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The Dream is Free, The Hustle Sold Separately

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Nursery Closet {Organizational Ideas!}

June 10, 2011 by Bethany Sy

*UPDATE!* …see the nursery in all it’s finished glory HERE!!!

We’ve been working away at the nursery, and were LOVING the fresh unique color palate and all the sentimental and DIY items we’ve incorporated into the room thus far!

The nursery closet was NOT a priority when it came to planning a nursery design/color scheme. But there came a time when I realized that this just wouldn’t do.

First and foremost, that deep periwinkle cave-like color just had to go. Does it bring back nightmares of the original room color?  Oh how far we’ve come! The second issue at hand is the lack of structure and storage solutions. One massive shelf, and all that wasted space!

But knowing that closet shelving and organization systems are very spendy, I set out to make it functional on a budget! So we added a second shelf halfway down… maximizing space, and adding a clothing bar for hangers!

THEN, I got this picture in my mind of a super genius space-saving solution. Remember these little plastic crates from your middle school years that you kept all your scrunchies in? (Check out my freakish looking hand in this picture!) HA!

Well come to find out, they’re kinda hard to come by these days. Nobody wants a chunky plastic mini-crate with no handle. After checking Walmart, Menards, and Bed Bath and Beyond, I found them at the Dollar Tree! For a dolla each! I may not have chosen black, but it’s what they had. And exactly what I needed. So the next step was to install some hooks under the top shelf… can you see where I’m going with this??

After strategically placing the hooks, I just hung the crates on them! And as I envisioned, they dangled slightly yet securely at the perfect angle to hold tiny headbands, bibs, booties, burp clothes… whatever!

And now, after washing all our tiny baby clothes, blankets and burp clothes… the closet was ready to load up! Strangely, I looked forward to this very much. I get an abnormal amount of satisfaction out of organizing.

So I’m feeling very productive and organizational, right? And I occasionally make a stop in the nursery to admire all that we’ve done. But on one such evening, I walked through the nursery to admire the closet… and it looked like this:

Surprise! There’s no light in this closet! Can you imagine holding a naked baby who just had a blow-out at 3am (while the other baby is screaming in the crib) and trying to fumble through this dark mass? I’d rather not find out.

So I batted my eyes and said to my hubby, “Hubby? How much work would it be for you to wire a light into the closet and put a switch on the outside?” He groaned and said he would think about it, and add it to the already lengthy list of things I had given him to do.

SO, to give the poor boy a break and avoid dry-wall dust in my precious nursery, I marched to Walmart and bought a rope light with a remote light switch and hung it up and around the trim on the inside of the closet.

And what do you know? It lights up the whole closet with a soft, even glow! Which is even better that one bright light coming from a single source, being enough to wake you (and your drowsy infant twins) up permanently. This is as NIGHT TIME shot!

I love the final outcome… super organized with a soft glow, and filled with tiny baby clothes! AND accomplished with only spending $6 on crates, and $11 on rope light!!

*UPDATE!* …see the nursery in all it’s finished glory HERE!!!

*UPDATE AGAIN!* …it’s crazy to think it’s been 3 years since we designed and decorated this nursery for our twin girls. Click here to see what this closet looks like NOW! And even crazier to think that we now designing their big-girl toddler room! Come check out all the projects that we’ve done to make this room super special!

Twin's Big-girl Room Transformation {Sawdust and Embryos}

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About Bethany Sy

Nick and Bethany Sy are the creative free-spirits behind DIY/Lifestyle blog, Reality Daydream. They recently purchased a historic mansion and have been documenting the ups and downs of renovation and making this home their own... all while sharing tips and tutorials along the way! When they found themselves in the trenches of infertility, they started a journey that would prove to be their most important DIY project ever, and have 3 beautiful girls to show for it. <3

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Comments

  1. 39

    Gina Theresa says

    September 17, 2017 at 6:58 pm

    Cool

    Reply
  2. 40

    Soma says

    April 17, 2017 at 3:52 am

    I loved how you hanged the crates but i have wired closet shelf. Any idea how to hang it?

    Reply
    • 41

      Bethany Sy says

      April 24, 2017 at 7:04 pm

      Hey Soma! I’m thinking you could get some ‘S Hooks’ at your local hardware store that would work perfectly for hanging these crates on your wire shelves. Here’s a link so you know what I’m talking about:
      Aff: http://amzn.to/2pYL9e7

      Reply
  3. 42

    Kayla says

    June 2, 2015 at 7:00 am

    How did you do the design on the changing table to match the curtains? Did you use a stencil if so where from?

    Reply
  4. 43

    Snow says

    January 4, 2015 at 8:00 am

    I’m confused on how the light works. Do you have an outlet inside the closet? If not, is there an ugly cord running outside of the closet to an outlet?

    I need light in my daughters closet, and in my nursery. Please help!

    Reply
    • 44

      Beth @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      January 23, 2015 at 8:15 am

      Strangely, we do have an outlet inside the closet. I never thought about how weird that is. You could use a small drop cord and tuck it under the edge of the carpet to reach the nearest outlet.

      Reply
  5. 45

    toni cowles says

    July 7, 2014 at 10:49 pm

    I love the curtains! Where did u get them?

    Reply
    • 46

      Bethany @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      July 8, 2014 at 6:10 am

      Hi Toni! I made the curtains! Here’s the link: (and there’s a link for the fabric within this post):
      https://realitydaydream.com/2011/03/nursery-curtains.html

      Reply
  6. 47

    Anonymous says

    May 14, 2013 at 1:56 pm

    Beautiful!!!!

    Reply
  7. 48

    Anonymous says

    April 17, 2013 at 1:02 am

    I have 2 very dark closets and would love to use the rope lights with remote. I have never seen them. Can you tell me if it is possible to still get them?

    Reply
    • 49

      Beth @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      April 17, 2013 at 1:51 am

      We got ours at Walmart. In the camping section! 🙂

      Reply
  8. 50

    Mary Ann says

    February 2, 2013 at 9:26 pm

    Being creative is so fun! It’s so way better than store bought.

    Reply
  9. 51

    Jeannette says

    January 31, 2013 at 2:29 pm

    Very cute ideas. Love the lights on the side of the closet doors.

    Reply
  10. 52

    Anonymous says

    January 29, 2013 at 2:36 am

    I was wondering where you bought the pole to hang the hangers on? Awesome nursery closet : )

    Reply
    • 53

      Beth @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      January 29, 2013 at 2:47 am

      We used the existing pole and just moved it down to the lower shelf. It’s basically a big fat dowel. I’m sure you could get one at any home improvement store.

      Reply
  11. 54

    Judy says

    January 28, 2013 at 5:13 am

    Wow! How brilliant is that! I would never think of using those crates that I think only college students use in a baby nursery. What a fantastic idea to use the existing shelves and then adding these crates below.

    Reply
  12. 55

    Connie says

    January 27, 2013 at 12:09 am

    I love this…the lil crates and rope light! Im so doing this in both of my daughters closets! Brilliant! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  13. 56

    C.C. says

    December 21, 2012 at 9:50 pm

    I totally love the hanging crate idea. I’m totally going to try this!! I have different shelving, but I’m going to figure out how to do this! Found your blog through pinterest!

    Reply
  14. 57

    Linda says

    November 9, 2012 at 7:08 pm

    Where do I find a remote light switch? Do you just hang it on the wall? How does it work with the rope light? This is a great idea!!!

    Reply
    • 58

      Beth @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      November 10, 2012 at 2:12 pm

      The rope light (from Target) comes with a wall plate as well as a small box that you plug into an outlet. The box has a place to plug something into it… so we just plugged the rope light into the box, and the wall switch turns it on!

      Reply
  15. 59

    free standing closet says

    May 5, 2012 at 11:06 pm

    Love this closet!

    Reply
  16. 60

    hollyberry says

    April 1, 2012 at 5:19 am

    they also have the battery operated LED lights that you can just push or click and the light comes on…it lit up my entire walk in closet very well…if i had 2 it wouldve been really bright..one was good 4 me..but its an option..dollar tree is a great place to get batteries too..i get the 8 pack of AA or AAA for $1 and they work great for all of the babies toys..even my 14 mega pixel fuji film camera runs good off of them DOLLAR TREE ROCKS!!

    Reply
  17. 61

    free standing closet says

    March 11, 2012 at 2:58 pm

    LOVE THE CLOSET 🙂 So cute!

    Reply
  18. 62

    clu60 says

    November 5, 2011 at 10:34 pm

    I have been stewing over how to get a light fixture in my old, small closet with no outlet. Excellent idea! Thanks for the inspiration.

    Reply
  19. 63

    Anonymous says

    June 15, 2011 at 10:51 pm

    Really nice i like is ver good idea for those moms

    Reply
  20. 64

    Anonymous says

    June 15, 2011 at 8:30 pm

    good job I love this really cute…

    Reply
  21. 65

    pattie says

    June 15, 2011 at 1:52 am

    Oh my gosh, I think we share the same organizational gene!! This is the very same kind of thing that thrilled me when awaiting our first born! After she was born, hubby would find me in her closet “just going through things”…such a sweet time. And the rope light is pure geeeenius!!

    Reply
  22. 66

    Bella@Bellabeforeandafter.blogspot.com says

    June 11, 2011 at 5:22 am

    Bethany, this is awesome. I found this on pinterest, and rushed on over to say hello. WHat a CLEVER idea, I love it.

    Also the rope light, totally awesome!!!

    I host a weekly party, and would LOVE it you shared this girl. Stop by anytime to say hello!!!
    Hugs,
    Bella 🙂**AMAZE ME AUGUST** @ Bella Before and After

    Reply
  23. 67

    Kristi says

    June 11, 2011 at 3:51 am

    Love this… and recall endless nights with our girls in the same room trying to figure out enough light but not too much light.

    Reply
  24. 68

    AMANDA says

    June 10, 2011 at 6:41 pm

    LOVE THE CLOSET 🙂

    Reply
  25. 69

    Katie says

    June 10, 2011 at 5:46 pm

    LOVE the crate idea!

    Reply
  26. 70

    randomcreativity says

    June 10, 2011 at 4:50 pm

    I absolutely love the rope light in the closet, and the boxes on hooks! Genius! I found clear boxes at our walmart, strange how regional stores vary.

    Reply

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We are Nick and Bethany! Welcome to our blog, Reality Daydream where we share our DIY adventures!
Click here for lots of art projects using only wood stain on furniture!!
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Attention: Almost any do-it-yourself project involves risk of some sort. Your tools, materials, and skills will vary, as will the conditions at your project site. Reality Daydream has made every effort to be complete and accurate in the instructions of the plans on this website. Reality Daydream will not assume any responsibility or liability for damages or losses sustained or incurred in the course of your project or in the use of the item you create. Always follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions in the use of tools, check and follow your local building codes, and observe all commonly accepted safety precautions.

 

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