge, but one that we were excited to tackle!
We knew that we would need a few basics, like a crib and small dresser to hold clothes and accessories. We were also able to work in a little bit of hidden storage. But my favorite part of this nursery is the farmhouse decor!
If shiplap doesn’t scream modern farmhouse, then I don’t know what does.
After we removed all of the old wire shelving, the walls got a simple shiplap treatment thanks to my hubby. Then, we painted them with Sherwin Williams paint in Alabaster. I also added these adorable baby farm animal prints in some Ikea frames.
The vintage looking farmhouse light above the prints is a fun addition too! After seeing the “Magic Light Trick” that Brooke from Nesting with Grace does, I knew that this hack would be great for the nursery. (I purchased the puck lights with remotes I used here.) And since there wasn’t any electrical wiring to be done, I was able to install the light by myself in just a few minutes!
We are hoping that the tiny, mini crib will be able to hold our little guy for awhile. The mattress height is adjustable and the crib can also convert to a toddler bed and twin bed with or without the foot board option.
The neutral, vintage-look rug is the perfect soft spot for our little man to stretch out and kick right now. It will also be a great place for him to play as he gets bigger!
I love that all of our kids have been able to use this small dresser.
It was one that my parents passed on to us and it is perfect for holding baby clothes, burp cloths, accessories, and a few baby toys. The oval chalkboard was a Christmas gift and we have been using it for the little Snuggler’s monthly photos.
Olive Tree Topiary | Piggy Bank | Teddy Bear (handmade gift)I found this gray hanging storage at Babies R Us right before they went out of business and I’m so glad I did. (Here is a similar option.) I use it to corral extra diapers, wipes, etc. that don’t fit in our diaper bag or the diaper caddy we move from room to room.
See that ruffle-y crib skirt below? I made it out of an old sheet! It helps to hide an under-bed storage bin that keeps all of the receiving blankets and extra crib sheets tucked away. There is also a little space on each side of the crib that we use to store a boppy and play mat when they aren’t in use.
It’s all about being creative with your storage space, folks!
We just love how this room has turned out and that our baby boy has a room to call his own. It’s an added bonus that it’s attached right to our bedroom so that we are just a few steps away if he needs us at night!
Faux Olive Tree Topiary
I’m so excited that our tiny, little nursery is almost done! There are just a few small things that need to be finished for photos, but it is a fully functional space for our littlest man. Since I need to get my booty in gear on a couple of things, I thought in the meantime that I would share how I made this faux olive tree topiary for the room!
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When planning out what we wanted for this room, we knew that things would be light and bright. But I also was adamant about adding a little greenery of some sort. I just think that plants, whether faux or real, make spaces feel more alive. Yes, I know that may seem like an oxymoron with faux plants. But if you find (or make) some that look real, then it really does liven things up!
For this project, you will need a few supplies (listed below).
faux olive bush | small stick, approx. 16 – 20 inches | wire cutters | awl
planter/pot | floral foam | moss |hot glue gun (optional)
To start, cut all of the little branches off of the faux olive bush. Next, use an awl or small screwdriver to create random holes around on end of the stick. (You can use a drill with a small bit if you are fancy. *wink*)
Place the ends of the branches into each hole and add more pieces until the topiary reaches desired fullness. There isn’t a real science to this. I just kept adding pieces in until it looked fairly balanced. Note: If the branches aren’t staying in, use hot glue to secure them.
To “plant” the faux olive tree topiary, cut the floral foam to fit snuggly in the planter/pot. Push the bottom of the stick into the foam (glue if necessary) and cover the top with moss.
And that’s it! What do you think? I’ve kind of gone back and forth on which planter I want to use, but I think this small one works best. Which means that I may have to make a larger topiary for the bigger olive bucket!
This topiary was really inexpensive and easy to make. I think I paid less than $10 for the entire tree, thanks to a coupon from Hobby Lobby. However, if you aren’t up for a project, then I’ve rounded up a few budget-friendly options for you here, here, and here.
Stay tuned for the nursery reveal coming soon!
Fun Neutral Holiday Front Porch
There are less than two weeks left until Christmas and we are keeping super busy over here! We’ve finally come up with a place in our small home to stick a little nursery, so we have some major moving and rearranging to do. But that update is for another time. Today it is all about our Fun Neutral Holiday Front Porch!
I just love participating in blog hops and am so thankful my sweet friend Kendra from Joy In Our Home invited me to join in for the Christmas Festival Blog Tour! There are so many great holiday ideas shared (mantels, vignettes, recipes, front porches, and tablescapes) and it is is exciting to meet new friends along the way.
If you are stopping by from Making It In The Mountains, I’m so glad you are here! Isn’t Kristi’s front porch just beautiful?
This post contains affiliate links. Click here to read my full disclosure.
Last week, I shared our Christmas living room decor. But I wanted to add a little more pizazz to the front porch than just a boxwood wreath, so I made things a bit contrasty out here, while still keeping with my neutral tendancies.
I like to incorporate a lot of greenery, so I gathered different kinds from around the inside and outside of our home. Aren’t these wellies looking festive with some blue spruce branches and eucalyptus?
faux sage plant | boots | striped rug
This new “welcome” rug from Magnolia Market (an early Christmas present from my parents) steals the show when layered with this pretty black and white striped number.
See that bit of snow on the soil below? Winter weather is here!
The cute lanterns were found for a steal at Walmart. (Buy a similar version here.) They look great next to the potted arbor vitae, which was moved to the porch to add some height and life to the scene.
And those lanterns go oh so well with our new outdoor lighting! I love this light. It really helps dress up the front porch and is such a pretty upgrade from the previous one.
I’m really happy with how our Fun Neutral Holiday Front Porch turned out! What do you think?
Thank you for stopping by! Next up is the talented Lindsay from Country Girl Home. Hop on over and check out her festive front porch!!!
Mantels on Monday
White Arrows Home | Repurpose and Upcycle | Timeless Creations
Lemons to Lovely | Pennies From Heaven Home | One Happy HousewifeVignettes on Tuesday
Joy In Our Home | anderson + grant | Kingsbury Brook Farm
My Creative Days | Poofing the Pillows | CityGirlMeetsFarmBoyRecipes on Wednesday
Life Love Larson | Cali Girl In A Southern World | Crisp Collective
Love In My Oven | Countryside Cravings | Curly Crafty MomFront Porches on Thursday
Making it in the Mountains | Elizabeth Joan Designs |Country Girl Home
Little Brags | The Homemaking Momma | Lemons, Lavender, & LaundryTablescapes on Friday
Celebrate & Decorate | Noting Grace | 2 Bees in a Pod
The Crowned Goat | Dining Delight | The Neutral Nest Interiors