Small Space, Big Design: The Best Tips For Decorating Little Nurseries

by Lisa Horten

Whether you're bringing home baby to a house in the suburbs or a studio apartment, chances are, there's a time you've wished for just a little more square footage than what you currently have. We're here to tell you that it's not about the space itself, rather how you use it. Some of the most beautifully designed nurseries we've seen are those that take advantage of every square foot — and do so in style.

Add Interest on Each Wall

 This vintage-y, whimsical little room offers something different from every angle. The soft palette allows for variety on each wall, and the tree decals (doesn't their scale make it look like they're hand-painted?) draw the eye upward.

Source: Apartment Therapy

Turn a Closet Into a Cozy Alcove

In this Brooklyn apartment, mom-to-be's closet was transformed into a petite, pretty baby nook. Removing poles for hanging clothes made the perfect indentation for a crib, and the placement of curtains and a mobile make the space look intentional.

Source: Lovely Morning

Big Bursts of Color

Baby Wyatt's tiny room (it was formerly a closet) presented a bit of a decorating challenge for his mom, but she clearly passed with flying colors. Using the large piece of art above the crib as inspiration, she played up primary colors in a big way.

Source: Apartment Therapy

Keep It Simple

In this small space, designer Jenny Komenda maximized baby Toby's big window with floor-length sheer curtains and a hand-painted blackout shade (the clouds are so much cuter than solid white!). Keeping a gallery wall of family photos at one level creates a focal point without too much clutter.

Source: A Cup of Jo

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark

Black walls in a nursery might sound dark and dreary, but baby Oliver's dramatic room is simply stunning. Believe it or not, the wall is actually hand-stenciled by a supertalented dad (the room's other walls are solid black).

Source: A Little Glass Box

Go Vertical

This little boy's room gets its dose of big design from its wide, vertical wall stripes. A darker hue of solid blue below the chair rail anchors the room, and a window shade that blends in with the walls makes them look even longer.

Source: Better Homes and Gardens

 Less Is More

In baby Rory's nursery, shades of soothing seafoam green, salmon, and cream anchor the room. Careful attention is paid to what's put on display, and everything else is neatly stored away in an oversize dresser (beneath the pink chevron changing area on the left).

Source: Project Nursery

An Out-of-the-Way Focal Point

In Ave Rose's minimalist nursery, the focal point hangs from the ceiling. The Ikea Pendant Lamp($90) is a relative steal, and it serves a purpose while also adding excitement to the room without taking up an inch of floor space.

Source: Apartment Therapy