Your nursery can be a busy place. You may have to spend some extra time rocking your baby to sleep there. You may pop in and out for quick diaper changes, or you could enjoy quite a bit of time on the floor with a little one learning to move and crawl.
When you’re in your nursery, you want to make sure frequently used items are within reach. And if your nursery is a little crowded, you may need to get creative with storage solutions. Whether you’re still putting together your nursery or already have one, here are six organization hacks that can help.
Maximize Under Crib Space
If you have a drawer under your crib, use it. Some moms neatly store extra diapers in these drawers so they can ditch the bulky boxes after they bring them home from the store. You can also find storage bins that fit under the crib if you have space but no drawer down below. If you use a bin and have things in it you need to access regularly, make sure the container slides in and out easily.
Door Storage
The back of a door is a great hideaway for quick grab items. Whether it’s a wire, plastic or other hanging system, it can be a place to stash extra diaper cream, lotions, shampoo, cloths and wipes. Some systems with deeper pockets can even house small blankets, clothes, shoes, and more.
Once you create a system just make sure you are aware of the extra weight it places on the door and adjust how hard you push or pull the handle when opening and closing the door. If you pull the handle hastily some items may fall on the floor if the storage system is packed full.
Use a Utility Cart
You can find some smaller utility carts as narrow as nine inches in depth but plenty more that are 18 or 24 inches wide and deep. The great thing about utility carts, obviously, is the mobility they bring. You can either leave them next to your changing station full-time and keep wipes, diapers and diaper cream on the top tray, or you can keep the cart off to the side and create a routine of pulling it over to the changing station when needed.
Some families just love the look of carts, too. They decorate them, paint them, and show them off. If that’s not your style, you have the freedom to wheel your cart into a closet, if you’d like. As a general rule, use the top tray for items you’ll need to grab frequently, and you can store back-up items, towels and blankets in the bottom trays. And as your little one begins to crawl, for safety, keep things on the lower trays that won’t harm them.
Use the Wall Behind Your Changing Station
It’s pretty common to leave the wall space behind a changing station free of anything within a baby’s reach. That’s understandable because as your baby grows and becomes more mobile, you don’t want them reaching for something dangerous. But if the wall is completely empty and you can set up a hanging rack for diapers, cream and wipes in a safe spot, do it. The move will keep all necessary items within reach. You can even install slatwall with bins and trays. That way you can adjust the height and location of the storage unit over time.
Get the Most out of Your Closet
If you are setting up your nursery for the first time, you’ll want to see how much space you have in your closet. Measure areas between top shelves and the ceiling. Obviously, these hard-to-reach spots will be for seasonal or rarely used things. If it’s a larger closet, a cubby system may work well. You can also take advantage of small outfit sizes by installing double-hanging closet rods. Or if you like a single rod, install shelves above and below the rod.
Buy Furniture With Storage
When shopping for a nursery’s primary furniture pieces like cribs and changing stations, it’s easy to only focus on their size. If you’re tight on space, you may even prioritize making sure they fit into one specific area, too.
But some pieces are designed with storage, and even if they’re a little larger, it may be worth doing some re-configuring in the room to accommodate them. Storage-friendly furniture can save you a lot of space and add convenience. In addition, other pieces of furniture like benches with storage under them, cube systems with flexible ways to set them up, and even simple cribs with room underneath could be just what you need.
As you lay out or re-imagine your nursery, it’s a good idea to keep an open mind about storage and organizational strategies. Check the internet out for ideas, too. Everyone has a unique way of tackling storage and organization in a nursery. Someone else’s ideas could bring the inspiration you need to your nursery a safe, functional and fun place to share moments with your baby.
