Transforming a Small Space: DIY Nursery Ideas for a Stylish and Functional Baby Girl Nursery -

Finding out you are pregnant is such an exciting moment! But we also know how quickly the to-do list starts stacking up upon finding out that wonderful news. Schedule doctor appointments, buy maternity clothes, plan a pregnancy announcement photoshoot, start planning the baby shower, read all the baby books, stock up on healthy food, prenatals, & other essential vitamins, start writing out baby names, and of course, start planning where & what kind of nursery you want in your home! I remember being pregnant with our first in a tiny, 900 square foot (generously) house with vaulted walls upstairs that had a bedroom most people wouldn’t even consider a closet.

That was going to be the nursery for us! We definitely mastered making the most out of a small space with that one! Fast-forward about 7 years and two kids, and we were pregnant with our third! Though this time we’re in a slightly bigger house — 1400 square feet and all the walls stand up straight – the room we planned to use for the nursery is still pretty small in terms of bedroom size. We had our 4 year old in the smaller room but since he and his brother (6) spend all their time together, not even kidding, they are like two, inseparable peas in a pod, we asked if they wanted to share a room and you’d think they won the lottery with the ecstatic ‘YES’ we received from them. So, that was settled and we got to work transforming this room into a baby girl nursery!

We hadn’t really changed anything in the two bedrooms the boys were in when we moved into this house in 2018 as the boys were only 2 & 4 and, well, boys. We figured we’d let them go through the toddler chaos phase in rooms we planned to redo when thy got a little older. The renovation started about a year earlier than we originally planned but making room for their new sister made it all okay! Let’s take a look at our starting point.

I was basically changing everything in the entire room. I wanted new floors, paint, lights, and a functional closet system. While we were working on the nursery we were simultaneously renovating the boys room across the hall at the same time so we did a lot of the projects at the same time. Check out the boys room transformation in my blog post here. We started with planning to remove that awful boob light in the center of the ceiling and bring in some new can lights. My husband was an electrician for 6 years so that has come in very handy for us throughout all of our renovations! He cut four can lights into the ceiling and added a new dimmable light switch.

Once the new lighting was in we got to work installing the new laminate flooring. I didn’t want carpet because, lets be real, kids spill way to much for me to make the mistake of carpeting their rooms again. Laminate is not only durable and easy to clean, making it perfect for a baby or child’s room, but it also comes in a variety of designs and colors to suit any style. Plus, its affordability makes it a budget-friendly choice for transforming your space into a cozy nursery for your little one. We found some simple gray laminate flooring at Menards and prepped the room to lay it. I was about 5 months pregnant at this point in the renovation and suffered Hyperemesis Gravidarum severely during my pregnancy (all three pregnancies as a matter of fact – yuck!) so my photo updating process was a little more scarce for these projects than most.

Once we finished the floors I got all the holes in the walls patched and started painting – and to be honest, had I not been as sick as I was, I would have done this before we put the flooring in, but what do ya do?

I definitely wanted to bring in some pink to this space, naturally, it was our first girl after two boys! Plus, I’m a pink girly. I love all things pink, chic, and glamorous so that’s what miss Everly was getting in her nursery! A splash of pink can add a pop of color and sweetness to the space, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for your little one to grow and thrive in. So go ahead and let your inner girly-girl shine through with those colorful accent walls you know you love! I didn’t want to go overboard on pink so I decided to do a board and batten accent wall behind her crib. I LOVE this Behr – Rosewater pink paint I found. After I painted the accent wall my husband started cutting and hanging the board and batten pieces on the wall.

Incorporating board and batten paneling on the walls can really help maximize and enhance a small space by adding depth and dimension to the room while also serving as a practical way to protect the walls from scuffs and scratches (again – because, kids). By installing board and batten, you can create a visually interesting backdrop for the crib or changing table, enhancing the nursery’s sweet and charming aesthetic. Once we had those all in place & caulked, I painted them the same Rosewater color the wall was and my goodness, did that make a drastic difference in the look of the nursery!

And I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t find the most boujee, extra fandelier I could find to add to her nursery! I wanted some pops of elegance in the nursery and what better way than installing a fandelier – a combination of a ceiling fan and chandelier, that serves as both a functionality piece and a glamorous and sophisticated element to the room. I wanted to find one with all the sparkle and pizzazz a little girl could dream of and, sure, it’s a little dramatic for a nursery, but come on, just LOOK at it! Gorgeous!

The next thing I wanted to install was a closet organization system. Nothing gives your more space and and functionality in a small bedroom than a well organized closet, not to mention how much easier it is to find what you need quickly, especially during those late-night diaper changes or when you’re in a rush and need to get the diaper bag packed! A well-organized closet will also contribute to a more peaceful and calming environment, which is essential for both you and your baby!

I found these perfect closet systems from Amazon & then I swapped out the hardware for these adorable rose gold pulls instead! I also added these cute clothes dividers to keep all the outfits separated and easily accessible. We all know how quickly babies grow in that first year so keeping the clothes organized by sizes makes it so much easier transitioning them into the next size up!