Creating nursery room storage in a small space can be challenging for new parents. After all, babies may be little, but they sure do seem to require a lot of stuff! If you’re trying to fit a nursery in a small space, dealing with all the diapers, wipes, toys, blankets, tiny clothes, and more can seem overwhelming.

“Motherhood doesn’t come with a handbook,” says Malka Rodal of The Organized Fairy. “We learn on the job what works and doesn’t work. Remember not to be hard on yourself either.”

Fortunately, there are some things you can use to keep even the tiniest nursery organized. Read on for ten nursery room storage hacks for limited space.

Choose Multi-Functional Furniture

The things that take up the most room in the nursery are the crib and changing table. You can help maximize your storage space by choosing furniture that does more than one thing.

A crib with a built-in changing table at the end helps eliminate the need for a separate changing station.

A dresser with a changing pad or built-in changing surface is another way to combine multiple functions into one piece of furniture.

Embrace furniture with Built-in Storage

“Welcoming a newborn baby can be a stressful and confusing experience which will only be compounded by a lot of clutter,” says Nonnahs Driskill of Get Organized Already, Inc. “If you and your baby are living in a small space, it’s even more helpful to keep the gadgets and baby stuff to a minimum.”

One way to keep clutter at bay is to ensure you have enough nursery room storage options.

Modern nursery furniture often comes with built-in storage. A changing table with shelves or drawers beneath it gives you a place to stash changing supplies.

Cribs with drawers or baskets built in the bottom also help you use under-crib space that might otherwise be overlooked.

If you’re still waiting on your new addition, check out our guide to baby proofing.

Take off those Closet Doors

If your nursery room has a closet, try taking the doors off. This opens up the closet and allows you to use the space to do more than store hanging items. Move your dresser into the closet, or use stacking baskets or a bookshelf with baskets in that closet for storage.

Since baby clothes don’t hang long, you’ll have plenty of space even when filling up the clothes rod.

Sophie Largen of Sophisticated Organization, says that “for small nurseries, it’s a great idea to file fold clothing (you will be shocked at how much space it saves), and you can easily see everything you own and might be looking for. As a mom of two, I know how quickly babies move through clothing, so having a place to store clothing for a future child or a plan to declutter is key to making space for what is actually being used.”

Make sure your kid’s closet grows with them using these tips.

Think like a Minimalist

“I like to imagine and be inspired by how my grandparents raised their children,” says Driskoll. They didn’t have any of the gadgets we have now. Sure, some of our baby tools, like the awesome strollers we have now, do make things much easier. But I would argue that a wipe warmer does not!”

Sometimes, less is more — even when it comes to babies’ seemingly endless needs.

“They make the cutest clothes for babies—dresses for girls, little suits for boys,” says Malka Rodal of The Organized Fairy. “I fell for it too!. Babies grow out of their clothes so fast it’s not worth it to spend money on an outfit they may or may not wear once or twice.”

Some items Rodal recommends as necessities:

• Nursing Pillow – If you like to do feedings sitting up then this helps support your baby + back. Breastfeeding mamas can also nurse lying down.
• Changing Table – Shockingly, I only started using it with baby #4, and boy, was it a game-changer. In the past, I used a portable changing pad on my bed (to save space), and my back felt it.
• Rocking Chair – If you have the space, it’s very useful, and it’s not only for the baby stage. It’s a great chair for me to read or to snuggle with. They even make gliders that only take up a little room for those short on space.
• Baby bouncer or swing – There are so many variations of this product. You can use some of them. The thing is that some babies love them, and some don’t like them at all. Getting this item from consignment might be a good idea, so you’ll spend less if it doesn’t work out.

And items she says you can skip for space include:

• Wipe Warmer – They’re great in theory, but none of the products work well and, therefore, not a great investment.
• Diaper Genie – It’s just an upgraded garbage can. The key to not having a stinky diaper smell is scented garbage bags, like doggie poop bags. But to be honest, if you wrap a poop diaper in a shopping bag and throw it in the garbage, it also works just fine.
• Bottle Warmer – It’s just another product that takes up space. Fill a washing cup or large mug with hot water, and warm the baby’s bottle.
• Bath robes or towels – babies are usually crying at bath time. They’re cold. Getting them dressed as fast as possible is key. Bathrobes are cute but just not practical.
• Diaper Bag – Don’t be afraid to use a regular bag. Create a diaper pouch that you can put into any bag. As the baby gets older, keep a pouch in the car.

Double up the Closet Rods

Speaking of the closet rod, another way to maximize your nursery storage is to add a second closet rod. Since baby clothes don’t hang nearly as long as adult clothes, you have clearance between items on the top rod and the bottom rod.

Put it in a Pocket

The humble back-of-the-door shoe organizer can be your nursery’s best friend. Whether you actually hang it on the back (or front) of a door or mount it on the wall, these organizers with their many pockets can hold diapers, burp clothes, changing supplies like powder, soft toys, and more.

Even better, they help you take advantage of otherwise wasted or unused space.

Make it Portable

Rolling carts and easily portable caddies that can be stashed out of sight when not in use are a great option for making the most of a small space.

Items are kept together and ready at hand, but they don’t have to take up valuable space when not used. Create a changing cart, a breastfeeding station basket, or a bath time caddy that you can stash when you don’t need it.

Think Vertically

Don’t neglect vertical space. Toy hammocks allow you to store stuffed toys up high and double as decor. Use hanging organizers — such as hanging cubes or sweater organizers — in closets or the open. Extra bonus? They can be used to take advantage of corner spaces, which often become dead zones.

Adding baskets or fabric cubes in your nursery room can keep these organizers neat and streamlined.

Hang up a pegboard and just like that you have more nursery room storage. Or choose floating shelves that can hold everything from pictures and mementos to changing supplies. Wall-mounted wire baskets and other solutions can also maximize your space.

Make your Decor Functional

Limiting items simply for decor and choosing beautiful and functional items can help you hack a small space for more nursery room storage. Choose baskets, totes, and cubes that are visually pleasing and allow for storage. An ottoman with a lid that opens to reveal space inside, a coordinated set of rope baskets that can hold extra blankets and sheets, or a set of fabric cubes instead of a dresser are all attractive and functional options.

Declutter Nursery Room Regularly

As your baby outgrows clothes, remove them from the nursery. Donate them if possible. If you are keeping items for a future child, decide which ones you will keep and store them somewhere besides the nursery! The same goes for items of clothing your little one still needs to grow into; store them in another room or the harder-to-access areas of the nursery. Save the prime real estate for items that are currently in use.

As tempting as it is to keep every little item that sparks a memory, be judicious about what you keep, and be selective about what you bring in. After all, if you don’t have it, you don’t have to store it!

Whether you’re keeping or donating baby clothes, our blog has storage tips.

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