Monday, April 25, 2011

help me with a teeny, tiny nursery

I am spatially handicapped. And currently decision handicapped - I think it's the disappearing brain cells. Bad combination when you're trying to figure out how to make a nursery in a tiny space.

The good thing is I have this blog with all of you clever people. So here's the challenge: We have a 8 x 10 nursery room. And we have no space for guests but will likely be having a lot of guests in the next year.


Option #1


Pros:  Matches our crib style. Drawer storage.
Cons: Trundle is nice but uh, you can't really pull it out in this room.

Option #2



Pros:  Matches our crib style. Drawer storage. Cute pillows make it a nice seating area.
Cons: Not so great for tall people. From Ikea so have to wait for a Minnesota trip.


Option #3a

Pros:  No headboard/sides that takes away breathing room. Cheapest option.
Cons: Tight fit.


Option #3b (same bed, different arrangement)


Option #4
Go with a traditional nursery. No guest bed and buy a rollaway to move in when we have visitors, and store in basement when they aren't around.
Pros: Toy box, hamper and rocking chair can now fit in nursery instead of regulating them to sun room or living room. Cuter and more roomy, if you can have a roomy 8x10 room (you can not.)
Cons: Really annoying for guests and whoever has to lug that thing up from the basement (hubs). Lose ability to sleep in nursery when baby boy is sick and crying and I don't want to have to keep going back and forth. Because I am lazy.

There you go. Please help!

10 comments:

  1. I would have said the last option until you mentioned that you won't be able to sleep in there during the 'bad' nights. That is a really good point. hmmm. I think #3a would look the cutest, but for practical reasons, #1 would be good because if you absolutely needed the extra room, you would have the trundle. Sorry, I don't think I helped at all.

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  2. You may have already thought of this but what about a loft bunk? You can still have the guest bed without sacrificing space. Here is a white one from Walmart that may match your crib and won't break your budget. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Canwood-Base-Camp-Loft-Bed-White/13031188?sourceid=1500000000000003260370&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=13031188

    You could put the dresser, rocker, toy box etc (or whatever arranges best) under it and then still have the crib on the other side of the room. Just an idea. Love you both!

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  3. Boy, that's a tough one...

    If it were me, I would go for the last option. I would prefer to have the rocking chair & hamper in the nursery.

    Maybe keep an eye out for a good deal on an Aero bed? (We scored ours on www.woot.com) So you don't have to lug a full bed/mattress up every time.

    However, most of our family is local, so we don't have many overnight visitors, either.

    If you really want to have a bed in nursery, I think I would go with bed #3. Is there any reason it couldn't go in the same spot as you have the other two beds? I think that is a good configuration, but I can't tell if the beds are different lengths. With it up in the corner like that, you could still use the pillows to make a daybed for seating.

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  4. Option 4. Keep the nursery for baby boy! Buy an aerobed for guests. Super easy to assemble. Plug it in, push a button, blows up in less than 2 min. When baby is sick/crabby- have him sleep in a pack 'n play or bassinet in your bedroom. Or let him cry. You're not bad parents if you let him cry for a little bit. Most likely he'll cry himself to sleep. Keep it all about baby :) The guests won't mind sleeping on an aerobed and if they do, they can stay at a hotel!

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  5. I would have to agree with Kelly. Having arranged and re-arranged furniture in small rooms for years, I can guarantee you that 2 feet and a few inches is way too small a space between the crib and bed. You will find that things like baseboards, etc. push things out just a little. It is always much smaller than it appears on paper. I am assuming that one of the doors is to a closet? You can always put a chest of drawers or hamper inside esp. while they are little and their few hanging clothes won't hang very far down. Another option to consider for guests is a sleeper sofa or futon in the living room or sun room.

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  6. I would have to agree with Kelly. Having arranged and re-arranged furniture in small rooms for years, I can guarantee you that 2 feet and a few inches is way too small a space between the crib and bed. You will find that things like baseboards, etc. push things out just a little. It is always much smaller than it appears on paper. I am assuming that one of the doors is to a closet? You can always put a chest of drawers or hamper inside esp. while they are little and their few hanging clothes won't hang very far down. Another option to consider for guests is a sleeper sofa or futon in the living room or sun room.

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  7. I vote #4, for the reasons others have mentioned. I don't think you would get as much use out of the bed on cranky nights as you are thinking.

    Also, on an unrelated note, sounds like you need this: http://www.amazon.com/Salus-Haus-Floradix-17-Ounce-Bottle/dp/B0010EI0CA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1303761797&sr=8-2

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  8. My vote is for #4 as well. Besides, when baby boy is sick and crying, he'll probably end up in your bed. :)

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  9. My baby is noisy. I won't get any sleep in her room. I vote for an air bed. You're guest are coming to see you, not a tiny room.

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  10. Well what about an option to option 4? What about a blowup air mattress? My parents have one and we've slept on it. It's super comfy and when it's not in use, it stores away easily, doesn't take up much space, and isn't a pain to drag up and down stairs. Most come with an air pump. Just another thought...

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