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By Lucy Notarantonio
Senior Reporter
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A savvy couple has transformed part of their living room into a nursery ahead of their firstborn.
Yulia, 35, and her husband, Nick, 38, who live in Manhattan, New York City, shared their makeshift nursery on Instagram (@nyc.yulia), racking up more than 5.7 million views.
Yulia told Newsweek: "We needed space for a baby but did not want to move because we love our one-bedroom apartment and its location. So, we decided to sacrifice some living space to build an extra room, and we love how it turned out."
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The couple will have less space but will save money. As of February 2025, the average rent in New York City is $3,887 per month, which is 150 percent higher than the national average of $1,556, according to Apartments.com.
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Yulia told Newsweek that the 10-by-8-foot nursery, equipped with a cot, rocking chair, and storage, cost a few grand to build. In the long run, this setup is more cost-effective than purchasing a larger property with an extra bedroom.
The previously mentioned online rental marketplace states that a one-bedroom apartment (597 square feet) costs $3,887 per month, while a two-bedroom (793 square feet) costs $5,279 per month, making New York City one of the most expensive rental markets in the U.S.
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"The most NYC thing. I divided my bedroom when I lived in Brooklyn," posted one user, and Yulia agreed: "Only New Yorkers understand the space constraints."
"A true NYC baby! We did the same with our first," commented another parent, and a third commenter wrote: "This is actually such a cute and creative idea. Now that we're on baby number three, we made him a nursery corner in our room while we wait to move into a bigger house next year."
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Other comments imply the baby won't even use the room.
One user posted, "All this, and they're gonna be sleeping in your bed for a year," to which Yulia responded: "My bed?! That's not safe."
Research commissioned by Newsweek in November found that Generation Z (born 1997 to 2006) and millennials (born 1981 to 1996) are relatively open to co-sleeping, with a combined 60 percent saying it's acceptable up until ages 3 to 5.
Dr. Natalie Barnett, the head of sleep research at Nanit—a baby monitor tracking brand—previously told Newsweek that co-sleeping is a personal choice.
"That said, for very young children, the evidence is clear," Barnett said. "The risk of SIDS [sudden infant death syndrome] is significantly increased in families who bed-share, and I always encourage families to have their infants sleep on a separate, clear sleeping surface."
If you have a family dilemma, let us know via life@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
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