10 Nursery Organization Tips For A Clutter-Free Nursery

A baby’s nursery is a haven, a place of rest, a place of reset, and is the best way to ensure that your little one gets recharged healthily each day. In this post, I give you ten solid ideas for a foolproof way to nail nursery organization with no hassle. 

 I am a mama to 3 (almost 4 hello third trimester) children and have organized my fair share of nurseries. I do not feel the need to bring in the help of professional organizers because I like to keep it simple. The more stuff you have the more mess in my opinion. 

Babies do not take up a lot of space. Baby stuff is small and it is nice to have easy access when you need the items fast. Efficiency is so key here, my friend! 

The Essentials For Optimal Nursery Organization 

• Changing Pad
• Wire baskets, storage bins, or plastic bins for your different baby organization ideas 
• Rocking chair or any kind of chair to sit in
• Crib, Crib Mattress, Crib Skirt, Crib Sheets, Waterproof mattress cover
• Baby hangers and enough open closet space for baby’s stuff (you don’t want the room itself to feel cluttered).
• Bookshelves (I love the ones from IKEA).

Tip #1 Invest in Multi-Use Furniture Pieces 

There are so many storage solutions when it comes to how to organize a nursery, so I just recommend you get multi-use pieces of furniture to get you started. What can grow with your child? 

For example:

*I do not recommend getting solely a baby changing table, instead invest in a dresser! You can put the changing pad on top of the dresser to use as both a dresser for baby clothes and a changing table for those inevitable diaper changes.

Another item I did away with after having my second child was a diaper pail. Not only were they smelly, but they were also short-lived for the first two years. I just take poopy diapers outside where they belong.  

Having a multi-use changing station where you can go double duty is essential. Take care of the diapers, store the smaller items in top drawers (like diapers and wipes because they are nice to have in arm’s reach), and then possibly use it to store baby clothing too is a win-win. 

Tip #2 My Favorite Organization Ideas For The Dresser:

• Use Drawer Organizers
• Have a drawer or section in a drawer for baby products: diaper cream, gas drops, burp cloths, nasal aspirator, etc.
• Use it as a diaper caddy too for diapers and wipes

Tip #3 Optimize The Nursery Closet

The baby’s closet is the perfect place to organize a nursery and keep it simple. As new parents, it is easy to want to buy and store ALL the clothes but take my seasoned parenting advice here and keep it simple! 

Check out my podcast episode: How To Simply Curate A Kid’s Capsule Wardrobe

You will constantly have to update the closet as the baby grows so less is your best friend here. Closets with fewer clothes also look more pretty! 

Tip #4 My Formula For Closet or Dresser Organization

1. Put pants together (closet)
2. Short sleeve shirts together (dresser or closet)
3. Long sleeves together (dresser or closet)
4. Socks and Underwear Together (dresser)
5. Pajamas Together (dresser)
6. Dress clothing (closet)
7. Shoes together (closet) a shoe organizer is always great to use if you have the space at the bottom of the closet.

The best organizational idea for the closet is to use the right baskets. The look of baskets are darling for any gender and they can be used for really anything as the baby grows including toy storage for later on! 

 We have a built-in dresser in our closet and I use the first shelf as a small toy storage for my youngest son right now. 

Tip #5 Use Consignment To Help You Declutter

When you are looking into how to organize a nursery, decluttering truly is key. Having a lot of stuff in a small space equals overwhelm and mess. 

A baby shower is a great time to get loved on with your little one but don’t feel the need to keep everything you receive. You don’t always get exactly everything on your baby registry (which is okay) but don’t feel guilt in keeping it all. 

Especially when it comes to clothing. Consigning your gently used baby clothes for the next size up can bring in extra cash and keep out items your baby didn’t wear a lot or you didn’t love. 

You can also consign toys and baby shoes on Facebook Marketplace or your local baby shop. Getting some cashback for other baby necessities is so nice. 

The less you have in the nursery, the less you have to tidy up!

Tip #6 Get Rid Items That Can Quickly Clutter Your Space 

Clutter Culprits

• Baby blankets and swaddles can clutter a space. Not many are needed for one baby. I like to keep 3. 
• Too much nursery decor makes a space feel small. Keep the items simple for a clean look.
• Do away with a play area in your baby’s room. Toys and nap time never mix.
• Store extra diaper boxes in the garage or pantry if your home space allows.
• Declutter baby’s things as they grow out of certain stages when you do your clothing size updates (burp cloths, swaddles, booties, etc.)

Tip #7 Look Toward The Future When It Comes To Bedding

I made a mistake.

 I ordered two convertible cribs for my first two sons. All of my kids are close in age (currently I have a 4,3, and almost 2 year old). So when I was getting cribs I figured I would get ones that could convert into beds.

Thankfully the crib is always in use with baby #4 on the way and my 2-year-old is still sleeping in it. 

There is a problem though.

The beds that the convertible cribs move into are larger than what I wanted for a toddler bed. They also do not come with all of the pieces and parts when you first buy the crib so you spend just about the same (if not more) on the parts than you could a nice cute toddler bed. 

• Buy a regular crib and skip the convertible 
• Save money to invest in a cute toddler bed of choice when your child grows

When my last two children grow out of the cribs they won’t be converted to beds and therefore I wasted money! This is an important thing to consider! 

Tip #8 Storage Space Is Everything

Having storage space to put items that you cannot use yet is key. In the early days, there are so many things a baby cannot do so it is nice to just store the items close by for when they need to get taken out. 

My favorite storage items:

• These cute white baskets from Target
• Wire baskets from Target
• A rattan blanket basket
• 1-2 Large plastic totes for toy rotations
• A medical box for all medicine items that can be easily accessed near the nursery/bathroom.

Tip #9 Remember A Newborn’s Nursery Is Short-Lived 

Baby’s grow fast. What may be safe for a newborn that isn’t mobile may not suffice for a baby on the move who loves to explore and get into things. 

Small accessories and trinkets used for decor should be moved up high and plants or trendy items to add into a nursery need to be out of reach of the baby. 

So many times I would have loved to add certain decor pieces down low in the nursery, but with baby getting into things I knew it wasn’t safe. The ideal place for glass decor, small items, and plants is usually not in the nursery.

Tip #10 Keep It Neutral

This doesn’t apply if you are only planning on having one child. For those of us, mama’s who have multiple kids having more a more neutral vibe makes the transition from one child to two simple. 

Too many boy items would make for a complete nursery makeover once a new baby (potentially a girl) is born. Neutral makes everything easier! The tans, whites, and earthy tones are so cute and in style right now. 

I hope this gave you some good inspiration for the nursery organization!