We are currently transitioning our son’s nursery into a big kid room — he will be four soon — and I wanted to share the practical updates we’re making and the priorities guiding our choices. Every family’s transition looks different depending on the child and the home, but these changes are what make sense for our space, budget and lifestyle.
Because we don’t plan to stay in this house forever, we’re avoiding a complete redesign that would be costly and hard to move. Instead, we’re focusing on flexible, reusable updates that improve function while keeping most of the existing layout intact. Below are the key areas we’re addressing.
What We’re Prioritizing
Toy storage: We don’t have a separate playroom, so most toys live in his bedroom. That used to mean toys ended up scattered everywhere by the end of the day. Our main goal is to create effective storage so every toy has a home and tidying up becomes fast and simple.
Versatile furniture: New pieces need to be useful beyond this house. We chose a daybed that can act as a couch in a future playroom, and two smaller shelves instead of a single large unit so they can be split, stacked or moved as needed.
Secondhand finds: For budget and environmental reasons I look for secondhand options first. For this room we found a lightly used daybed and a floor lamp in great condition at a fraction of the price of new pieces.
What We’re Keeping from the Nursery
The layout: Minimizing layout changes has saved time, money and hassle. We had a large gallery wall and because we live in an earthquake zone, moving the bed would have meant taking down art, patching holes and rearranging everything. Leaving the bed where the crib was avoided all that work and kept the room feeling familiar.
Rainbow bookshelves: These shelves were an early and favorite choice. They add color and use vertical wall space for books, which keeps the floor clear. We’re upgrading them slightly (deeper ledges to hold more books), but keeping them as a defining element of the room.
If you can, prioritize vertical storage in a child’s room — it’s a huge win for both function and design.
What We’re Changing
Crib and rocker swapped for a daybed: A twin bed feels surprisingly large, but the daybed was the right choice for versatility. We rarely used the rocking chair and wanted a sleeping solution that could later serve as seating. The daybed “floats” on the wall and creates room for play. We selected a budget-friendly mattress with good safety certifications that suits a kid’s space.
Adding a reading light: The room previously relied on a single overhead fixture. Adding a floor lamp near the bed has made bedtime reading cozier and more functional.
Relocating clothing storage: After potty training, the dresser used as a changing table became clutter-prone. We decided to move most clothing storage into the closet to free the dresser surface and open more accessible toy storage in the room. We kept the cozy “closet fort” design but added an organized closet system tailored to fit our needs, which has worked very well.
Low, accessible toy shelves: We installed low shelves inspired by Montessori principles so toys are visible and reachable. Toys stored out of sight were rarely played with; having everything on open shelves encourages independent play and makes cleanup easier. Baskets help keep smaller items contained and tidy.
Making bookshelves more efficient: Our rainbow ledges were originally shallow, and as our collection of books grew they became overfull. To solve that, we’re replacing them with deeper shelves so books can be layered and displayed attractively while holding many more titles. We painted affordable picture ledges to match the room’s palette and keep the rainbow feel intact.
New bedding: A twin bed requires new linens, and we chose patterns that can grow with him rather than character-themed bedding he might quickly outgrow. He picked a gingham comforter and we’re mixing in quilts and pillows repurposed from around the house to create a cozy spot for reading and snuggling.
We’re excited to refresh this room — it was the first space we decorated in this house and it remains one of our favorites. The goal has been to balance design, function and flexibility so the room serves him now and can easily adapt as he grows. We’ll share the full reveal once everything is finished.