Having a baby means a lot of changes in your life, and finding room for her can be a challenge. However, convertible pieces of furniture help you make space, even if it's somewhat temporary, as well as being easy on your budget by combining several pieces into one. With a little bit of creativity and adaptability, you'll have the whole family living in harmony.
Step 1
Move aside a dresser or table in the master bedroom to put in a bassinet. For the first few months, the new baby doesn't need more than that. Choosing a bassinet with a removable changing table attachment will save even more space, because you don't need a separate table. The Graco Pack-n-Play, for instance, has a changing table and converts into a playpen for future use, but it does take up a bit more floor space than a standard bassinet. Other bassinets convert from bedside co-sleepers to standalone cradles for adaptability as your baby grows.
Step 2
Clear out a bedroom for the baby if possible; if you live in a one-bedroom home, or all the bedrooms are full of other kids, use a corner of the living room as a temporary bedroom for the baby until you can find a bigger place to live. However, if you have a spare room you've been using as a guest room or home office, now is the time to convert it into a nursery.
Step 3
Put a 4-in-1 convertible crib in the baby's room. These cribs will allow you to save floor space longer, because they convert into a toddler bed, followed by a day bed, which your child can use for a few years; then they convert into a full-size bed, at which time you'll need some extra room.
Step 4
Get a loft bed if you have a child of the same gender as the baby in a room of his own, and you don't have a separate room for the baby. This will allow the older child to sleep in the raised portion, and the baby's crib will fit underneath to save space. Even if your baby has his own room, a loft bed can provide extra storage, or a place for his toys, without using precious floor space.
Step 5
Use under-bed storage bins under your baby's crib for items that you don't need access to often, such as clothes she hasn't grown into yet, toys she's not old enough to play with yet, extra towels, bedding, diapers purchased in bulk, etc.
Step 6
Install hanging nets from the ceiling, or attach bicycle baskets to the wall of your baby's room with hardware brackets and screws. These will hold toys, games or books, keeping them on display but out of the way.
Things You'll Need
- Bassinet or convertible bassinet
- 4-in-1 Convertible crib
- Loft bed
- Under-bed storage bins
- Bicycle baskets or nets
