A baby takes up surprisingly little space on their own. But the equipment that comes with them — the cot, the pram, the changing table, the bouncer, the high chair, the mountain of babygros — has a way of colonising every room. If you're living in a small Irish home and a baby is on the way, you're probably already wondering where everything is going to go.
Here's a practical guide to making space in a small home without losing your mind (or all your belongings).
The Space Problem Is Real
Irish homes are among the smallest in Europe on average, and newer apartments are tighter still. A one-bed or small two-bed apartment in Dublin, Cork, or Galway wasn't designed with a nursery in mind. But thousands of Irish parents make it work every year — with some clever reorganising and a bit of creative storage.
Room-by-Room Space Recovery
The Living Room
- Move rarely-used items off shelves and into storage (ornaments, books you've read, DVDs).
- Replace a large coffee table with a smaller one or a basket that doubles as toy storage.
- Consider a sofa with built-in storage if you're due an upgrade anyway.
The Bedroom
- Off-season clothes can go into vacuum bags and be stored off-site. This alone frees a surprising amount of wardrobe space.
- Under-bed storage boxes are your friend — use them for baby supplies.
- If the baby will sleep in your room initially, measure the cot/crib footprint before buying and plan placement carefully.
The Spare Room (if you have one)
- If you're converting a spare room into a nursery, everything currently in it needs to go somewhere. Store the contents off-site rather than cramming them into other rooms.
- If you're keeping the home office in the same room, look at compact desks and wall-mounted shelving to free floor space.
What to Move to Off-Site Storage
These items are classic "store for now" candidates when a baby arrives:
- Bulky exercise equipment (that exercise bike is about to become a clothes horse anyway)
- Off-season wardrobes (winter coats in summer, etc.)
- Hobby equipment you won't have time for in the first year (guitars, sewing machines, sports gear)
- Books, vinyl collections, or archive boxes from the spare room
- Bulky luggage (suitcases nest well in storage)
On Packhood, a small local storage space for these items costs €40–€80/month — less than a single large pack of nappies costs per week.
Baby Gear: Buy Smart, Store Smarter
- Borrow before buying. Ask family and friends — many are happy to lend bouncers, moses baskets, and sterilisers they no longer need.
- Choose multi-use items. A travel cot that doubles as a playpen, a pram that converts from newborn to toddler.
- Rotate toys. Babies don't need 50 toys at once. Keep a small selection out and rotate monthly. Store the rest in a box.
- Accept hand-me-downs. Irish families are generous with baby clothes. Accept everything; sort and store what you'll need for the right season/size.
The "Outgrown" Cycle
Babies outgrow everything quickly. Within 12 months, you'll have a moses basket, a newborn car seat, premature and newborn-sized clothes, and various gadgets that are no longer needed. If you're planning more children, these go straight to storage until next time. If not, pass them on.
Tips for Small-Apartment Parents
- Wall-mounted everything. Shelves, fold-down changing tables, magnetic knife racks repurposed for small toys.
- Behind-the-door hooks. Every door can hold bags, coats, or organisers.
- Vertical storage. Tall narrow shelving units use ceiling height instead of floor space.
- The hallway. A slim console with baskets underneath stores nappies, wipes, and changing bags without cluttering other rooms.
The Bottom Line
A small home and a new baby aren't incompatible — you just need to be intentional about space. Move what you don't need now into affordable local storage, buy smart, and remember: this intense space squeeze is temporary. Babies grow fast, and your home will adapt.
Find small, affordable storage near you on Packhood and make room for the new arrival.