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Original poster

Did you have space for a nursery room? Feeling bad!

87 replies

Fireflii · 02/07/2023 09:32

We have a small two bed home and with interest rates unlikely to be able to move anywhere bigger until the economy has stabilised which might be 2-3 years at least according to BoE predictions.

We want to start a family but currently the 2nd room has one of DHs wardrobes in it, plus we are thinking of putting a small desk in there for work from home purposes instead of having it in the lounge. The room is about 11ftx6.5ft. After our furniture if we’re lucky we’d probably get in a cot, a chest of drawers and possibly a bookshelf and chair.

Our room couldn’t accommodate DH wardrobe and desk as we’ve already got a chest of drawers and my wardrobe in here. There would be space for a next to me crib by our bed that would be about it.

Would it be weird and not the done thing to keep other furniture in the ‘nursery’. Has anyone else done this before? On social media you see these massive nurseries where there’s just baby items inside the room but we don’t have the room for our other storage like this.

OP posts:
Original poster
Fireflii · 02/07/2023 09:53

Anyone?

OP posts:
BewareTheBeardedDragon · 02/07/2023 09:56

Keeping things in the nursery when baby is small is absolutely fine - for the first 6 months they need to be in your room anyway. But eventually they will get bigger and need the space in their room for their clothes and toys and things and having a desk in your child's room long term would not be workable imo. So I guess it depends what the long term realistic plan is. 2-3 years would be ok, but longer wouldn't really (imo)

StillWantingADog · 02/07/2023 09:59

I think you need to look beyond “nursery” and think of the child’s future bedroom needs

when dc was born he was just in the spare room, and yes there was initially plenty of stuff in there that wasn’t his. In time though it became his room and then his brother joined him and they shared for several years before we could afford to move to a bigger house

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Whinge · 02/07/2023 10:01

Having a wardrobe in there for your clothes isn't a problem, but I think you need to work out a better solution to the WFH space. It will work as an office for the first year or so while your little one is in your room, but eventually they will need their own space with their own toys and belongings.

StillWantingADog · 02/07/2023 10:02

Btw for the first few months your baby won’t technically need a room as will be with you anyway. But you will need some space for his stuff.
not nearly as much as you will when they’re older though

bellac11 · 02/07/2023 10:03

Your partner doesnt have to work from home I assume?

So just have it as your child's bedroom

mynameiscalypso · 02/07/2023 10:04

We did this with DS' bedroom for the first 18 months or so. We didn't work in there (because that would have been difficult with sleeping and naps > 6 months) but we used it for storage and DH's stuff. It was fine. Babies don't need much. It becomes more tricky when (or if!) they're sleeping from eg 7 - 7 when you might need to get stuff. It wasn't a long term solution for us though.

Original poster
Fireflii · 02/07/2023 10:07

bellac11 · 02/07/2023 10:03

Your partner doesnt have to work from home I assume?

So just have it as your child's bedroom

It would be me WFH and I also have a business where desk would be easier

OP posts:
GoodChat · 02/07/2023 10:07

What will you do after the first 12 months or so when you're ready for a toddler bed and little one is moving about?

Realistically you need to share wardrobe space or find more suitable storage for your own things.

Original poster
Fireflii · 02/07/2023 10:07

mynameiscalypso · 02/07/2023 10:04

We did this with DS' bedroom for the first 18 months or so. We didn't work in there (because that would have been difficult with sleeping and naps > 6 months) but we used it for storage and DH's stuff. It was fine. Babies don't need much. It becomes more tricky when (or if!) they're sleeping from eg 7 - 7 when you might need to get stuff. It wasn't a long term solution for us though.

Thank you this is good to know!!

like I say we’d plan to move in 2025/2026 so max age of child would be like 1-2 and that would be if they were even that old

OP posts:
shivawn · 02/07/2023 10:07

Yeah but it's just our tiny box room. It fits his cot, a chair, a chest of drawers and a 4ft tall giraffe. He's 20 months old now and really only uses his room to sleep in, all his toys and books are in the living room because that's where we spend most of our time at home. We do have another bigger room that we can move him to when he gets older though.

Original poster
Fireflii · 02/07/2023 10:08

GoodChat · 02/07/2023 10:07

What will you do after the first 12 months or so when you're ready for a toddler bed and little one is moving about?

Realistically you need to share wardrobe space or find more suitable storage for your own things.

See below

OP posts:
Whinge · 02/07/2023 10:09

Fireflii · 02/07/2023 10:07

Thank you this is good to know!!

like I say we’d plan to move in 2025/2026 so max age of child would be like 1-2 and that would be if they were even that old

Show quote history

Planning to move and actually moving are 2 very different things. You need a plan for what happens if you don't move.

Original poster
Fireflii · 02/07/2023 10:09

Whinge · 02/07/2023 10:01

Having a wardrobe in there for your clothes isn't a problem, but I think you need to work out a better solution to the WFH space. It will work as an office for the first year or so while your little one is in your room, but eventually they will need their own space with their own toys and belongings.

Thank you, as mentioned we plan to move in 2025 anyway but might just have a baby in tow then so I was wondering if it’s an ok solution for the first 6-18 months really of their life

OP posts:
bellac11 · 02/07/2023 10:09

Fireflii · 02/07/2023 10:07

It would be me WFH and I also have a business where desk would be easier

Show quote history

Can you extend in the loft or have an office built in the garden?

gogomoto · 02/07/2023 10:11

I didn't, one bed flat. But i don't understand why you need to put a wardrobe in there? Less can't you share a wardrobe? I certainly did until 8 years ago (I was in my 40's) when I installed fitted ones, we stored out of season clothes in tubs under the bed

Velvian · 02/07/2023 10:12

Do you have a floor plan you can share?

Sugarfree23 · 02/07/2023 10:15

Op I wouldn't put TTC on hold because of wardrobe space. Babies don't always come to order.

I spent most of my childhood sharing a room with my sister and my Dad's clothes that needed hung up!

So clothes really aren't an issue, but I'd try to move the desk, into the kitchen or or I'd even consider the garden shed.

Original poster
Fireflii · 02/07/2023 10:16

bellac11 · 02/07/2023 10:09

Can you extend in the loft or have an office built in the garden?

Show quote history

No & no unfortunately. Even if we could it would then just make as much sense to move to a 3 bed financially after you’ve paid out for all that. My parents only live 2 miles away and have plenty of office space I could use so it’s an alternative I guess as they have offered

OP posts:
CC4712 · 02/07/2023 10:18

You say that one of DH's wardrobes is in the spare room. So he has more than 1 wardrobe of clothes?

Culling the clothes would be the 1st step (unless he is some sort of performer requiring multiple outfit changes?). Remove the 2nd wardrobe, or down size it to a smaller one. Look up space saving hangers and solutions- ikea have some good ideas.

Could you put in a summer house as the office?

If the master bedroom is very large- you could move the wall across to make the box room larger. We did this and you'd never know it was done.

Original poster
Fireflii · 02/07/2023 10:19

CC4712 · 02/07/2023 10:18

You say that one of DH's wardrobes is in the spare room. So he has more than 1 wardrobe of clothes?

Culling the clothes would be the 1st step (unless he is some sort of performer requiring multiple outfit changes?). Remove the 2nd wardrobe, or down size it to a smaller one. Look up space saving hangers and solutions- ikea have some good ideas.

Could you put in a summer house as the office?

If the master bedroom is very large- you could move the wall across to make the box room larger. We did this and you'd never know it was done.

I should’ve been clearer that’s his only wardrobe. One of our two wardrobes

OP posts:
SeeingSpots · 02/07/2023 10:19

Whinge · 02/07/2023 10:09

Planning to move and actually moving are 2 very different things. You need a plan for what happens if you don't move.

Show quote history

Agreed with this. We planned to move but it didn't work out. You need a plan B for if a move doesn't happen.

CC4712 · 02/07/2023 10:19

Depending on your age- the other alternative is to wait TTC until you have moved.

Phoebo · 02/07/2023 10:20

Kids have so much crap it's scary. Realistically, they'll be in your room for 6 months but then they really should have their own room. Practically speaking, my DC doesn't play in his room, everything is in the lounge but it's an empty room for him to comfortably sleep in. I think a two bed could be fine, depending on how big the areas are. But it won't probably be practical for very long. Probably 2 years tops?

continentallentil · 02/07/2023 10:20

It’ll be alright for the wardrobe for a couple years. The desk will have to go in the sitting room.