How exciting – you’ve a new baby on the way! This is a lovely time, but also a really challenging time when it comes to organising the home. It can be quite panic-inducing wondering how you’re going to squeeze a new little one into a home, because the baby is small, but everything they need takes up a lot of space.
The good news is that with a little bit of organisation, decluttering and rearranging – you can transform your home so that it is able to accommodate the whole family with ease:
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Declutter Like You’ve Never Decluttered Before
Before the baby arrives it is a great idea to declutter any space that you have – a local self storage unit, closet space, loft space, sheds, garages – whatever you have. When you’re going through each space, declutter in a way that you have not decluttered before. You really need to make this space, which means making sacrifices and making some tough decisions. London storage units allow you to hold on to items you want to keep, but can’t keep in the home, but you should avoid just putting everything into your unit rather than sorting it out. Once the baby comes, it could be years before you have a chance again to declutter and organise like this so now is the time to get stuck in and make lots of space.
Add Extra Wardrobe Rods
Because baby clothes are very small, you don’t need lots of space for the items hanging down, which means you can have multiple wardrobe rods. This creates extra space for clothing, blankets, shoes and more. You could also add an extra shelf for storage boxes and other items you can’t hang.
Add Lots Of Hidden Storage
When you need to create space for lots of things, it is surprising how much space suddenly becomes possible storage space, when you start to think creatively. Room under the bed, under the cot, book shelves, ornament shelves, plant stands – everything is potential storage and beautiful baskets and other storage compartments can go a long way to disguising those storage areas too.
Utilise Vertical Space
Floor space is something you need to conserve as you create a home that is perfect for a new baby. This is not only to ensure there is enough space for the items that do require floor space, but to keep everything as safe as possible for when you’re walking around with the baby and tending to their needs. Floor clutter is definitely not something you can have when you’re caring for babies and young children. Instead, utilise all the vertical space that you have, whether it is with wall hooks, hammocks, shelving or suspended storage baskets. Anything that is put up should be triple checked for safety and security, too.
Get Ahead Of The Baby Shower
If you are having a baby shower, don’t be afraid to let anybody coming know that you would love very practical items, if possible. Come from a place of wanting simplicity and stocking up on practical items that you know will get used. Anything you do receive that you don’t want, consider placing into affordable self storage in London in case it does come in handy, or gift or sell the item so that it’s not taking up extra space in your home.
Utilise A Walk-In Wardrobe
If you have a closet or walk-in wardrobe off your main bedroom, it could be worth transforming that into a nursery space. Remove the doors and decorate it to line it up with the rest of the room aesthetically. There could well be plenty of space for a cot, mobile and other accessories, which is more than enough for the baby in these first few months. Alternatively, if they do have a nursery, this could be a great extra space to utilise for storing their things, or as a changing area or seat for late night feeds. Clothing can be placed elsewhere temporarily, with seasonal clothing being the perfect candidate for affordable self storage.
Keep Baby Furniture Super-Practical
Baby furniture can be large and ornate, which is all well and good if you have endless space. However, if you are pushed for space, it really is a needless aesthetic flare that you will not be thankful for down the line. Instead, opt for practical furniture that gives you plenty of storage and that is adjustable as the child’s needs change. Clearly, one piece of furniture can’t do everything but many can do a lot, and those are the items you want to invest in for the best utilisation of the space that you have.
Put A Cap On Preparing For The Future
Obviously you have to plan ahead somewhat with what you have for the baby. Clothes in a few different sizes, different types of toys etc – plus donated items that friends and family have kindly given you for when the baby is older. However, there is no need to buy items for when the baby is walking, or much further along in their development. All that does is add extra pressure on the space that you have, to store items that you don’t need. You could store some items in affordable self storage, but realistically you don’t want to have items lined up for the whole of the child’s life just yet. Instead, it’s better to adapt with them and sell items on and replace them with age-appropriate items when the time is right. This also releases pressure financially, too, as it can be costly buying what you think a child needs many years in advance.
Are You Ready To Make Space For Your Little One?
This is such an exciting time, with lots going on. The more you can put into decluttering and creating storage space, the easier things will be when the baby comes and you’re more limited on time and energy. With the right adjustments, rearranging and organising, you can make a lot of space for your new arrival, however compact your home is.
