Decorating the Nursery - Layout ideas and what would you do with this gap?

[misseskimo]

DH and I are just starting to budget for new baby due early July and make the most of the two sale periods from now till then and one of the key things we can't decide on is the nursery, predominantly how to arrange the room.

We have quite a decent sized double bedroom to use for the nursery, however there are two downsides to the room. The first is that it has two windows, one faces the front of the house which is fine, the other (to the left of the pic with both in) is on the side of the house where the sun rises, so the room gets really warm in the summer. So I need to bare that in mind when decorating/arranging the room... The other issue, which is what's causing us the most grief, is that the room has a kind of weird cubby area to the side of it. No idea why the builders made the room this way, but hey, we're stuck with it.

The cubby is to the left side behind the door and measures 121cm wide (exc. skirting) and 126cm deep upto the end of the wall where the door is. Unfortunately, this means that my original idea of using it for an open-front wardrobe won't really work as I really want to use another PAX system from Ikea as I have used it for years and know it will be easily interchangeable as baby grows. I could put in a 75cm pax, and then do a bit of hacking on a 50cm to make it fit. This would involve making the whole unit about 5cm narrower all around. The only downside to this being that I would only be able to use shelves and/or a clothes bar (after cutting them down also) in the 50cm section, whereas my original plan was to have a column of drawers, and then the 75cm with two hanging rails and 2/3 larger drawers for extra storage... But worst case I could use plastic/seagrass tubs on the shelves. My other option would be to put the wardrobe along the wall where the temporary clothes rail is on the left. This gap is 156cm from wall to side window ledge, so I would get a 150cm unit in there providing ample storage space, though I'd probably need to put doors on it here as it wouldn't look so "built-in". I also will loose some depth to the wardrobe, as I think I will only be able to fit the slightly shorter (depth) wardrobes in here. I need to double-check that as it will be tight due to the window ledge. I was originally planning on using the area on the left for a changing station and then toy chests, which could be moved around as baby grows to give more play room, so if I put a large wardrobe there, I'm concerned it will take up too much of the play area. The cubby would then turn into a toy area, and I guess I'd have to build/buy some sort of storage system for the toys to go into for this corner.

Looking at the pictures I've attached, what would you do with the gap? Would you go with the hacked PAX wardrobe to keep it out of the way? Or put the wardrobe on the left wall, and make the cubby a toy store or similar? The cot will go on the r/h side behind the door, so that I can easily see it through the nursery door - Though that was also a concern with the sunlight coming in, as that is where the double bed used to be and it would always get warm/light in that area all day... But I suppose that's what blackout blinds are for!

NB. Please excuse the mess in the room! I've only just almost emptied it, and the cats have been using it (in particular the rug) as a playroom since it's been emptied, and so it seems to be constantly covered in fur! (and a cat who cheekily laid down as I was taking pictures)

[FantasticMrsFoxx]

I wouldn't bother with an Ikea hack. I'd get a local joiner / handyman round to build you a bespoke storage unit. It'll fit the space exactly and look a lot better than something hashed together.
Do you know if your neighbours have a similar space, and what they've done with theirs?

[sacbina]

is baby going to be sleeping in there after coming home, or in your room?

[BikeRunSki]

Use the cubby area for bespoke, built in storage.

[addictedtosugar]

Another vote for getting a local joiner to build a cupboard to fit. Whatever, put storage there. Putting a wardrobe on the other wall is a waste of space in both places.

As an aside, if the room will take it, keep the double in there. The bed in DS2's room is regularly used by a parent, and he is 3 now.

[misseskimo]

Aren't you supposed to keep baby with you for first 6m? I keep reading mixed opinions. Our nursery is unfortunately on the other side of the house due to the weird layout the builder's used.

I think I may use it as a feeding/reading corner for now. Will get baby used to the room to feed and read in there, and when a bit older, can sit in the nook themselves to read. I'm reluctant to get a bespoke wardrobe done namely due to price, quotes I got for one in our room in the summer were well into the thousands! Cheapest was a joiner 20miles away who didn't drive, so said if we pick him up and provide the materials, he would do for a couple of hundred, but no drawers, just hanging rails! I can't afford a bespoke job, so thinking ikea unit on side wall and reading nook/toy store in corner. I know will lose some space but I suppose can always change it if proves to be an issue?

[sacbina]

baby should be with you for first months.

personally I'd wait and see how the room works for you with what you have. a baby doesn't care about wardrobes........

[addictedtosugar]

Yep, baby with you for all naps for the first few months.

How much would it cost to get split doors added to the front of the space?
And then you can put hanging space, shoe space and shelving in there without it mattering what it looks like?

We could easily have managed without a wardrobe til school age (button through shirt and tie aged 5 ), so I'd say shelves are more useful. Tho if girls have dresses etc, I guess you'd need hanging space before then.