Name: Heidi
Child's Name and Age: Sophie, Age 1
Location: Cold Spring, New York
Category: Toys
Items used for the project and favorite part of the storage solution:
We own an Ikea Billy bookshelf that has enjoyed many incarnations; books in our first apartment; pantry storage in the kitchen of our second apartment; and shoes and boots in our current home. While I was pregnant with Sophie we realized we would need storage for baby supplies in the nursery, so we decided to repurpose that old bookshelf again.
At about 8 months pregnant and unhappy with the prominent appearance of tired white shelves in our nursery, I spent a busy Sunday afternoon making templates out of newspaper to make a Billy "cozy".
I already had inexpensive fabric from Fabric.com that suited the color scheme in the room (the room was already blue and even though we didn't know her gender until the baby was born, we had decided not to repaint). The ribbon around the top of the shelves had been tied around a gift I received at my shower. The pink brooch pinned to the front was a gift from a friend that I decided to use when adding pink accessories to the room after Sophie was born. I thought I would paint or decoupage the interior space after the baby was born, but I ended up using sale place mats from Linens'n'Things instead (who actually has time to paint after the baby is born?!).
As Sophie has become more mobile, the contents of these shelves have transitioned from changing and bedding supplies to baby books and toys. She often goes to these shelves to visit with her friends, so everything on them has to be safe.
Best storage tip for families with children:
Frankly, I'm eager to get lots of good tips from other contest entries... I suppose I would say to use every available surface (the back of a door is prime real estate) and use materials that are safe and sturdy. A child will be pulling it/hanging from it/swinging on it/bending it to its own purpose before you know it!
Thanks for entering, Heidi!
Nothing special about this.
view aladywhoknows's profile
Cute fabric. I'm jealous of the vintage F/P record player.
view bakerboy's profile
I love this! It looks way better than white melamine and I love the idea of using placemats at the back rather than repainting. I missed voting in the poll, but I'm definitely using this idea!
view ochtamale97's profile