Whether you're thinking about a woodland-themed nursery or a gender-neutral space, it's all about looking at what you've got and working out how to utilise it best. Thanks to our guide to the best small nursery ideas, you won't have that problem. If you're wondering how to get the most out of the room you have to work with, don't worry - we've got some tips and hacks to help.
What are the essentials for a small nursery?
It's easy to get carried away with buying gadgets and trinkets for your nursery, but less is more! If you're limited on space inside your little one's nursery, you don't need to cram it full of stuff. As long as you've got the basics, your little bundle of joy will have everything they need.
Do you have a cot for little one to sleep in? Something to store all their clothes, nappies and toiletries? A place they can be changed? Somewhere to be fed? If the answer is yes, your baby is sure to be happy.
How do you make the most of space in a small nursery?
Having a smaller space doesn't necessarily mean you have to compromise on the items in your nursery. With some clever storage hacks and furniture ideas, we're here to help you make the most of your small nursery.
Buy multi-functioning furniture
To save space in a small nursery, use furniture with more than one purpose. A good example is a wardrobe with drawers and shelving or a changing unit that can double up as a dresser.
Cot and drawer storage combined
Somewhere to sleep? Tick. Plenty of storage? Another tick. Room for changing? Tick again. This cot bed provides the perfect solution for parents short on space by being a cot, a set of drawers and a changing table combined.
Pros: Performs multiple functions at once
Cons: Reviews have mentioned it took a while to assemble
Review: "Looks lovely. Son and girlfriend love it and whilst took a while to assemble but not too difficult. Added bonus was a rocking feature not spotted in the description. Be aware that the delivery date shown when ordering may change when you get notification from delivery company."
Affordable changing table unit with drawers
www.aldi.co.uk
If you want a changing table in your nursery, how about this one from Aldi? It has three handy storage draws where you can put all your nappy changing essentials, so you know exactly where they are when you need them. The changing top can be removed and used as a regular set of drawers when your little one has moved on from nappies.
Pros: Modern design
Cons: Some reviews have remarked on the drawers getting a little bit stuck sometimes
Review: "I love this unit, after searching for a changing unit there were no affordable ones most cost over £200 so I had to jump at this product. This one is beautiful and I am so happy. The drawers would be better if it was soft closing, as it's not always a smooth close. I put this together on my own when 2 weeks after giving birth and it took me about just over an hour (including distractions). I would 100% recommend."
Lots of space for clothes and toys
www.mamasandpapas.com
We love the gorgeous green exterior and metallic handles of this Mamas & Papas wardrobe. It's got two rails and shelves inside, plus the drawers on the outside to keep your little one's outfits organised. All while the exterior shelves can be used for books and toys. The soft-close doors and drawers are a bonus as you won't wake baby if you need to grab something while they're sleeping.
Pros: Lots of room for multi-purpose storage
Cons: On the pricier side than other nursery items featured on this list
Use taller furniture rather than wide
Another one of our ideas for a small nursery is to use taller furniture. That way, it isn't taking up as much space on the floor. Think tall, single wardrobes and skinny drawer units with plenty of smaller drawers.
Great value wardrobe
www.argos.co.uk
Standing at over 160cm, this wardrobe has plenty of height. It's designed with two rails, so there's lots of hanging room inside.
Pros: Hanging rails can be adjusted
Cons: Will need to be fixed to a wall for safety reasons
Review: "My daughter just needed some more clothes storage in her bedroom this wardrobe is fab was just what was needed."
Plenty of drawer space
www.dunelm.com
These compact drawers are the perfect space-saving storage solution for your small nursery. Use the drawers for nappies and other baby supplies. Alternatively, use it to organise your neatly folded baby clothes.
Pros: Contemporary style, narrow in design
Cons: Will need two people to carry as they're quite heavy
Review: "Exactly what we wanted. Lovely glossy shine & tall, slim cupboard that fits perfectly in the gap."
Ideal for space saving
www.johnlewis.com
This tall wardrobe will tuck neatly into tight spaces in your baby's nursery. You can't go wrong with a white wardrobe - it'll work for almost any nursery theme.
Pros: Two hanging rails, stands at 169.5cm tall
Cons: Self assembly is required
Review: "I brought this for my new baby's nursery as it is a tiny little room (2m x 2m) it's an excellent space saving option and love that it has two rails. Lots of space at the bottom for storage and on top too.
Very sturdy and well built none of that flimsy flat pack rubbish!"
Use the space available on the walls
One of the most useful tips we can give you is to use the walls to your advantage. While you might not have a lot of ground area to work with, your walls can be turned from blank canvases into multi-purpose storage. Use nails to hang storage baskets to the wall for baby grows and sleepsuits, add shelving units for all the books and toys, and you could also get creative with a peg board for your changing table essentials, just like this pin we found.
Best for creating your own organisation system
Want to get creative and make your own pegboard nursery organiser? You're going to need a pegboard. We like this one from Amazon because it comes with shelving and containers to get you started.
Pros: Storage can be customised to your own needs
Cons: Be careful not to put anything too heavy in there in case it falls
Review: "This wall organiser is very useful and versatile as you can set it up to suit you. It’s quite large which I liked as a lot of the pegboards I have seen are too small to be useful. It’s reasonably well made but I do think it’s a bit expensive at nearly £40."
Multiple storage solutions in one
www.laredoute.co.uk
How cute will these hanging baskets look with your little one's stuffed animals poking out the top to say hello? Of course, they don't have to be used for toys - extra nappies and muslins would also fit perfectly.
Pros: Two baskets in one
Cons: On the more expensive side for hanging baskets
Perfect storage for toys and books
www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk
We love the adorable star design of this shelf from Jojo Maman Bébé. Use one on its own to proudly display special toys and books. Or buy a few and stack them to create your own shelving unit.
Pros: Minimal assembly required
Cons: Wall fixings not included
Review: "These shelves look great in both of my daughters’ bedrooms, works individually or stacked, keeping the bedtimes books neatly organised and displayed. Very pleased."
Utilise your doors
Similar to using your walls, don't forget to utilise the space on your doors too. You can add some pegs to the door to hang coats, towels and dressing gowns, or you get some hanging storage to pop must-have toiletries or smaller items of clothing.
Best over the door storage
Perfect for nappy changing supplies, bathtime must-haves and any other essentials your little one needs. It can be organised into categories so you can easily see everything your little one has and know if you've run out of anything.
Pros: Plenty of storage pockets
Cons: It can sag if overloaded
Review: "Amazing over the door storage for baby items, i tend to lose stuff and this keeps my newborns things together. extra sturdy and wide compartments. purchasing another one for the bedroom. 🥰"
Recommended door organiser
www.etsy.com
An alternative option for a door-hanging organiser is the cute owl-hanging storage bags. All you need to do is install a hook, and all your baby's essentials are ready to reach in a hurry.
Pros: Has various sized pockets for all your storage needs
Cons: Can easily be overstuffed
Review: "Absolutely love this! Fast clarification on ordering from shop. Really well-made, strong and holds a lot. Love the design."
Perfect for fixing on doors
www.etsy.com
These hooks would be the perfect addition to any safari-themed nurseries. They're easy to mount to the door via the hook and eye fitting.
Pros: Hand-crafted product
Cons: Some reviews have commented that they can be a little flimsy if you don't hang them up properly
Review: "Amazing gorgeous coat hooks for my little ones jungle themed room! He loves them. X"
Ideas for making a small nursery look bigger
Take note of everything you can do to create the illusion of a bigger room.
Use paint colours to make the room seem larger
Using the right paint colour can help to make any room seem larger than it is. Think about using neutral colours like white and grey for the walls to make your nursery feel light and airy. Darker shades take away from the light and make your room feel even smaller.
Use light to brighten up the space
It's amazing what a bit of light can do to make your nursery bigger. When your little one isn't sleeping, be sure to open any curtains and blinds to let that beautiful natural light in.
You may want to think about hanging a mirror on the wall as this will reflect the light and brighten up your nursery.
Reduce the amount of clutter
It's no secret that babies need a lot of things, but the more cluttered a room is, the smaller it will seem. Using the ideas and hacks we've mentioned will help your nursery stay tidy, so you don't use the space available in an unorganised way.