Whether you have space to spare, or you need to get creative in a small home, try these ideas for room decor, storage, organization and other pre-baby preparation essentials.
MAKE A DOOR LATCH COVER
Prevent your newborn from waking up every time their bedroom door opens and closes with this 10-minute no-sew project.
STOCK AN EXTRA CHANGING STATION
This clear changing attachment allows you to see when supplies are running low. Fasten it to living room or kitchen furniture to prevent running up and down the stairs throughout the day.
CRAFT A CRIB BUMPER
This colorful, DIY cushion is ideal for protecting little ones. Customize the piece by choosing a pattern in hues that complement your nursery decor.
MOUNT EVERYTHING
Try mounting items or accessories you’ll use regularly-this blogger used wood from an old project and clothespins to hang all of her daughter’s headbands for a simple, rustic display.
MAKE A GROWTH CHART
Trust us: Your baby will grow quicker than a weed. Install a chart in their room to track his or her height, like this adorable, rustic arrow for a little boy’s room.
SET UP A DIAPER STATION
Repurpose a kitchen cart as a storage area for all of your diaper-changing needs, neatly arranging all of her wipes, diapers, toiletries, and burp cloths for easy access.
TRANSFORM A DRESSER
Amp up your little one’s dresser with a bit of paint-no sanding or taping required for this DIY project! Try doing an ombre pattern on the shelving in the color of your choice.
DESIGN FOR THE FUTURE
One day your baby will grow into a teenager, so design the room to grow with her. The pom-pom trimmed curtains, beaded chandelier, and antique rug in this Tennessee home’s nursery are all features that can follow this gal into her teen years.
HANG A MOBILE
Give your new arrival something sweet and personal to coo over and contemplate, by making your own mobile to hang over the crib. This cloud-and-raindrop version couldn’t be cuter.
PAINT THE NURSERY
Even if you don’t intend to go all out with a theme, you’ll probably want to give your baby’s new room a fresh coat of paint. Pick a color in keeping with traditions for your new baby’s gender, or go with a gender-neutral approach.
DECORATE THE BABY’S ROOM
In addition to a fresh coat of paint, give the baby’s room some soothing decorative touches. There’s no reason to bring in a ton of over-the-top characters and colors into the space (unless you want to). For a subtler but still ever so sweet touch, try DIY bunting in colors that match your nursery’s look.
Even if you have a large house, you’ll likely be looking for convenient storage near baby, so you won’t have to go far for anything you need – especially during those first long, tired nights and days. A low-profile plastic storage tub concealed behind a crib skirt gives you access to newborn necessities at the ready, any time.
PREPARE THE CHANGING TABLE ESSENTIALS
Put the diapers and wipes adjacent to the changing table – just where you’ll need them right away. Keep everything tidy and attractive with a sweet storage solution, like this wicker basket diaper caddy.
MAXIMIZE GARAGE SPACE
Those days of hodgepodge boxes and haphazard stacking in the garage are over. When you bring home your little one, you’ll probably be shopping and buying in bulk for necessities like diapers. Make space for your family’s new warehousing needs by organizing that garage ahead of the big arrival.
RETHINK ROOMS
As you make way for a nursery, you may be consolidating some rooms in the house. (And, you may be kissing such luxuries as a private home office goodbye.) Make the most of space by turning various rooms into a single revamped multifunction space, like this delightful playroom-office combo.
PREPARE BABY’S CLOSET
Your baby already may have more clothes than you do, thanks to generous shower gifts from excited friends and family. Keep everything organized with this simple DIY for closet dividers by size.
ORGANIZE THE FREEZER
When the baby comes, your loved ones will probably want to help out by swinging by with a ton of pre-cooked meals to sustain you in those hectic early days. And when you do have the time to cook, you may want to do it in bulk to save time and energy for days after. Accommodate that onslaught of frozen foods by overhauling the freezer in advance, first doing a thorough purge, and then organizing the space using plastic bins.
BABYPROOF EVERYTHING
In your quest to make your home safe for the new baby, you may come across a ton of unattractive but essential gizmos and gadgets. Inject a little style to the process when possible-like with this chevron-printed door latch catcher.
GET THE LAUNDRY ROOM READY
A new addition means you’ll feel like you’re doing laundry nonstop. To prepare, get that laundry room or area in fighting shape, with a smart and attractive organizing strategy like this DIY pegboard system project.
PREP FOR PAPERWORK
After baby arrives, you might be too tired (and, okay, a bit too overwhelmed) to organize the key paperwork. Make sure that you keep track of important documents like your new one’s birth certificate, social security card, and immunization information by preparing a file in advance, meant for organizing exactly those things.
20 Smart Ways to Get Your House Ready for Baby
