There are many reasons parents might opt to use a floor bed for their child: following Montessori principles of independence-building, fear of a young child rolling out of a tall bed, saving money on a bed or easy access for a special needs child. If you’re considering going this route, here are fifteen children’s floor beds to check out for inspiration and encouragement.

Just as your local library displays book covers on tables and sprinkled throughout shelves, parents have adopted this display method to entice their young children to pick up a book and, when they do, to make it easier for them to find specific books visually. Here are seven different ideas for creating such a display in your home:Start with SPICE RACKS: Don’t you love it when the simplest solution is also the cheapest?

The space above a refrigerator is often overlooked and underused. It’s not particularly accessible for oft-used items, but it’s a shame to have the space go to waste, especially in a small kitchen. I looked at a selection of real homes to see how people were using this space. Some of these examples involve clever built-ins, but many will work for renters, too. Simple shelves were installed on the wall above the fridge to hold a few cookbooks and some barware.

Twelve years after our very first Small Cool contest and readers are still impressing us with sumptuous style, creative solutions and sage wisdom for living life to the fullest in a small home. Every year we are wowed with the display of small coolness and we are excited to host all this small space inspiration. Thank you to everyone who participated in the contest by sharing your home with our community, by commenting and voting for your favorites. And now, to congratulate our winners!

Name: Santiago (newborn) Location: Miami, Florida Making room for baby was a bit of a challenge in our 1,000 sq. ft apartment. We not only wanted to welcome our new baby with a cozy nursery, but we also had to incorporate a fully functional working home office for my husband, Carlos Pacheco, CEO of CapturePod. We wanted to create a space with a clean modern vibe with a little edge that Santiago could grow into.

“Kids! It’s time to fold the toys!” Every parent should be conscious of what you’re bringing into your home for your kids to play with, but if you live in a small home the size of a toy can be a deal breaker. Mostly, I limit the sheer number of toys we have but another strategy I employ is to look for toys that store easily. Does it fold up to a smaller size? Can I tuck it in the closet or on top of our wardrobe? Suddenly a tricycle in a small apartment seems feasible.

Name & Age: Zadie, 4 months old Location: West Virginia Zadie’s mom, Beth, channeled Tim Gunn while creating her daughter’s bedroom: I see the space as a mix of modern and “make it work” because we really just had to use the resources available to us here in West Virginia with our limited budget.

Name: “the newborn baby sister” (that’s what her brothers call her)Age: Coming this week!Location: Oklahoma If you told us this nursery was put together by an interior designer (it wasn’t) we’d be impressed. If you told us this nursery was put together by a mother with three young boys underfoot (it was) we’d be really impressed. If you told us this nursery was put together by a pregnant mother of three boys expecting her first daughter any day now (it was!

Name: Norah Age: 4 monthsLocation: Utah Norah’s mom Caroline says she smiles every time she walks by this room and we can certainly see why. The aquas, yellows, reds, oranges and pinks manage to be both vivid and soothing at the same time to create a feeling of warmth and calm.

A friend and apartment dweller recently asked us for small play kitchen suggestions for her daughter’s Christmas present. We tried talking her into some DIY ideas, but she is more the DI-Buy type. If you’re in the same boat, here you go – fifteen small play kitchens (under 31″ H) so your kids can play “dorm room” and “flop house” too. My Portable Cooker by Wonderworld ($55.

Name: “Bebe Pelanne”Location: Manhattan, NY When we found out we were pregnant the search for a larger one bedroom or upgrade to a two bedroom began. However, if anyone has opened up the NY real estate section lately you will find the rent prices have soared. We decided to stay in our one bedroom, and divide the room. The actual space is 6′ x10.5′, which was surprisingly enough space for a nice nursery.

Some people have a true eye for colors and an instinct for combining them. And some people need a little help. Inspiration can come from anywhere, sometimes unexpected places…like children’s books. Is there a book whose illustrations you love? Try breaking down the colors and perhaps unlocking a new, unexpected color palette for a room in your home. I used Sherwin-Williams Chip It! tool to create these color palettes.

All a little reader really needs is a book, but a soft place to curl up, a light and maybe even a bit of privacy doesn’t hurt. I love the trend of repurposing kids closets as reading nooks. You can keep the door to make a secret reading hideaway or take the doors off to make small rooms seem bigger. Here are ten examples to inspire you: TOP ROW: 1. Miss G’s Closet Book Nook by Mama.Papa.Buba 2. Closet Nook for a Brother & Sister by Life with Daugs 3.

Recently I came across the image above of small bunk beds in the shared bedroom of 4-year-old twins and realized I’d never seen mini bunks like this. They are the same size as a toddler bed (i.e. the size of a crib mattress) and offer a stop-gap solution for parents looking to eke out another year or two in their current space. First, a word about safety: Although these beds are sized for toddlers—i.e.