If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen some exciting news a few weeks ago…I’m going to be an aunt!! My brother and sis-in-law are having a little one in February and I am soooo thrilled!! I can’t wait to spoil the heck out of that child!

Jason and Liz rent a cute ranch on a farm in central NC. A couple weeks ago, Liz asked if I could help come up with some ideas before the baby comes for a little area of their house that has never really been defined. The room measures 11.5 x 15 feet and is located just as you walk into the house from the carport. There is a bathroom/laundry room off the back of this room, and a small window through to the eat-in kitchen on the left.

Take a look…

Because they are renters, the space needs to be complete, but not necessarily permanent (i.e. no paint or new flooring). When asked what the goal for this little room would be, Liz answered, “Baby space, reading space, visiting space…a place where visitors can sit before a meal.”

Just so that we’re on the same page, let’s define the space…

Got it?

Here’s what they have already that could work in this room…

• Leather sofa
• Vintage chest
• Small side table
• Anthropologie folding chair

That’s a pretty good start!

Because of the cabinets above the stove, there isn’t a lot of visual space from the sitting room into the kitchen. So instead of using bar stools in that area, I would suggest using cubby shelving to store books, toys, and other baby play necessities. Ikea bookcases turned on their side are great for this type of storage, and can easily be made to look like custom built ins. (Click on photo for source.)

We would use baskets or bins for quick and tidy clean up.

For the rest of the space, I think soft, plush finishes are the way to go. No sharp edges for Baby P to bump his or her head on. Throw in a bit of modern, a little farmhouse, and a touch of glam and here’s what you get:

I would start with these fun drapes from Ikea…they would go ceiling to floor on both windows. Next, throw down a cushy rug like this one (on sale!) that Baby P would be happy rolling around on. The dark brown sofa that Jason and Liz have would work well in front of the window on the right wall, and we could add a soft throw and some bright pillows to soften the look a bit.

Then we could add a couple of modern chairs on the front wall with the vintage chest between them under the window. The chest could serve as a bar for cocktails or tea, depending on your visitors.

Lastly, we’d just add some fun accessories, like plants, lamps, and these gold poufs. I’m obsessed with these animal prints, which seem perfect for the farm, and the white space would work well to downplay the wood panel walls a bit.

The key is to not overcrowd the space. Here are a few shots I’ve been using for inspiration. (Click on photo for source.)

How would you decorate this multi-function space? Stay tuned for more updates!

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