
Babies may be little, but they sure do seem to require a lot of stuff! If you’re living in a small space, or only have a small space to create a nursery, it can seem overwhelming to deal with all the diapers, wipes, toys, blankets, tiny clothes, and more. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to keep even the tiniest nursery organized. Read on for 10 nursery room storage hacks for limited space.
Choose multi-function furniture. By far, the things that take up the most room in the nursery are the crib and changing table. You can help maximize your storage space by choosing furniture that does more than one thing. A crib with a built-in changing table at the end helps eliminate the need for a separate changing station. A dresser with a changing pad or built-in changing surface is another way to combine multiple functions into one piece of furniture.
Choose furniture with built-in storage. Modern nursery furniture often comes with built-in storage. A changing table with shelves or drawers beneath it gives you a place to stash changing supplies. Cribs with drawers or baskets built in the bottom also help you make use of under-crib space that might otherwise be wasted.
Take off those closet doors. If your nursery has a closet, try taking the doors off. This opens up the closet and allows you to use the space to do more than store hanging items. Move your dresser into the closet, or use stacking baskets or a bookshelf with baskets in that closet for storage. Since baby clothes don’t hang particularly long, you’ll have plenty of space even when you fill-up the clothes rod.
Double up the closet rods. Speaking of the closet rod, another way to maximize your nursery storage is to add a second closet rod. Since baby clothes don’t hang nearly as long as adult clothes, you have clearance between items on the top rod and the bottom rod.
Use your wall space. Wall space is often wasted space. Hang up a pegboard for storage. Or choose floating shelves that can hold everything from pictures and mementos to changing supplies. Wall-mounted wire baskets and other solutions can also maximize your space.
Put it in a pocket. The humble back-of-the-door shoe organizer can be your nursery’s best friend. Whether you actually hang it on the back (or front) of a door or mount it on the wall, these organizers with their many pockets can hold diapers, burp clothes, changing supplies like powder, soft toys, and more. Even better, they help you take advantage of otherwise wasted or unused space.
Make it portable. Rolling carts and easily portable caddies that can be stashed out of sight when not in use are a great option for making the most of a small space. Like items are kept together and ready at hand, but don’t have to take up valuable space when they’re not in use. Create a changing cart, a breastfeeding station basket, or a bathtime caddy that you can stash when you don’t need it.
Think vertical. Don’t neglect vertical space. Toy hammocks allow you to store stuffed toys up high and double as decor. Hanging organizers — such as hanging cubes or hanging sweater organizers — can be used in closets or out in the open. Extra bonus? They can be used to take advantage of corner spaces, which often become dead zones. Adding baskets or fabric cubes can keep these types of organizers neat and streamlined.
Make your decor functional. Limiting items that are simply for decor and instead choosing items that are beautiful and functional can really help you hack a small space. Choose baskets, totes, and cubes that are visually pleasing and allow for storage. An ottoman with a lid that opens to reveal space inside, a coordinated set of rope baskets that can hold extra blankets and sheets, or a set of fabric cubes in place of a dresser are all attractive and functional options.
Think like a minimalist. Less is more — even when it comes to the seemingly endless things babies need. Declutter regularly. As your baby outgrows clothes, remove them from the nursery. Donate them if possible. If you are keeping items for a future child, decide which ones you will keep and then store them someplace besides the nursery! The same goes for items of clothing that your little one hasn’t grown into yet; store them in another room or in the harder-to-access areas of the nursery. Save the prime real estate for items that are currently in use. As tempting as it to keep every little item that sparks a memory, be judicious about what you keep,and be selective about what you bring in. If you don’t have it, you don’t have to store it!
Freya Shaw says
Very valuable info. Thank you for sharing this blog about storage space.