Clutter is inevitable in a nursery. Between work, household chores, and taking care of the baby, who has the time to tidy up the nursery? You might have wondered how other parents stay on top of things. Surely those nursery photos on Instagram with every item in place and real!
Here’s the secret to a clean and tidy nursery – don’t let things get out of control. The trick is to create a system that minimizes clutter in the first place. Clutter happens mostly because you don’t have a place to put stuff away after using them.
Make sure you have a place for everything. This makes it easier for you to return things to where they are supposed to be. With fewer things on the floor, the nursery will automatically look tidy. So here are a few tips for organizing all the baby stuff in the nursery:
Closet
A closet in the nursery is supposed to help you keep things neat and tidy. Unfortunately, it is tempting to just throw everything inside and close the door. How can you keep it organized?
Evaluate all the things that you keep inside the closet. Do you have only the baby’s clothes inside or other items (extra diapers, toys, books, etc) there as well? Each category of items might require a different type of storage.
UnMess Wardrobe
The best option is to invest in a closet system like the UnMess wardrobe. These standalone units have multiple hanging spaces as well as convertible shelves. As your child grows, you can change them up to hold books, toys, and other items as well. Put them in a closet or use them as room dividers in the open! The UnMess system is truly versatile.
Clothes
Consider baby clothes. Kids outgrow their clothes very quickly, especially in the first couple of years. If you normally hang clothes from a rod, consider adding another one. Baby clothes aren’t very big, so a normal adult size closet can hold twice the outfits!
You can also organize the closet by size. It helps you see exactly what options you have that fits the baby right now. Keep these clothes within reach at eye level. Put outfits that the baby has outgrown and will grow into out of reach/out of sight. There are many printable closet dividers you can use to separate baby outfits.
Old/Out of Season Items
What to do with all those winter clothes, thick socks or big jackets in summer? Don’t clutter the closet with out of season clothes. Pack them up in boxes and put them on a high shelf. You even hide it away under the crib or dresser! Switch them out for summer clothes in the winter.
Do something similar for old toys or books. Put them away in hard to reach places until you’re ready to give them away or use again in the future. Don’t waste precious closet or floor space for items you don’t use often. The same reasoning applies to extra towels, lotions, diapers, etc. Get them away from frequently accessed areas.
Toys, Books, and Diapers
If you use the closet to store extra diapers, books or old toys, you’ll need more options. Get some nice baskets or boxes and organize like items together. Label them right at the start so you know where everything is. Labels also make it easy when clearing up after playtime.
Changing Station
The changing station is the workhorse of any nursery. It’s where you’ll spend a lot of time. Keep all the items you need within reach of the changing station. For example, the top drawer of a dresser should have everything you need (lotion, diapers, wipes, powder, etc.) You can use dividers or cloth boxes to keep everything organized inside.
Changing Cart
Have you considered setting up a portable changing cart? Each shelf can hold quite a lot of items. The carts usually have wheels so you can take it anywhere in the house. Now you’re ready for a diaper change without having to run to the nursery each time!
You don’t have to keep only diapers in there either. These carts are useful for storing any baby items. Keep books, crayons, and toys in each shelf and you have a portable entertainment system. Or use it for emergency supplies like a first aid kit, a change of clothes, and other necessities.
Get creative when organizing things. Don’t ignore the walls (put up shelves) or the space underneath big furniture. You can put boxes on top of tall dressers for even more storage. Shop for items that can pull double duty or come with wheels for flexibility. You can also personalize most storage boxes to match the rest of your decor. So plan for the mess and prevent it from happening in the first place!