Setting up a nursery can feel a little like trying to pack for a year-long trip into a carry-on suitcase. You want everything your baby needs within arm’s reach, but also… where’s the space? IKEA’s here to save the day (and the floor space).
This guide is a celebration of creativity, clever storage, and that feeling you get when everything just fits. Whether you’re nesting before baby arrives or knee-deep in diapers already, you’re in the right place.
1. The RÅSKOG Cart: The MVP of Baby Storage
Let’s start with a classic. The IKEA RÅSKOG utility cart rolls into nursery life like a champion. It fits snugly beside a changing table, crib, or even your bed if baby’s bunking with you early on.
What to stash in it: Diapers, wipes, rash cream, burp cloths, teething toys, and yes, your late-night chocolate stash.
Roll it from room to room like your mobile baby-care command center.
2. LACK Wall Shelves Turned Floating Book Displays
Books are magical. But let’s be honest: baby books have a way of ending up in every corner. Mount IKEA’s LACK shelves horizontally at toddler height and suddenly you’ve got yourself a pint-sized library.
Bonus? It looks Pinterest-perfect and encourages your little one to grab a book on their own.
3. SPÄNS Wall Storage + Tiny Shoes = Adorable Display
That newborn Converse collection? It deserves a spotlight. Install SPÄNS wall storage racks to display tiny shoes, hats, bows, or all those baby socks that somehow multiply overnight.
Also makes grabbing what you need a breeze during those “We’re-late-again” mornings.
4. KALLAX Cubes: Storage Meets Style
KALLAX is the holy grail of IKEA storage. Use 2×2 or 2×4 cubes for toy bins, baby books, blankets, and more. Add DRÖNA boxes for a cleaner look, or leave some open for baskets, plushies, or seasonal swaps.
Parents swear by this one because it grows with your child.
5. BEKVÄM Spice Racks as Book Ledges or Baby Toiletry Holders
You’ve seen them holding spices in kitchens, but these humble little racks make the cutest mini book displays. Paint them to match your nursery theme and mount them near the crib or changing area for quick reach.
Also genius for holding baby lotion, baby monitor, or a tiny potted plant (for that touch of life).
6. TROFAST Storage for All Those Toys
Toys. Multiply. Like rabbits.
TROFAST offers deep bins in a stair-step frame. Perfect for organizing soft toys, rattles, blocks, and even clothes. Label each bin (or let your toddler decorate them later with stickers).
Pro tip: Use one for “toys of the week” to keep clutter under control.
7. SNIGLAR Changing Table + Storage Hack
The SNIGLAR is basic, but that’s exactly why it’s brilliant. Add baskets, hanging organizers, or even velcro-on pouches to the sides.
You can paint it too, maybe soft sage green or warm honey?
And because it’s wood, you can modify it endlessly. Drill hooks, add shelves, or wheel bases. Go wild.
8. SKÅDIS Pegboard = Vertical Genius
Wall space is the most underrated real estate in a nursery. The SKÅDIS pegboard system lets you hang baskets, hooks, or small shelves. Great for pacifiers, creams, hairbands, or that thermometer you lose twice a day.
Also looks very organized, which can be a nice lie when everything else feels like chaos.
9. MALM Dresser with a Changing Topper
Yes, the MALM was made for clothes. But slap a changing pad on top (with non-slip grip!) and you’ve got a combo dresser/changing station that saves space and keeps everything within reach.
Use drawer organizers to separate socks, mittens, and that one pair of pants your baby will actually wear.
10. The HEMNES Hack for Nursery Style Points
HEMNES dressers? Classic. Paint the knobs, wallpaper the drawer fronts, or swap the legs for mid-century flair.
Tuck it into a corner with a mirror and suddenly you’ve got a stylish changing corner that doesn’t scream “baby stuff everywhere.”
11. FINTORP Hanging Rails = Instant Wall Storage
Originally for kitchens, FINTORP hanging rails hold little baskets and hooks that are baby-nursery gold. Great above changing tables or cribs for wipes, lotions, teethers, etc.
Looks farmhouse-chic and functional.
12. LOHALS Rug: Cozy Up the Floor
Nurseries should feel cozy, and the LOHALS rug is soft underfoot, simple, and neutral enough for any theme. Perfect for tummy time or middle-of-the-night pacing.
13. ANTILOP High Chair… in the Nursery?
Hear me out. Babies often hang out with you while you’re folding laundry or tidying up. Plop them in an ANTILOP with a soft cushion and toys for some contained playtime.
14. IVAR Cabinet for All Things Hidden
IVAR’s wood cabinets are simple and stash-worthy. Paint them in cheerful hues, or stencil on animals or clouds for nursery vibes.
Perfect for keeping extra diapers, gear, or surprise gifts from grandparents out of sight.
15. FLISAT Table = Mini Activity Zone
This one’s more for toddlers, but it’s worth a head start. The FLISAT table holds TROFAST bins for coloring, building, or sensory play. Great transition piece as your baby grows.
16. Use DIGNITET Curtain Wire to Display Baby Art
As soon as your baby starts daycare or scribbling with crayons, the artwork starts pouring in. String up a DIGNITET wire along one nursery wall and clip up masterpieces with ease. Cute, clutter-free, and keeps your fridge door blissfully bare.
17. STUVA Bench = Hidden Storage + Reading Nook
Throw a cushion on top of the STUVA bench and boom: you’ve got a cozy reading nook with storage underneath. Great for storing blankets, puzzles, or even emergency diaper stashes.
18. NISSEDAL Mirror = Sensory Fun
Mount a baby-safe mirror like the NISSEDAL low enough for your baby to see themselves. Great for tummy time, peek-a-boo practice, and building that all-important sense of self.
19. DUKTIG Play Kitchen as Diaper Station
It sounds wild, but the DUKTIG play kitchen has shelves, hooks, and even a towel bar, perfect for organizing diapers and creams. Plus, you can turn it into an actual play kitchen later.
20. MOSSLANDA Picture Ledges for Cute Displays
Tiny stuffed animals? Vintage baby shoes? Frame-worthy ultrasound photos? Line them up on MOSSLANDA ledges. It turns the nursery into a mini-gallery.
21. HEMMAHOS Soft Storage Baskets
Flexible, cute, and soft-sided, these baskets are great for storing plush toys or extra swaddles. No sharp edges = peace of mind.
22. TISKEN Suction Hooks for Hanging Bibs and Towels
No drilling required. These suction hooks stick to tiles, mirrors, or glass and are perfect for hanging bibs, bath towels, or cloths near the sink.
23. DRAGAN Bamboo Boxes to Organize Drawers
These bathroom organizers pull double duty in a nursery. Stack them in drawers for pacifiers, grooming kits, nail clippers, and more.
24. MÅLA Paper Roll as a Cribside Drawing Station
When your toddler gets the art bug, attach the MÅLA paper roll near the FLISAT table. Instant coloring station that keeps the walls (mostly) safe.
25. Use SOCKER Plant Pots for Baby Supplies
Yep, plant pots. They’re the perfect size for holding Q-tips, nail clippers, or even pacifiers. Pop them on a shelf or dresser for easy access.
26. SONGESAND Bedside Table for Night Feeds
A small drawer for nipple balm, a basket for snacks, and space for your favorite water bottle—this little table makes night feeds just a bit easier.
27. KNAGGLIG Wooden Crates for Mobile Toy Storage
Add casters to these crates and let them roam. Toy clean-up becomes a push-and-go game. Bonus: they look delightfully rustic.
28. FEJKA Fake Plants for a Calming Vibe
You’re not trying to win a horticulture award, but a few fake greens add calm and life to any nursery. Pop them in unreachable corners or high shelves.
29. VARIERA Shelf Inserts = Maximize Closet Space
Closet shelf space often goes underused. These inserts let you stack onesies, baby shoes, or muslin cloths without toppling piles.
30. IKEA HACK IT YOUR WAY
Sometimes the best nursery hack is the one that solves your very specific headache. Paint it. Cut it. Combine three products. IKEA is the playground; you’ve got the imagination.
Final Thought
A well-designed nursery isn’t about perfection. It’s about finding flow, a rhythm that works for you, your baby, and that 3 a.m. diaper change. IKEA makes it possible to do that on a budget, in style, and with a few smiles along the way.
Happy nesting!