7 Ways to Get Creative with Storage in Your Child’s Nursery or Playroom
Before your sweet babe is born, you imagine a stylish, color-coordinated nursery with all the things. A knit throw draped artfully over plush seating. Toys delightfully placed for maximum cuteness. You might even have a perfect stack of onesies awaiting that bundle of joy.
Once Baby arrives, well... this scene will probably look different. You won’t have the time or energy to keep this space organized, let alone maintain cute toy displays. And let’s be honest, you have more important things to worry about anyway.
So… what’s going to keep your space feeling relaxed, organized, and supportive, from those newborn days to toddlerhood? You guessed it — smart, functional design.
I love sharing tips and helping mothers prioritize the long-term wellness of their little ones (and themselves) through thoughtful, functional, and beautiful design. The key word being functional. The good news is that functional design doesn’t have to look like a Kindergarten classroom. Posh can be practical.
Today I’m sharing my top 7 creative storage solutions for nurseries and playrooms that will keep your space beautiful, functional, and intact. Trust me, organization is game changing...
Tip 1: Closet Storage System
If your closet currently has one clothing rod and a couple shelves, investing in a complete system should be high on your priority list. Who would have thought that carefully planned closet storage would be so fulfilling? But it is! Organization boosts those happy hormones and reduces stress. Having a dedicated section for each size of clothing will ensure you have eyes on every item and your little one doesn’t grow past clothing before ever wearing them. Drawers for booties, socks, burp cloths, blankets etc keeps these items hidden away but easily reachable. Maximize the use of space by designing the closet to include multiple hanging sections and a drawer section, with adjustable shelves for bins and other items. If you have the space, including a tilt-out hamper would be ideal.
A close up of a full closet storage system in our Kingstons Loft nursery, keeping small items organized.
Tip 2: Built-in Storage
Depending on the size of the space, built-in cabinets are an ideal storage solution for optimizing a niche or wall space. If the room is on the smaller side, options like free-standing bookcases, wall shelves and toy bins are a great alternative. (Just be sure to secure them for safety.)
When it comes to working with our clients, I love designing built-ins that are customized to their space and needs. Whether it’s a storage unit designed around the crib or utilizing a niche to create a beautiful seating area with combined storage, I do my best to maximize the storage opportunities. This is a great way to keep the loose furnishing count to a minimum (hello, clutter-free) while still utilizing the room space with double-duty solutions.
This French Inspired Nursery features a built-in wall unit designed around the crib and future full size bed.
Tip 3: Wide Changing Station
The item where you’ll need the best functional and quick access storage is the changing station. If the room size allows, I always suggest a wide dresser in lieu of a smaller, three-cabinet changing table. The wide dresser will last well down the road and offers additional storage for clothes, swaddles and blankets.
The wide dresser also gives you more room on top to place storage and organization bins next to your changing pad. Having frequently used items accessible and at arm’s reach during changing time will save you loads of time and stress day after day.
This wide dresser in Noah’s Nursery is the perfect changing table, with plenty of space for storage in the drawers and right on top for easy accessibility.
Tip 4: Functional Side Tables
Having a side table next to your nursing chair is a must! You will need space next to your chair to place your bottles, breast pump, phone, and matcha — trust me. The best way to increase your storage real estate without cluttering up the room is with a functional side table. In fact, I would suggest a two-tiered side table, so you can place items on the top and bottom shelves. It’s the little things..
A functional and beautiful two-tiered side table from our “Kingstons Loft” nursery.
Tip 5: Decorative Toy Bins
Remember those sleep-deprived parents I mentioned before? If that sounds familiar, this tip is for you. When you are strapped for time and wearing all the hats, organization tends to fall behind — and that’s ok! The secret to keeping toys organized (and saving your feet from killer Legos) is to choose decorative toy bins and baskets that you don’t mind leaving out.
There are so many adorable storage bins available that also serve as decor, making it easy to toss anything in there and simply walk away guilt-free. Find some with a cute pattern, pops of color, pompoms, and fun textures. And don’t be afraid to buy large hamper size bins or baskets either. There are some very beautiful styles available and no one would guess that they are hiding all the things.
Our classic Winnie the Pooh nursery features pom-pom baskets for quick tidying up.
Tip 6: Bench Storage
Bench storage isn’t just for nurseries. They are also great for playrooms. (I wrote more about how to use bench storage in a playroom in this blog post.) For example, in the London’s Calling Playroom shown below, I designed a built-in, wall-to-wall bench with custom cushions and under seat storage.
This double-duty solution offers adults a comfortable place to sit and watch their kids play, while also maximizing additional storage below in the form of baskets. Or, our lovely clients can stack toys and books.
That said, not every space can accommodate a built-in bench. If the space is smaller in scale, you can find a nice wide bench (not built-in) with a shelf below it to tuck away toys and books. If you’re not sure, feel free to reach out to me for a consultation and I’ll steer you in the right direction.
Custom built-in bench with storage in the London’s Calling Playroom.
Tip 7: Hidden Storage Pieces
Last but not least, look for furnishings that have hidden storage compartments. In my Safari Chic nursery project, I found the cutest upholstered steamer trunk. At first look, the steamer trunk functions as a typical end table next to the crib and nursing chair. But this piece isn’t just beautiful...
The trunk opens up to reveal a shelf and some coveted storage space! We placed books in here for easy access during reading time. Simple, functional, and adorable. You can read more about using hidden storage in living areas here.
Would you believe that this cute steamer trunk opens up to reveal two shelves?
Voilà! The perfect place to store books for reading time in the Safari Chic Nursery.
There you have it — 7 storage tips that are functional, clever, and beautiful. As you decide which storage solution is right for your family and space, I am here to help.
Contact me here and let’s create a functional, beautiful, and inspiring space for you and your little one.
— Stephanie