Sonrisa's Profile

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.