How the Only Bedroom In This Tiny NYC Apartment Became the Ultimate Kids’ Room
In New York City (or, frankly, any metropolitan area), living sometimes requires sacrifices. But that word shouldn’t have a negative connotation. Instead, these design challenges often lead to beautiful, rewarding solutions (like this family of five in a 700-square-foot apartment). Nic and Khrystyne Jaspers experienced this in their one-bedroom Manhattan apartment, which they share with their two children, Zeke and Taliyah.
“Our biggest challenge has been navigating the different stages of our family in a small space …” Khrystyne said at the time of the tour. “. . .As our kids have grown, it’s been a constant battle of assessing what our family needs most in that season and how to work within our budget to create longevity in the apartment.”
One decision that came naturally to Khrystyne and Nic was letting the kids have the primary bedroom. It was a choice rooted in finding peace for all family members — Zeke and Taliyah would have a peaceful area to sleep and the adults wouldn’t have to stress about waking them up. (The couple now uses a Murphy bed in their living room.) Once the rooms were decided, it was time to start decorating.
Khrystyne admits that when they moved in, the bedroom was painted in a “really ugly cream color.” So, Nic painted the room with Benjamin Moore’s “London Fog” before the family moved in. Khrystyne’s family is Afghan, and she shares that she’s always appreciated “the magic of Arabian nights with its colors and rich stories.” She turned a design conundrum into a chic choice: None of their rugs were big enough to cover the floor, so she added several on top of one another to create a bohemian look and add color.
“I kept the wall colors and storage really neutral to reduce visual clutter but then added in warmth and pops of color with kid art,” Khrystyne explains. “I hung plants from the ceiling and tried to find ways to infuse patterns and color to make the space feel magical and full of imagination.”
Speaking of imagination — the room has a special place for that to flourish. There was an awkward area near the windows that Khrystyne thought wasn’t usable, so she created a reading nook for her kids, as the family loves reading together. The bottom shelf is low enough so Zeke and Taliyah can also grab their favorite books.
Khrystyne designed the layout around the bookshelves and windows as she didn’t want to lose that natural light. “Our kids build a lot, so creating a big open floor space was really important for us,” she explains. An IKEA bunk bed was a great choice for giving them privacy while being functional with storage underneath. (It’s also large enough so that Khrystyne and Nic can sit underneath without feeling too cramped.)
An IKEA KALLAX shelving unit (a Cubby Nursery award winner!) was placed on the ground to give Zeke and Taliyah easy access to their toys. “I think the kids love how independent they can be in the space,” Khrystyne shares. “They have access to lots of different stations, and I love watching them pull out different things and access different sides of their imagination in such a small room.”
As Zeke and Taliyah have grown up, they’ve become more involved in designing their space and taking ownership of it. Often, they’ll ask to hang artwork or showcase their favorite objects. Khrystyne admits that one of Taliyah’s favorite games is to play “‘decorate’ where she moves things around in her ‘house.’”
The room is a sentimental space, and their choice to give up their primary bedroom proved super rewarding, as the entire family spends time in Zeke and Taliyah’s room. “Our whole family lives in this room. The kids play, read, do homework, watch shows, listen to books, and everything you can imagine,” Khrystyne says. “I love that it really is a safe haven for them.” To see more of their clever family apartment, visit the full home tour on Apartment Therapy.
Thanks, Khrystene and Nic!