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An Amazon Find Made This 80-Square-Foot Nursery’s Dresser–Changing Station Possible
Anna Stoffels and her boyfriend, Timmy, living in a small, 80-square-foot apartment in Chicago, creatively adapted their living space upon the arrival of their daughter, Raleigh. Initially, the couple had converted their closet into a primary bedroom and used their actual bedroom as a second entertaining area to make the small apartment feel larger. With Raleigh's birth, their previous closet-turned-bedroom became the baby's nursery, and their secondary living space was transformed into a proper bedroom for themselves. This innovative approach saved them money on high Chicago rents and aligned with Stoffels's minimalist philosophy.
Stoffels, a photo assistant and prop stylist, maintains a minimalist lifestyle, regularly decluttering and donating items. This approach extended to Raleigh's nursery, where instead of accumulating typical plastic baby toys, they invested in aesthetically pleasing and functional items. Examples include a wood play gym and a terrazzo-patterned rocker, chosen for their visual appeal and longevity. They also opted for compact versions of essential baby gear, starting with a convertible crib, to maximize the limited space.
One of the nursery's standout features is an accent wall with a checkerboard pattern, reminiscent of Stoffels's skateboarding past. The design, using Behr's Polar White and Crisp Linen paints, was meticulously mapped out by Timmy, who has a background in carpentry. His precision in using a superlong level and blue tape ensured a clean and sharp pattern. This personal touch adds character to the small space.
The couple also implemented a highly functional storage system in the nursery. They adapted a tiered closet system, originally installed when the room served as their bedroom, by removing the lower rod. This created essential floor space for a changing table. The upper rod remained, providing a high spot to hang Raleigh's clothes, safely out of reach during diaper changes. Above this, Amazon bins organize lesser-used items like clothes for future growth, books, breast pumps, and extra diapers.
For the changing station, an IKEA dresser was paired with an IKEA rolling cart for everyday necessities. To ensure safety, Stoffels used an Amazon-sourced stick pad, originally designed for car dashboards, to secure the changing basket on top of the dresser, preventing it from shifting when Raleigh moves. The crib, Nestig’s Cloud Crib, was discovered through an Instagram advertisement. Its Scandi-inspired design, featuring rounded feet and a curved wood frame, appealed to Stoffels not only for its aesthetic but also for its convertible nature, allowing it to transition into a toddler bed later.
A sentimental touch is a trailing hoya plant on a high shelf above the changing area. This plant originated from a cutting taken from Stoffels’s grandparents’ houseplant, making it particularly meaningful as Raleigh is named after Stoffels's grandfather, Rawley. The nursery, though small, reflects thoughtful design choices, practical solutions for compact living, and personal elements that connect the family's past and present.
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