Aren’t those awesome! If you are more of the handier type like my friend Shari, then you really must check out the fantastic job she did on her daughter’s closet. I love it and not a wasted space…she even remembered to make space for the laundry hamper! In fact I could frame her after picture because this is my idea of art people!! Now if only I were that talented…
Often in tight nursery spaces a practical solution is to forgo the standard change table and convert the top of the dresser to a change table. This is a great idea if you don’t have space for both a dresser and a change table. I have a standard change table with the open shelving that I don’t love but it was secondhand and cheap so I don’t complain. Here is a picture of it…keep in mind I was still pregnant when I took this picture which is why the baskets are empty but were intended for diapers, wipes, cream, socks, etc..
The problem with this type of change table is once the baby can pull up to standing, the new fun game becomes pulling everything out all over the floor and see how many times mommy will pick it up before she becomes a raving lunatic….it’s cute the first time and after that not so much. There are also many change tables out there with drawers and doors….fabulous!
See that shelf above my change table. This ended up becoming the lotion/cream shelf and this solution worked better for us. The diapers I still keep on the middle shelf but thankfully he has now finally lost interest with throwing them all over the room. The bottom shelf is now designated toy space. The toys you see hanging from the shelf hooks are pull toys that when pulled played music and became the perfect way to distract baby from the annoying sweet baby changing wrestle mania that goes on once they figure out the whole wiggling, squirming, flipping, “there is no way I’m staying here to be changed” dance. Oh yes all you moms out there know what I am talking about 🙂
The other most useful storage area, if your closet isn’t very big, is to utilize the under the crib area for storage. You can use this area for just about anything…clothes, toys, books, blankets and sheets, etc. There are all sorts of under the bed storage totes available in all sort of price ranges. Here is one on the more pricey side from Babyuniverse but I include it because it is so cute and to give you an idea of what is out there.
Baby’s tend to get so many stuffed animals when they are born. So until you know which one is going to become your child’s favorite or for decoration a toy hammock hung up on the wall is a great solution to keep them up and out of the way:
The other thing that is a must have is some place to store toys. I mentioned the under crib storage idea above already but if you have the room use a toybox or even mount a small bookcase on the wall off the floor and utilize baskets on it for storage.
I just love this soft sided toybox by Sassy.
or this idea from Target. Love it, love it, love it…colorful, fun and tidy!
Boxes and baskets are great decorative solutions to solve many storage dilemmas.
The last thing I want to touch on for storage is the baby’s room door…this area is an ideal storage space not to be wasted. I use 3M Command Adhesive hooks on the back of mine to hang up my son’s towels but you can also find many over the door storage centres out there to make use of this space.
Sweet dreams little one…..
Visit Rocks in My Dryer for more hot tips and tricks on just about anything!
Nikki says
Great, great post! I love all the ideas. I too have that same changing table. We finally moved it out into the hall. Now the kids don’t stop to play with it like they did in their rooms. I’m feeling all “nesty” now for this upcoming baby and always looking for ways to improve our organization. As always, I love your site!
Tammy L says
Very cute! I love your ideas. 🙂 My changing table is a dresser top. Works great for us! 🙂 And I solved the stuffed animal problem by not having more than a couple. 😀
Jessica says
Toy hammocks are great – we actually turned a loosely-crocheted blanket into one – it was a great use for one of the many, many blankets we were given. Now we always get to see it and enjoy it!
peace of Christ to you,
Jessica
Joyful Days says
We’re past the baby stage here(even though I did lullabys for my WFMW this week)–but great tips. Will share with some newly preggers friends.
Overwhelmed! says
Wow! I love these tips. I’ll keep them in mind as we prepare to adopt a second time. 🙂
Terrific Teens says
Great post I used the “closet cubby plus” when my kids were little for shirts pants etc. as they got older and were in school I put each days clothes and shoes on a shelf from Monday down to Friday and even put things to take to school on that days shelf. Like show and tell on Fridays. As a preteen my daughter used hers for purses and accessories. I love your organizing idea’s. Anything to make life easier. I’d ask you to come organize my garage but I think its beyond help 🙂 LOL
Trista says
These are some great tips (as always) however, I hope to never have another nursery!!!
An Ordinary Mom says
We live in a small apartment and my kids share a room. We utilize the space under the crib and under the bunk bed. We even utilize the space on the top bunk since we don’t need it yet. We store extra blankets and pillows up there and even some other things.
I will definitely have to look into getting a toy stuffed animal hammock.
MC Milker says
Great ideas- I’ve been looking for a toy hammock. We bought a convertable changng table/dresser for my DS when he was born. When he transitioned out of diapers, we just flipped the changing part up and now it is a great dresser.
Sharon says
The timing of this post couldn’t be more perfect! Lately I’ve been working on organziging the 2nd bedroom in our home. My oldest is about to turn 3, and I am due w/ his brother around the same time. Changing it from one person’s room to a shared room is harder than I expected! I love your ideas.
will you come help me? 🙂
Terrific teens-I love your idea about using the closet cubby’s for each day’s clothes when they’re older.
Judi says
great ideas. I have also seen great storage for toys etc. at IKEA’s web site. They are inexpensive. They have some units that fit into a corner which I could desparately use!
Kim says
Some great ideas, Laura! When we built our house we had 2 daughters…now we will have 5 after the adoption…I’ve had to get more organzied…still working on that! Thankfully we built a small craft room off of our master bedroom that has been a great nursery! It is the perfect size for a baby bed, a changing chest…it has a window and built in shelves on one wall. This is where Lydia will be and Jack Henry will move to a big boy bedroom soon. We will be doing some work in the house to make it more organized for a new baby….I’ll have tp post on the progress when we get started with it all.
Kim
Kerri says
Great ideas! Hubby made some shelves for the kids sort of like the Target one you show. Except he made the little cubbies the right size for a 97-cent plastic dishpan. They have worked great!
Jill says
I can totally vouch for the under the bed wicker basket. I use it to store crib sheets and other crib-related paraphernalia… And I will probably convert it to big boy bedding storage when that day comes. Added bonus: no need to keep it all nicely folded since it’s not out in the open.
The Austell Family says
Love the ideas. I use a lot of them. I use the dresser top for my changing table but now my daughter opens the lower drawer & pulls out her clothes, silly girl.
Jenny says
Great post Laura. I love the wicker under the bed tote…very nice!
Gavin has a small room and we are going to have fun trying to make it have enough room for him as he grows. Oh the joys!!
Have a great day!
Tammy says
I’ve heard so much about you, but may be visiting for the first time…:)
Anyway, I may be giving this link to my sister in law, who is also expecting her first in July. PLUS…they just adopted a toddler and brought her home this week (started the process before they knew they could get pregnant!) and their house is very small.
I’ll be checking back here, too, because I’m in desperate need of an complete organizing make-over!
Blessings!
Air Force Family says
Awesome post! I love all of these ideas. Hopefully, I’ll be putting these great tips into practice once Olyvia, Steve and I get settled in our home in CA.
Welcome...I'm Sharijoy says
Thanks for the Plug Laura…I JUST LOVE DOING CLOSETS…. I don’t think theres a closet in the house that I won’t get to. I had a toy hammock in Kalis old room …..I found that I don’t care for them… they don’t hold very well and I just didn’t like the look after I put it up. But if it works for others GREAT!! I wanted to get the basket under the crib too but our crib doesn’t have the clearance for it. I like you have a system in her closet…..I have all her current clothes and all her to grow in close, towels, blankets, shoes, hats, even a space for when she needs a jewelry drawer, extra, diapers, lotion, you name it it fits!!! but thats cuz I sat down and figured out everything I wanted it to hold and I mean EVERYTHING and then worked my closet around my wants!! I’ll be starting on Parkers soon! Have to paint first!!
Barb says
The closet cubby is a huge help in a small nursery, isn’t it? So much wasted space inside a closet if you don’t do something like that.
This is a great post. I think I personally know of at least twenty people out here expecting new babies – I wish every single one of the moms could see this very helpful advice.
And you’re totally right about a place to store toys. He’s not even two years old yet and Cameron’s toys are taking over his parents’ house.
Jia says
Just wanted to say how much I simply love your blog! I’m a previous professional organizer myself, so seeing all these things is like reliving an addiction LOL!
http://newlywife.herhangout.com/
Quietromance says
I loved this post, it was so helpful!! Especially because I have a little one on the way and was beginning to grow concerned how we would fit all of baby’s things into 1 small room.
Thanks for the tips!!
Haley
http://www.quietromance.blogspot.com
Kara says
Great ideas! I got that first blue closet organizer that’s normally $20 at a thrift store for only $2, like new, just last week! Right now it’s in my closet but I don’t really like how it looks in there so I might put it in my boys’ closet. Thanks for the baby-wise site, very cool!
Christina says
These are great ideas. My kids are 6, 4, and 6 months. When I set up their rooms as babies, I tried to have an eye towards the future and how they might use their rooms as they grew older. The company I work for has some really helpful suggestions on how to organize kids’ rooms. Check out their free tips at http://www.organizingmyhome.com.
Justice Fergie says
Love the ideas. Especially the charming under-the-bed basket. And just when Oldest lost interest in throwing the diapers from the changing station all over the room, Youngest is now starting to pull up on everything. So I will be a raving lunatic for an indefinite period of time 🙂
Thanks!
sara - The Estrogen Files says
Great idea! Glad I wasn’t the only one to use a changing table like that (‘cept mine was from the 70’s and blinding yellow) and the things above the head to keep entertained. Good tip!
Q&Q says
Fabulous post Laura. I have almost all of those things. I have the Target toy organizer. I store things under the crib. Another thing is if space is really small we have a changing table from Badger Basket. It’s actually the same style changing table that has been used in my family for over 20 years. It’s very low cost and is folds in half as to make it a small square when not in use. Of course I’m not describing this well….
Anyway I’m waiting to get the closet organizer (also at Babycenter.com) when we move. And the dresser we use was picked up 2nd hand and painted to match the decor. It is long as opposed to wide and fits perfectly on the end of the crib.
Great organizing post as usual.
Q&Q
jod says
I love your ideas.
http://besthousejo.blogspot.com/
Baby Changing Station says
You have done a good job to write this blog about organizing a nursery for baby. These are great ideas and it is really awesome post.