For the first two years of her life, my daughter played wherever we were, which meant the living room slowly became her unofficial headquarters. Her toys lived under the couch. Her books spilled off the coffee table. Her little table and chairs sat next to the sofa, where she hosted tea parties for Bluey and Bingo. It wasn’t intentional—it just happened. Like many parents, we adapted. And honestly, it worked.

Takeaways New Hide ▲

Murphy bed frees

floor space daily for

more play and movement

Wall-mounted storage clears

floor for open play

and easier organization

Creative corners with

tables, chalkboards, play

kitchen spark imagination

Dedicated room encourages

independence while keeping

family connection strong

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But recently, we looked around and realized something: she’s not a baby anymore. She’s two and a half—turning three later this year—and she’s ready for more. Her imagination is blooming, her independence is growing, and she deserves a space that reflects that.

She technically already has her own room, but right now? She just sleeps there and gets dressed in the morning. The rest of her world lives in our shared space. And our living room? As much as we love spending time together as a family, it’s not built for block towers and toy explosions.

We’re not “go play in your room” parents, either. We love having her close—whether we’re dancing in the living room, watching a movie, or cooking together. But we also realized that giving her a space of her own doesn’t mean we’re pushing her away. It means we’re making room for her to grow.

3 Big Changes I’m Making

1. Swapping Her Crib for a Murphy Bed

Since she’s turning three soon, it’s time to retire the crib. But instead of going the toddler bed route, I’ve decided to install a murphy bed. It’s the perfect solution—she still gets a cozy, full-sized place to sleep at night, but in the morning? The bed folds up and frees the floor so we can play, move, and spread out without stepping over furniture.

2. Maximizing Wall Space for Smarter Storage

Her toys used to be tucked into baskets and bins that lined the floor, but I’m done giving up square footage. Now I’m looking for storage solutions that go up—bookshelves, vertical bins, and floating storage that keeps the essentials in reach without sacrificing the open space she needs to move and explore.

3. Creating a Corner for Imagination to Run Free

I want one part of her room to feel like a little world all her own. Her play kitchen, a tiny table for tea parties, and maybe even a chalkboard for doodling and writing her name. This won’t just be her bedroom—it’ll be a place where she creates, pretends, and plays freely.

We’ll still spend plenty of time together in the living room—dancing to the same five Disney songs, watching movies on Friday nights, and winding down as a family. But when she wants to throw a formal tea party or quietly flip through a book, she’ll have a space that’s designed just for her.

And honestly? That feels like the best gift I could give her right now.