Live

Before & After: A 68-Square-Foot Lofted Nook Becomes the Dreamiest Nursery

published Oct 26, 2023
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Loft space full of boxes before being renovated into nursery

After continually getting outbid on homes for sale, Michael and Beach Silver were ecstatic to finally purchase their gorgeous Brooklyn apartment in the Park Slope neighborhood. The apartment was on the lower end of their budget, so they had the freedom to make their desired renovations — and then they found out Beach was pregnant. 

The one-bedroom, 800-square-foot apartment didn’t have a second bedroom for their future daughter, Cece, so they had to get creative. But it’s not unusual for parents to think outside the box when it comes to their children’s rooms — just look at this 42-square-foot closet that was converted into a nursery

So, the couple turned their gaze to the lofted space above their primary bedroom. Before, the 68 square feet were used to store their miscellaneous items. However, when they started the renovation, they decided to include a clever transformation into their plans. 

The couple converted their storage space into a nursery. 

One problem with their current layout was that there wasn’t a way to access the lofted area easily. So, the couple had professionals install stairs, a slat wall overlooking the bedroom, and electrical wiring. Cleverly, the couple decided to add a home office nook at the top of the stairs, too.

Once the construction was finished they could begin decorating, but they had to be smart about their choices. “I confess that I turned to Pinterest for nursery inspiration (I think my search terms were ‘boho MCM jungle nursery,’ or some such nonsense),” Beach writes. “I loved the neutral, jungle-themed nurseries I was seeing, but layered rugs and extraneous baskets weren’t going to fly in a space so compact.”

The couple found a compromise in “clean, neutral furniture” (like an IKEA crib and storage units) that could pair easily with other looks and grow with Cece. Because the nursery had limited square footage (Cece spends most of her playtime with her toys in the living room), keeping the space minimal and organized was important. Beach turned to “Montessori mom-fluencers” for tips. 

“Those moms all seem to have suburban playrooms the size of tennis courts, but turns out toy rotation is also super useful if you live in a small apartment with a kid’s sleeping space that is also primarily used for storage,” Beach says. 

As Beach admits, their approach to toys and books is “merciless” but necessary. If a toy or book isn’t serving Cece, they’ll place it on their stoop, sell it, or store it until they need it again. “Our neighborhood is particularly conducive to that. The stoops of Park Slope are basically one big revolving toy and book swap, so we learned pretty quickly to roll with that ecosystem and let stuff go,” Beach explains. 

It’s hard to imagine that this cozy nook was once a storage space. It’s likely that Cece appreciates the room, too. “Lately, she demands to ‘read in bed,’ which consists of filling her crib with pillows, plush toys, and a huge stack of books,” Michael wrote at the time of the house tour. “It’s adorable.”

Product List

Cubby: Eat. Live. Play. Families Together at Home.

Want more great home ideas for families? Sign up for Cubby’s weekly newsletter featuring our best editor-approved product recommendations, meal ideas, and all the kid’s room decor ideas you need.