Did you have any ideas on how to live with your son when selecting apartments? It just seems odd to do this after signing a lease.

That said, I like the efficiency of the kitchen/bath/laundry in this unit. A lot of new developments fail at trying to put in more amenities than a small space can hold which actually makes ths space smaller.

You should think of your unit as public space and private. All private functions like the boy's space and your office should be in the bedroom. Are you open to sleeping on a pullout bed/sofa? Locate this in the living room.

Hi Jane,
This is a fun situation (not really a problem) to solve. I would make the LR a studio apartment for yourself - work/sleep/social and leave the one bedroom for your son who will have privacy, as will you, and won't be reliant on your schedule for sleeping, playing etc. I would "borrow" some of his space for storage (clothes, books, linens etc.) to free up the LR. I socialize/sleep/work in a Brooklyn Hts space not much larger than your LR. Create lots of floor plans before deciding on furniture -and make things do double duty - library table/dining table, office chair that is comfy for reading and dining and entertaining etc. Good luck! Claudia

My sister, brother-in-law and nephew would be jealous. They are in 600 sq ft in the West Village and my nephew is 9. They were able to take the studio and repartition it because it's a coop, but they might have a couple of things for you to adopt.

Set up a "drop zone" -- place for stroller/coats etc. on pegs to the right of the WD...that way your son can learn where to put his stuff. Use this place (or even better the back of the front door) for all those notes of things that you need to remember to bring -- lunch etc etc. If possible, as soon as your son outgrows his stroller, try to get him to walk AMAP...even if it means that things take a long time to accomplish....you save money on a stroller and space as well.

Set up a desk (maybe just a wall-hung shelf w/ shelves above) along the kitchen wall and maybe turning the corner into the LR...that way you both have places to "do work". As he gets older you may want to get a small gate leg dining table...but for now my guess is he will be happy sitting at a booster seat with a tray strapped to a chair....why waste money on a regular high chair?

Sleeping is a little more complicated since you can't move the wall between the BR and LR, but I would consider dividing the BR space -- or partition some space off in the LR for your son if you need more privacy. My sister had a wall of storage built between the two sleeping spaces in her coop.....there's enough room for a full bed on the window side using the wall/shelves as a headboard and the other side is dresser drawers for my nephew. He has a loft bed with a desk underneath now...but that's something to consider later. The key is giving him a place where you can close a door or curtain and he gets dark and quiet to sleep.

As to sources -- Craigslist has been really good for my sister....and all the usual subjects, IKEA /CB2....and don't rush....a bed for you, a desk and a couple of chairs, a crib, sofa (convertible if you want) and a couple of lamps are really all you need.

Enjoy your adventure!!

I agree with Apartment3F. Your son should get the bedroom for his room because he will need more sleep and naptime privacy, especially if he is with you full time opposed to weekends/holidays. You will not likely have guests/clients/work when you need to sleep, so your sleep space and work space could easily be the living room. I would tuck a small bed into the corner and put dividers (shelf, screen, curtain) around it to define it as your private space. If space allows, maybe even section off the office area as well so you can "go home from work" each day.

I nannied for a single mom and her 2 children that shared a 1 bedroom. The kids shared the bedroom and the mom slept on a single bed in the living room, which was in the corner with a large bookshelf separating it from the "living space".

I guess really, it was 2 bookshelves. One faced her bed so she had some storage there and the other faced the living space and was more of a media cabinet where they kept the tv. It worked out well for her. Best of luck!

Ikea of course.Twin beds for now. And/or create visual separation in living area with freestanding shelves to disguise bed but these could be dangerous if not secured but butting between bed and shelves might work. Lots of bookshelves for storage but anchored somehow for safety. Son uses bottom shelves for storage of toys in baskets. You will save a lot of space if you have folding chairs for dining and tuck away when not in use. Dining table butted lengthwise against sleeper/sofa will be used as play tent and an extension can be office space. A possibility for seating is special order 30 " beds which when used with pillows/bolsters can be used as seating.

@Apartment3F is right on. I would make the master into kid space: play space, his bedroom, including an area comfortable for you to hang out with him so it also feels a bit family room like. Then make the living room into a studio apartment for yourself that is grown up space. Scour the past small space contests on AT to get inspiration of how people put work, living, sleeping, eating quarters into a studio. When you need alone time, your son has his space and you have yours. When he is sleeping you have a door to close and don't need to feel like prisoner in your home - you can be in the kitchen, doing laundry without tip-toeing. And you can separate your work space somewhat from mom-space.

It is great that you like clean. modern, and uncluttered. Less fuss, more floor space, fewer pieces of furniture to purchase. I would put shelving along an entire wall of the MB/kid space and use it for household storage, and hang curtains the entire length to cover up the clutter. I've purchased a lot of king sized on-sale flat bed sheets from Lands End ($9) to make in expensive curtains. I second the idea of investing in a large table that can double as dining room at one end and workspace at the other.

I agree with everyone else who said to make the master bedroom his space. Since you're working from home, you need to establish a clutter-free and child-free office area to maintain your productivity. This is especially important if you need to see clients. You also need to give your child a space of his own because you're not going to be able to entertain him for 8 hours a day while you work and he needs stimulation.

I also echo Duane Hill's question. Did you factor your child's living needs prior to signing a lease? I know two bedroom apartments are very expensive in NY, but a one bedroom for two people who really do need separate rooms seems like a less than ideal situation, if you could have chosen any differently. Perhaps a one bedroom with a den instead of just a one bedroom.

I agree with the other comments. I live alone with my son...and have lived in several rentals. I wouldn't mix your office area in with his sleeping space...he should have the bedroom and your office space should be in the living room. You will need the ability work when he is sleeping -- naps & evenings. If you can manage it, your sleeping area should be there too. Though you might find it more comfortable to have a proper bed in his room. Good luck & hope you and your son have a wonderful new home :)

Good luck with you new space, Jane. I definitely think you should give your son the bedroom, as another poster said, and share the space re: storage. For the living area, I cannot see what the dimension of the living room is, but I would get a comfy pull out (lazy boy makes a v. good sleeper, combo air mattress). If you dont already have a table, I would look for one that is rectangular and that has leaves that pull out to make it bigger and place it near the kitchen area. If you have space outside your door, you might use that as your drop area for shoes, scooter, stroller, etc, putting shoes neatly in a basket or carton. And, look around for hidden storage space....spaces to put shelves, hooks, etc.

And, I dont really understand why some of the comments here are questioning why you chose to get a one bedroom apartment for you and your son. The cost of living here is astronomical...a one bedroom can easily go for $3500 a month. And, while many people live in large apartments, many families, at least here do not. They make the most of their space!

How high are your ceilings? If you could build a small sleeping loft for yourself, over the living room or even kitchen, depending on ceiling height, your son would have the bedroom while he is young. Share the bedroom closet, and use inexpensive ikea pieces for toy storage, etc. The living room becomes your work/live space. Good luck! I hope to see your place on small cool by next year!

I agree with Elisabeth33, you don't need a 2 bedroom! I agree that if you van relegate your son's things to the master, and then you will be able to each have your own space. Perhaps a loft bed in the living room for your self with either a sofa or a workspace underneath would save space, and I agree with the commentor that mentioned putting a chair or sofa in your son's room to make it family room esque. Have fun with it. I would love to live in NYC but with three small kids I have not yet found the bravery :)

I disagree with all of the above and suggest you put both beds in the bedroom. It will feel MUCH more like a 2 bedroom if you don't have a bed - regardless of what it looks like - in your living space. Plus, it will be "his room" for all but the 8 hours (ha!) you're sleeping in it at night. If you need separation, put up a curtain using a wire (found at IKEA) running the length of the room.

If toys do not fit in the bedroom (I can't read the dimensions in the image), carve out a small space for his stuff in the corner. Use IKEA Expedit with baskets for toys/books or get a credenza for his toys along with a bookshelf you can both share (your books/paperwork on top, his books on bottom).

Mom, I would just like to tell you that every idiot on here who's asking you whether you were thinking of your kid -- like you're not A MOTHER or something -- deserves a slap in the face. I'm sure you're doing your best in a tough situation, and good luck to you.

I agree with making the bedroom your son's, and also making that his play area/family room, etc. You could do something really interesting with the rest as a more adult studio, maybe with one of those loft beds that has a sofa beneath. If you don't have the ceiling height for that, I think a daybed would be great. (For times when you will want quicker access to your son - i.e., when he's not feeling well, etc. -- maybe a trundle bed in his room? You could rest in there with him when needed, be in your own space most of the time and not take up undue space in his room.)

@ALMONDJOY, who are you calling an idiot? A slap in the face? Seriously?

Reread my comment and you'll see it wasn't her son she wasn't thinking about, it was the apartment that she hadn't considered. Maybe if you got your anger under control you'd be able to comprehend an innocent comment better.

One word: IKEA

Duane, I read your comment as a little snarky too. For whatever reason, this is the apartment she has - she didn't ask us what we thought of her planning/parenting decisions. That said, I'm not going to slap you....

When our twins came along, we got rid of the coffee table and replaced it with an ottoman. With stain/crayon/vomit resistant fabric. Good luck!

Hi Jane,

As a son who had a similar share situation with his mother (albeit as a High Schooler), I'll throw in my two cents:

Make sure that if you choose to have a full or queen bed in the living room, you get some large pillows or a foam backer to make the bed feel like a day bed. My mother never did this and it always felt like there was just a giant bed in the living room. Economy foam on the Lower East Side can cut you big foam pieces and you can have the folks at Stanton Tailor Shop make you oversize pillow cases on the cheap. I would suggest placing the bed vertically against the top wall, so that your feet point towards the bedroom door.

As for "giving" your son the bedroom, I agree with posters who suggested that you carve out space of your own in the bedroom. In fact, I would think of it as his bedroom / your closet. Use the closet and put in a cheap storage unit or bookcases to hold various baskets and boxes with sundry items that you can hide from view. A two year old needs space, but I don't know that you need to sacrifice the entire bedroom for his use alone.

Lastly, regarding the office space-- I think you may need to make sacrifices. I'm not sure what kind of work you do, but you may want to look into a desk that folds away. I know that many years ago, we had a storage unit made by Knossos Furniture that had cabinet storage and a fold down desk with a cubby behind it so that you didn't have to always more your belongings. Something like that might fit well along the LR wall where the bedroom door is located.

Good luck!

@AlmondJoy - Last I checked (and this is not a reflection on the question asker at all) being a mother isn't actually the same thing as mothering. I was also considering Duane Hill's comment as a question about the apartment itself, not on the person. Rarely do people buy or rent a home without considering how they'll actually live in it - to me, Duane Hill's comment was simply asking the question asker, "what were your ideas?"

@ARKAY, I apologize if my question came off a snarky. I intended it to be a sincere question and I'll rephrase it: "does she have any ideas of how she wanted to live in the space to give us an idea of how she could approach that plan." Coming here with no indication of how she wanted to live is what struck me as "odd."

Deep breath, AT posters!

Regarding the question and not the comments...Make the bedroom his. Of course, you'd have to share the closet, but you'll thank yourself later when you have a place to hide toys for company and the like. I'm not sure if you can fit a true bed as well as living room furniture and still maintain awesome style. If you can manage it, go for it. Personally, I'd choose a MCM daybed. so it actually looks closer to a couch than a daybed. And you can use the area under it to store you linens when company comes.

We share a one bedroom with two kids in Brooklyn. We left the bedroom to the kids, and we sleep in the living room. We have a sofa bed, so it can be easily tucked away in the mornings and when we have company over. It's pretty comfortable and we have maximized our use of space.

Given that, I agree with everyone that's said to leave him the bedroom and you take over the LR. I'd put a sofa bed so you have more space. You can share closet space and put your dresser in his bedroom. Relegate him to the bedroom for playtime, since you work from home, but you can keep some quiet time toys/books in a basket in the LR for the times he can play quietly beside you while you work, if you're so inclined. I work from home on occasion, and this is what I do with the kids too.

If I misread, then I apologize. I do think anyone who'd make sweeping assumptions about a mom's parenting based on a decor question would deserve a step back. But if that's not what's going on, then obviously I wasn't speaking to you. I have gotten so aggravated by the constant poster-sniping on AP that I have inadvertently fallen into the trap of creating negativity myself.

I know lots of people who grew up in situations like this; usually, they got the bedroom and the mom slept and worked in the living room. It's probably not most people's ideal set-up, but it worked well for them and, in general, they have really good relationships with their moms!
In terms of child-proofing your personal stuff, I'd suggest keeping your tech and work materials as streamlined and out-of-the-way as possible; depending on your work needs, a laptop that can tuck away into a closed secretary or even a desk drawer with concealed cords and a printer on a high shelf can save you a lot of trouble with a curious two-year-old. Have a clearly defined space that's your work area, and make sure your son understands it's a no-fly zone; don't store any of his stuff in that area, so there's no reason for him to get into your things.
I agree with the posters who suggest giving him his own space--not just for his sake (especially as he gets older), but for yours as well, since you'll probably appreciate the chance to shut the door and have your own personal zone once in a while. Depending on how long you're planning to live in this apartment, remember that very soon, he'll want to hang out with friends, do homework, or just veg out in his own space--the more you can carve out even a little breathing room for one another, the happier I suspect everyone will be.
Good luck with it!

Interesting... I am only 25 with no kids so I have no perspective on this. I really like the comments, though... I have always wondered about parenting in a 1 br apt. My only comment is that the UWS is great for kids and good luck!

I actually did this about 5 years ago.

My daughter is my priority and inspiration. I wanted her to have her own space so she has the bedroom. I was trying to make this a positive experience for her and she came with me to IKEA to pick out dishes and basic needs (I was starting out again with nothing for furnishings).

I set myself up in the living room with a bed (originally I had planned for a sofebed/futon but decided to go with a double bed), a chest of drawers that currently doubles as a TV stand and a small sofa in the "dining" area of the suite.

Since then there have been some changes. The sofa is gone and will soon be replaced by a couple of chairs since it is really more of a living/office/studio space.

I have a lot of plans for the space. Specifically, adding more efficient storage in the closets, getting rid of the kitchen island in favour of a small dining table for the two of us, and doing some gardening on the balcony. Maybe someday it will be picture worthy.

All the best with your plans.

use the bedroom for your son. store some of your things in there, particularly the stuff you don't use often (i.e. sporting equipment, your winter clothes during the summer).

in the living room, place your bed against the wall on top (the north? whatever, furthest from the bedroom). put the long edge of the bed against the wall and partition it from the rest of the space with a curtain or screen. on the other side of that divider, place a sofa facing the opposite wall. use the center living room wall for the tv and all your storage needs (work stuff, books, and your clothes). IKEA is your friend. they're the best place to get cheap yet adaptable storage units. set up that wall unit to include your desk/work space as well.

in the little corner to the left of the stove (and that supporting wall) place a small square table with two chairs. one for you, one for the kiddo.

if you're not big on dividers and/or don't want anyone to think you sleep in the living room, then invest in a murphy bed and put it on the north wall. build in storage/tv around it, place your work space under the window, and use the opposite wall for seating.

I'd share the bedroom with the kid - a junior bed for him, a single for you, a dresser for his clothes, and your stuff in the closet. He's 2, and he's not going to want to hang out in his own room all alone for the next couple of years. (You can always rethink the layout when he's 5).

Split the living room into zones - play, work, eat, relax. Furniture-wise that means a desk, a sofa, and a dining table. Kids play on the floor so make sure there's room for that; skip the coffee table. Toys are going to end up all over the floor so go for a storage solution with lots of boxes so you can quickly scoop it all up at night. Oh, and use the walls as much as you can.

Wow! Who would have thought that a question about where to find kid-friendly furniture in NYC that won't break the bank would create such a lively debate. Since I live in Canada,I dont have any good local suggestions. IKEA and double-duty furnishings as other people have already mentioned seem spot on to me. Storage is key to keep the clutter at bay and your sanity. As for your sleeping arrangements, I would recommend that you both sleep on mattresses on the floor before you commit to bedroom furnishings. See what fits or suits you and you child first. Consider a murpht bed if you plan to sleep in the livingroom. Get to know the area and places to find not-so expensive furniture. See what you find on Craig's List. As someone from very modest beginnings and a mother of 2 who occasionally co-sleeps with one child, sharing a 1-bedroom apartment with a small child doesn't strike me as odd or a misplaced parenting decision. I think it's wonderful that you are able to work from home and be with your toddler. They do grow up so fast. A child doesn't need a wide expanse of space to be happy. Just a whole lot of love. Good luck.

I agree with everyone that said you give your son the bedroom and keep the living room for yourself. I would suggest a murphy bed instead of a day bed - more room and it can completely disappear when not in use.

Once upon a time, a long time ago... I was a single mom with a two year old son. I would go for playful and functional for the next year or two rather than an "adult" condo. Keep it simple. With very young children you end up hanging out on the floor level with them anyway so capitalize on that and skip conventional furniture for now. Put a colorful area rug in the living room in front of the window and buy at least three poufs - those big bean bag pillow types (try ultimate sack.com.) Make sure one is extra large four or five foot diameter with soft furry fleece covering that is big enough for both of you to snuggle, read, have sick days and for you to collapse on after he is in bed. The others can be smaller. For two to four year old children several poufs become an indoor jungle gym to roll on, climb over, and expend energy safely. Adult guests will like the novelty. For you they are light enough to scoot to one side of the room, leaving the center rug open for yoga or building towers with blocks. Lots of flexibility. In the top right corner of your floor plan place a round 36 inch diameter pedestal dining table/desk. Splurge on one (or two) very comfortable high backed office chair on castors to serve as both dining chair, your desk chair, and when wheeled around can mix in with the poufs as adult seating in the living room if needed. On the entire wall of the living room wall (with the bedroom door) place a mix of open shelves with bins for toys, media cabinet with doors that keep TV from little fingers, any storage needs you have for your work at home, enough storage to both avoid clutter and keep things out of reach of a toddler so you and your son can relax and enjoy your new space. This storage could be six feet high. Add some art, books, or plants that feed your soul.

In the bedroom you could begin very simply with the bed and crib you already have. One space saving bed arrangement might work and give both of you a little privacy, but would require a little DIY. Center your bed on the wall at the bottom of your floor plan. Or off center your bed a foot toward the window if space feels tight to give sufficient access to your closet. Place a "bunk bed" at the foot of your bed, lengthwise. Using the long side of the frame of the bunk bed create a solid divider between the beds by attaching some type of plywood or solid material to the frame of the bunk bed. You will be looking at the divider when in bed so either paint or wallpaper the divider. Or even create a photo collage on it. Why a bunk bed? Using the frame of the bunk bed will allow you to build a "wall" without doing anything structural to your rental condo. Additionally, it creates vertical space to use. Place your son's single mattress at floor level where he can get in and out on his own. Four feet off the floor use the "upper bunk" as a carpeted play platform without a mattress, creating additional play space while climbing will develop coordination and balance since you do not have a yard to play in. The ladder should be built into the end of the bunk frame, skip the type of ladder that sticks out and trips you. At the other end of the bunk hang those shoe storage type pockets and let your son place small stuffed animals or toys in them. If you need more closet or dresser storage, place on either side of your bed at the head of the bed along the wall. That type of storage would create an alcove feeling to nestle your pillows in, with art on the wall above your bed. On the door wall, which is now opposite your son's bed, you might still have room for more shelves (the exact room dimensions were hard to read) or place a chalk board at your son's height and let him draw. Or a few hooks with dress up clothes for imaginative play. Or even lots of hooks for clothes, purses, an artful arrangement of functional stuff.

No doubt you will love your new home, and it will love you right back.

We're poor and I grew up never having my own bedroom. My parents chose expensive location over my privacy. I found sliding-scale counseling, and have been going once weekly.

Hi, we live in a 700sqft one bedroom apartment in Manhattan and when our son was 6 months we had a wall put up divinding the living/dining room. This is the thing, our livingroom has 3 5ft wide windows, so we took one for his bedroom with a perpendicular wall. His room is now 5' x 15' and our living/dinning room is 10'x15'.
It works perfectly well for the 3 of us, he has enough room to play and hang out.

You could do that in your space, no worries about the ac and heat unit, our place has a similar situation. I could send pictures of the end result.

Hi Jane,

I like the lay-out of your apartment. It has fit the kitchen and the laundry area there without sacrificing too much space.

I think sharing this apartment with your 2 y/o son won't really be a total stress. You just need the most efficient lay-out of furnishings that would, of course, depend on how you like things go around your house.

If you really want to keep the bedroom tidy and free of clutter, I suggest you place your office table and other stuffs in an alloted corner in the living room. That way, you won't feel any stress when you enter the bedroom. Another thing is, even if you are busy at work or doing home management stuffs, you will still be able to watch your son closely.

If you are in need of new modern but child-friendly furniture for this apartment, you can take a look at our site - http://www.instylemodern.com/. The site contains almost everything you need in a modern house. This will save time for you as well in going to and from malls and you can even do this between work or home management tasks.

sleeping in the kitchen is illegal in nyc, loft or no loft, but the main room is separated enough that sleeping in the main room is ok. sharing the b/r works until kid is old enough for school, then housing guidelines require delineated space, each w/ window & of min size, b/c you are not same gender, or start separately to create stability. a murphy bed gets screwed into the floor, may not work for rental, but a platform where a bed slides from underneath (like a trundle w/a play or work area on top) might. the adages of neutral colours, tough fabrics, multi-function pieces & taking advantage of vertical space apply here. cruise the small. cool contest in a/t for ideas (keep in mind that not all the a/t spaces are to code). consider shelf units as dividers, hanging bike(s) as art, grouping uses together,

Oh my GOD, I love this comment!!!! I came here looking for a solution to a similar situation and ended up finding this gem. Bravo, Sir/Madame, BRAVO!!!

I once lived next to a family of four from Japan (mom, dad, 2 pre-teen daughters) who were living in NYC while Dad was on assignment for a couple of years. Their apartment, a studio, was approx 375 square feet. They didn't appear to feel put upon. Dad was out of the house for long hours at work (I hear this is common with successful Japanese execs) and daughters were lively and fun-loving and immaculately groomed. I am sure Jane and her 2-year-old will do just fine.
That said, I would encourage Jane to consider the importance of lighting -- differentiating between "task-time" lighting and "relax-time" lighting helps to zone your day when you are living and working in the same place. This need not be pricey.