How to Convert a Nursery into a Big Kid Room
Kaitlin Krull
Once your precious little baby starts toddling around and climbing out of her crib, parenthood takes on a whole new meaning. In addition to dealing with added tantrums, obstacles, and frustrations, you might realize that your little one’s beautifully decorated nursery isn’t cutting it anymore for her new needs and wants. If you’re thinking about making the transition from nursery to big kid room, there’s no need to stress. Here are some of the basics you’ll need to consider when re-decorating your baby’s room.
Furniture
If you were forward thinking enough to buy transition-friendly furniture for your baby before she was born, then give yourself a pat on the back. Convertible cribs and storage units with accessible and kid-safe drawers and doors are easily adapted for your new big kid. For those of us who had other things on our minds (or baby brain, in which case you had not much at all in there for awhile), never fear. There are tons of furniture options for toddler and kid rooms. Choose from junior beds and other lower storage units for accessibility, or push the boat out and consider other sleeping options such as bunk beds, loft beds, floor beds, or anything else you and your big kid dream up.
Room organization
Once you’ve decided on big kid bedroom furniture, it’s time to get organized. Create an independence-fostering space with designated areas throughout the room: separate places for sleeping, reading/quiet play, building, and imaginative play. Just make sure you don’t store too much in the bedroom, otherwise you will be forever cleaning up messes. For the inevitable clutter, stock the room with kid-friendly storage, such as baskets, bins, tubs, pots, bookshelves, and plenty of accessible closet space. Encourage your big kid’s independence by labeling storage and encouraging regular tidying. You never know, you just might save yourself a little bit of time somewhere in the near future!
Decor and accessories
No room is complete without accessories, so talk to your child and get creative with decorations. Taking your child’s tastes into account, you can make a tastefully grown up (but not too grown up) space that is all hers. Over at Modernize, we have a few pointers to help you get started. Remember not to clutter the room with too many decor pieces and accessories, or you run the risk of over-complicating your design. Instead, choose a few pieces that make a statement, such as a large framed art print (or your big kid’s own artwork!), family photos, keepsakes, and vintage toys. As far as bedding is concerned, remember to choose the right size duvet or comforter and pillow for your child (junior sizes are available if you want them, but opting for larger sizes increases their longevity).
Safety
Before you let your big kid loose in her new sleeping space, double check that you’ve completed all your childproofing throughout the bedroom. Tick off the same boxes as you would in any other part of the house, including plugs, cords, blinds, windows, door frames, choking hazards, and trip/fall hazards. If you’ve opted for bunk beds or a loft bed, consider a toddler bed rail to minimize the risk of falling. Make sure to tether large and tall pieces of furniture to the wall. Lastly, it might be a good idea to keep a video monitor in the room for the time being for added safety, since your little one will be free of her restrictive crib and will be spending some time alone in her room.
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