Good Questions: Making a Nook Work

2007.07.13.nursery.cratebarrel.balcony.wardrobe.jpg AT reader Robin is looking for some suggestions: My nursery is the size of a postage stamp, and compounding the problem is that one wall has a recessed nook in it, making it impossible to put a dresser on that wall. I don't want to waste that space, because I need all the storage I can get - this room has no closet! The nook is 28" wide, and I can't find a highboy that would fit in this space. Ideas?

Well, the good news is, we do know of a highboy that would fit a 28" nook - the Balcony Wardrobe at Crate and Barrel, pictured at left. The middle section is just shelves, which you could easily throw a few baskets on to use as infant clothing storage, and at 6' tall, this is a lot of storage in a slim profile. But it is also $599.00, and there are less expensive options.

2007.07.13.nursery.ikea.bjarnum.jpg
Cheaper and easier might be simply building shelves from floor to ceiling within your nook. Personally, we love the Bjarnum brackets from Ikea - you can cut the shelves to size and the brackets fit over the ends, giving a very built in look. DIY brakets and shelves also mean that you can go right to the ceiling, if you want, for extra storage.

Cheaper still is at the lumber yard, where you can buy shelf bracket wood by the yard, and they can cut it to fit, along with some wood shelves. Toss a spring-loaded bar across the top, hang up some pretty fabric, and you just made yourself a closet!

AT:Nursery readers, if you had a 28" nook and a desperate need for more storage, what would you do?

Comments (4)

homedecorators.com (It's a Home Depot company, in case you hate them!) has several skinny cabinet/dresser options under the $400 mark. You'll have to assemble it yourself but you can usually find a coupon from them online -- Amazon old skool-style. Good luck!

posted by omd on July 13th 2007 at 6:51am
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I like the idea of doing the built in shelves from Ikea and then if you wanted to cover up the storage you could hang a single panel of fabric to cover it up. The fabric could be a nice piece of accent decor in the room, and you'd be able to customize just how many shelves you put back there!

My husband and I have those Ikea shelves up in our kitchen, by the way, and one of them right now holds our toaster, spice rack, olive oil/vinegar, a serving tray, and a small wine rack, so they're pretty sturdy!!

posted by bluestar on July 13th 2007 at 8:20am
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I like the shelves idea, too. But leave the bottom just clear enough for crawling into and put a comfy pillow and stuffed animals in there. Kids love little cubbies they can snuggle into. What a treat!

posted by avimom on July 13th 2007 at 8:42am
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I don't know what color you had in mind, and this is not a highboy, but this may work for your space and is only $159 at IKEA:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60089872

My friends have one and it looks nice.

posted by ZMama on July 13th 2007 at 11:13pm
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