After purging, decluttering, and organizing all the places in my home as part of my prep for baby, one of the last items of business was getting a functional closet in her nursery. After our first baby shower, this closet was stuffed with all the things. So for awhile, I just closed the door and moved on. Now that we are seriously approaching her arrival, I knew this method wasn't going to work.
After sifting through all the research, I'm here to share with you today my 9 must-have nursery closet storage and organizational items to make sure everything has a place before little miss thang makes her debut. Let's get to it!
Disclaimer: This post does include affiliate links for your convenience. This is at NO additional cost to you, but earns me a small commission. To read more, check out our disclosure policy.
1. An Adjustable Closet Organization System
The closet in our nursery had the standard wire shelving and no real system to organize anything. Once I decided to change the whole setup, I was drawn to this "Grow with Me" closet system because of the fact, well, it can be adjusted to grow with your child.
I will say I was a bit hesitant to order it at first because the reviews on Amazon were not very good. People reported it showing up broken and other issues, but I took the risk and purchased it because I really couldn't find anything better.
I am happy to say that my review for this product is a stellar one. It shipped super quickly, had all the parts in tact, and was super easy to assemble. They recommend having two people, but I put this bad boy together all by myself. Totally simple.
The bottom cubbies fit an 11"x11" fabric cube perfectly and there is also a drawer in the center along with the adjustable shelves on top. My favorite part of the whole closet system is the adjustable hanger rods. Having the ability to move these up or down is how this closet is going to grow and morph to the needs of my little babe.
I'll be revealing the full closet in all its glory in the next week or two, so stayed tuned for the final reveal.
2. Uniform Hangers & Clips
I contemplated not purchasing uniform hangers, but after researching and completing my own master closet with uniform hangers, I knew it was worth the investment. The best part is that they are not nearly as expensive as the adult versions.
I also purchased the clips that can attach to velvet hangers like I did for my closet in order to keep outfits together. I really like this setup because it allows the closet to be more streamlined, which is important to me since I took the doors off the closet in the nursery to make it an open closet.
Opening the closet has made the room feel immensely bigger and has allowed the organization to be part of the decor. I originally took the doors off because they were sliding doors which hindered the ability to see everything in the closet at once. I wanted to see everything and use the "grow with me" closet system from earlier, so the doors had to go.
These hangers and clips were totally worth it to make sure the visual order continued through to the closet.
3. Size Dividers
I don't know about you, but as a first time mom, I have no idea what I am looking at when I see a sea of baby clothes. 0-3 month clothes look the same as 6-9 month clothes at first glance.
The only way to keep my sanity was to purchase some size dividers. I love these particular dividers because they are super cute for one, but they are also well-priced, too!
If you are on a serious budget, you could absolutely DIY something like this. Or you could always get the ones I used in my master closet for even cheaper. Either way, size dividers are a must.
4. Storage Cubes & Bins
Because the nursery closet organization system from #1 of this list fits an 11"x11" fabric storage cube perfectly, these are a definite must. I wanted to use these to house some of the miscellaneous items.
I read a great article in my research from At Home with Ashley about nursery closet organization and she recommended having a bin ready to go for all the items they grow out. She shared that having a "donate" bin and a "retired" bin helped keep her sanity on the go.
The donate bin would be for things they've outgrown that you know you won't want to keep around for the next babe and the retired bin would be for things that no longer fit them, but you do want to save.
I also picked up some larger storage bins in cute pink polka dots as a preemptive step in migrating the retired bin to the storage area when it is time.
Whether you use these bins for toy storage or a quick way to move through the baby clothes stages, having cubes and bins will help keep everything separated the way it should be.
5. Bin Labels
In addition to having bins, it is super important to accompany these bins with labels. I found the awesome seller on Etsy (link to the left) who makes peel and stick labels for all kinds of bins, but they also work on the fabric storage bins.
They are super cost effective and will keep you sane when someone else is using your organizational system. For the beginning stages of the closet fabric storage cubes, I ordered the following labels: Donate, Retired, Blankets, and one for Extras.
I may end up ordering some different ones as we get movin' and groovin' in the baby world, but for now this feels right. And she ships her items super fast. Again, you could also DIY some labels or print your own, but I do think these are worth it.
6. Drawer Dividers
Oh the small little clothes... so cute, but I find it much harder to find anything in the drawers with the big drawers and small clothes. Therefore, I invested in some drawer dividers.
I like these because they are easy to adjust small or large and they help me sort tiny items, like socks and hats, in a single drawer without them getting all jumbled together.
For any good organizational strategy, utilizing one space for multiple uses is key. I would highly recommend some drawer dividers for any drawers you will be using for baby.
7. Hanging Accessories Organizer (For Girls)
I have mentioned this particular item in my favorite baby girl nursery decor post, but it is worth mentioning again. Any time you can utilize blank wall space for organizational purposes is a win in my book.
Being that we are having a little girl, all the ladies have been sending the cutest little headbands and hair pieces to cute-ify her look. I am a firm believer in the idea that if you don't see it, you won't use it, so having her accessories on display is going to be a must.
If you are having a boy, little hats and booties could go on something like this, too. Either way, try to utilize as much wall hanging space as you can to keep all the little things in a safe place that's easy to access and that you can see clearly so you use them.
8. Hamper
This is probably a no-brainer, but a convenient hamper is totally necessary in a nursery closet organization space. This is not the exact one I bought from Home Goods, but it is similar in type.
With a hamper, I was looking for something that wouldn't fill up too quickly, but also wouldn't be a bottomless pit. Nothing would be worse than thinking you have ways to go before needing to do laundry because the hamper doesn't even look full, but in reality the hamper is just so big.
I also wanted to make sure it had easy grab handles to bring down the stairs. I absolutely hate laundry, but it's mostly because I have to drag it up and down the stairs. With a more small to medium-sized hamper, this part of the laundry process won't be as daunting.
9. Stuffed Animal Storage
And last, but not least, a place for the stuffed animals! When I was a kid, I was stuffed animal crazy. I loved them all equally and because I was an only child for so long, they were my friends, too.
Having a designated spot for these little guys is going to help the clutter and also give these inanimate objects a sweet home (that's my inner child talking).
I particularly like the one listed to the left because it isn't as rigid as other baskets, so it can mold to the items in it.
No matter what kind of closet you have, organizing the nursery closet for your own sanity will be an extreme help. These babies already have so much stuff, be sure to find an easily accessible place for all of it. What nursery closet organization essentials would you add to this list?
Disclaimer: This post does include affiliate links for your convenience. This is at NO additional cost to you, but earns me a small commission. To read more, check out our disclosure policy.
Foldable Storage Cubes (fit perfectly in the adjustable closet system & come in a variety of colors)
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