STORAGE…NEVER ENOUGH! Creating storage in advance will make your life so much easier later on. Put up a shelf and put plastic storage bins on it. We love Ikea storage boxes; one option is the Ikea Sockerbit container retailing at $1.99. This doubles as storage space for toys, stuffed animals, puzzles, and all sorts of miscellaneous items in the room. Underneath the shelf you can tuck away other oddly shaped or large toys, booster seats, and other extras that don’t fit anywhere else perfectly. To keep the drawers organized, we compartmentalize! We use Ikea Skubb, a set of 6 drawers retailing for just $9.99, to create spaces for diapers, creams, socks, bibs, medications, spit cloths, and other random items. Cute looking and helps with organizing…thats a win in our books! A bookshelf is key. Create a space that will help nurture your growing baby’s mind. This shelf does not only need to be used for books - create a display with special keepsakes and favourite books, and on extra shelves not being used tuck in storage boxes that look clean and do not stand out to store other items away. One of our go-
to’s is Ikea Tjena box with lid which retails at $2.99. Storage, storage, storage!! Even if these boxes and bins are empty now, they will eventually be filled and you will be grateful you have the extra space. It will help keep cleanup painless, and make reaching those spit cloths and blankets quick and easy in those explosive bodily fluid moments…yikes!
SYSTEMATIZE YOUR CLOSET It is a challenge to keep order of all different sized clothing to ensure you don’t outgrow it before you bring it out. We love these custom baby closet dividers made by PersonallyMade4U on Etsy, $16.50+. They are a simple solution to maintain order to a closet packed with clothes of all sizes. As baby grows out of clothes, store them away and move on to the next sizes! This will help ensure you don’t miss out on adorable clothes that could be otherwise stored away in a box.
crib, buy one that you can slide a storage bin underneath to put extra items in. Buy storage boxes that are aesthetically pleasing but practical. If you create a room with storage and room for toys and other items then you will not feel overcrowded because everything has a home and there won’t be clutter. Before you purchase something, ask yourself is this going to be a good use of space? Will it withstand a baby and child pulling, hitting, and climbing on it? Will my baby be able to use it as he or she grows? If you are purchasing it knowing you will need to replace it in the near future once your child starts to grow older than you should reconsider it. Just like we would suggest in a space designed for an adult, have fun by changing up the accessories (ie artwork, displays on bookshelf and dresser) - the things that aren’t as expensive and instead opt for more neutral furniture pieces that function well. Good Luck!
The take home message is, optimize your space and make sure every piece of furniture is functional! If you are buying a
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