We have every intention of getting a house, but not for about 5 years- we are paying off ALL of our debt so we can save up for a hellacious down payment on a house

Anyways, I know we will be in an apartment for a while. My stepdaughter is 9 right now, we only have a 1 bedroom but in Jan. we will have $630 more a month by paying off 3 things. We are planning on moving into a 2 bedroom so that Caitlyn can have her own room because she's getting older and needs her privacy. Well that leaves me with this-- she stays with us 1-2 times a month, a 2 bdrm is $250 more a month so there is no way we could afford a 3 bdrm AND save money.

Has anyone combined a bdrm and a nursery? Like half is the nursery and half is the bedroom? Any pictures?

I'm just thinking ahead, we arent TTC or anything but I definately dont want to wait 5 years to have a baby so chances are we'd still be in an apartment when we had a baby so Caitlyn and the baby might have to share a room for a year or 2.

Has anyone done this or can anyone find inspiration pics?

Depending on how long you'll be in the two-bedroom apartment, you may want to consider having the baby in your bedroom with you. We currently live in a three-bedroom apartment and will likely be in it for the first six months of the baby's life if we conceive anytime soon. Despite having two open bedrooms, the current plan is to have the baby in our room to make night feedings, etc., a lot easier. Maybe that's an option for you guys as well? I'm sure the moms could give better feedback than the girl who's only in the TTC phase ;).

I'm not even TTC just curious :) lol I'm a planner and always think WAY ahead

By the time I "plan" on having a baby, she will be about 11-13, when I figure that she'll be busy with friends on weekends so our visits might not be so regular BUT she'll also be a teenage and I know its VITAL that she have her own space. It's just hard to justify spending $250 extra month for a room that will hardly EVER be used, and possibly an extra $350-$500 extra for a 3 bedroom- which is $350-$500 we could be saving for a down payment, there is no way I will pay $1000 for an apartment- that is a NICE mortgage payment around here. We live in a NICE neighborhood now, 1 bdrm and its $455 and 2 bedroom is $695 which is o-k but its hard to 'waste' $1000 a month for an apartment- I just feel like we would be throwing our money away, kwim? :)

OMGosh... Smores... I WISH our rent payment for our ONE bedroom apartment was under $1000... lol. Ours is $1214 for 710 sqft one bedroom apt... ughhhhhh, the joys of living near DC/Baltimore. We have also thought about switching to a 2 bedroom, just for the extra space not cause of TTC but we plan to buy within the next year so we are just toughing it out in our little apt.

I can see your concern though about the two rooms and the desire to plan ahead cause I am the same way. I am not sure what you should do. I also cannot justify paying for a room that will hardly ever be used but at the same time you want her to feel comfortable in your home and want her to want to spend time there... if she is smushed in with a baby, she may not like that... Ugh what a toughy.

Do what works best for you... I know you would want that "dream" nursery, but it may not happen.  When I was 15 my dad had remarried and my stepmom was pregnant.  We were living in a 2-bdrm apt.  Me and my 13-yo brother shared a room with the office (we were there on weekends usually).  When my little bro was born, he stayed in a crib in my parent's room.  Shortly there after we moved to a 3-bdrm house and I shared the room with my baby bro.  The room was never painted or really made into a "nursery" but I didn't have my stuff all over the room too (I still had a room at my mom's house).  It never bothered me... and my little bro doesn't know any different because he was soooo little.  Don't let this stress you.  Roll with the punches and see what happens when you get prego... Things can always change. 

Im sure you will think of something to split the room once the time comes!  And it will totally work!  Most all siblings have to share rooms anyway and being thats shes a girl she may even like it.  I have seen cute 'shared' rooms!  You barely use the nursery anyway lol so the weekends shes there just give her her space more.  But it will all work out, plus you'll feel more like a family.  Even just moving to a 2 bedroom will be a relief for you guys! 

I have seen 'matching' themes that siblings use if your trying to think of that.  Surfer/hawaiian, cowboy, animals, camo baby blue w/ camo baby pink, etc.  We'll work on that when the time comes ;)

~ HMM :)