Kids Bedroom Furniture/storage Tips for Smallish Spaces. What Works for You?

I love walking through IKEA just to see how they have "rooms" set up. You don't need to buy their furniture but can get an idea of how to organize a small room. I really like the beds with drawers built in though they are too high up for a toddler. I would suggest a toddler bed for now, your second child will be able to use it as well in the future. I have a metal toddler bed (Cosco I think)with a half rail on it. It is the perfect size for kids 2-4 years old, not too high off the floor, but high enough to fit storage boxes/baskets underneath.
Small spaces look bigger with small furniture. My daughter's room is 9'x9' but with just a toddler bed, two book/toy shelves, and a clothing shelf the room still has a lot of play space.

I do not like to spend money on furniture so I am probably not the best to answer. But if you are looking to do a big investment then think flexibility. You want to buy furniture that the child will still like in 10-15 years. Most beds can be awkward for a toddler to get into so consider waiting on the bed purchase and just starting out with a box spring and mattress on the floor. Once they are old enough you can then switch to a bed with storage underneath or a loft bed with a desk area underneath. My son's room is very small so we have the mattress on the floor and a long low dresser that can store his fish tank and frog tanks on top and still have him be able to reach to feed them (he is 5 now) by using a low stool. Make sure the drawers are easy for a smaller child to open once they start learning to dress themselves. We have a tall bookcase that is fastened to the wall for safety. I put the age appropriate books in plastic bins on the bottom 2 shelves and the books for when he is older on higher shelves. It also acts as a place for him to display his treasures. He has a small Ikea toy box for dress up outfits/costumes. And I find that a big laundry basket works best for storing his stuffed animals. That way he can move them to other rooms if he wants.

Since you likely still have one in diapers, I would get a dresser that can double as a changing table. One that is about 30 inches high and at least 36 inches wide, 18 inches deep . . . Take a look on Craigslist and maybe you can even find one that you can paint to match your decor. Can't really go wrong with all white.

Good luck!

we bought captain beds for both of our girls...they have drawers underneath for toys, sheets etc...we found one on craigslist and the other one at fleet farm...we did not spend a lot of money knowing as they get older their tastes may change...after we bought the bed, my 3 year old now sleeps in my older girls room on the floor on her mattress...if I would have know this was going to happen, i would have bought a daybed with a trundle bed underneath...think of this option since you will have two girls who may want to sleep in the same room some day and i also think it would be nice for when friends sleep over.