At Bonavita, we are proud to work with well known and distinguished designers and decorators throughout the country. Many bring their own personal flair to decorating nurseries around Bonavita’s line of nursery furnishings, and the results have been nothing short of amazing. We meet many talented decorators at industry trade shows, events and through word-of-mouth recommendations. But we were extremely fortunate to meet Cristin Bisbee Priest of Simplified Bee® through the blogosphere, and her expertise when it comes to organization is top notch.
As a busy mother, professional organizer & designer, Cristin saw a need for functional interior design. Simplified Bee®, based on the San Francisco Peninsula, is a residential organizing & design company specializing in clutter control and functional design.
With such an amazing resource just an email away, we took this opportunity to speak with Cristin about home organization and – specifically – organizing the nursery.
Bonavita: What is Simplified Bee®?
CBP: As a busy mother of young ones, I understand the desire for a home to be functional, yet beautiful. I saw a need for “functional” interior design and knew homes could be orderly without sacrificing style. As a result I launched Simplified Bee® in January 2009 offering residential style-savvy organization and design services in the San Francisco Bay Area. I believe surrounding yourself in beautiful, organized homes reduces stress, makes you happier and inspires healthier living.
In May of 2009, after a client pushed me to do so, I started the Simplified Bee® Blog. With limited marketing funds, the blog was originally a placeholder for a website that would be developed later that year. To my surprise, the little blog grew and I grew to love writing about interiors, organizing and entertaining. “Meeting” new blogger friends has also been a wonderful element in starting the blog.
Bonavita: What are the top 5 things a newly expectant parent should do to organize their baby’s nursery?
CBP:
- Plan the nursery room’s design, take room measurements {twice} and then determine what larger furnishings will need to be purchased {i.e. crib, dresser, and glider rockers}.
- Prepare the diaper changing station and load up on supplies. You will need to keep diapers, wipes, laundry hamper and trash can near the diapering area. It is best to store diapers and wipes on top of the changing table, the first shelf or drawer. Invest in small containers or a caddy to corral wash clothes, rash creams and cotton swabs. If possible, place a laundry hamper and trash can on either side of the changing table.
- Organize the closet and dresser. Family and friends love to purchase cute baby clothing, so you will be getting lots before the baby is even born. Don’t pull the tags off the outfits just yet – especially if it’s sized 3 month +. You will be surprised at how many outfits your baby doesn’t wear. Keeping the tags on will help if you want to exchange for a different size or something else. Organize the clothing according to size, season, style and finally color. Larger sized clothing may have to be put in storage bins {labeled} and store elsewhere until baby grows into them. Also, remember to wash and store all newborn clothing a few weeks before the baby arrives!
- Be ready for the toys! Newborn toys are often small and don’t require lots of space, but keeping them organized is a good idea. Baskets and bins are great to keep toys tidy and age-appropriate. As the baby gets bigger, so do the toys. Larger bins or baskets will be needed at that point to contain them. Toys can quickly take over rooms and even houses. Remember to store toys, loan or donate toys when your child has outgrown them. We have a rule in our house… when one toy comes in, one toy goes out. Keeps mommy sane!
- It’s hard and perhaps impossible to plan for all of the sleepless nights. Invest in a good glider rocker and get a cute nightlight. There are so many glider rocker options today too that would look great long after the baby years.
Bonavita: Many people have nurseries that also double as a toddler’s room. What are your tips for creating a nursery that’s good for both a newborn and a toddler?
CBP: When siblings share a room – regardless of age – it is important to coordinate the look and feel. Keeping the color palette and finishes on furnishings consistent can help. For example, if you have a white wooden crib, I would recommend pairing it with a white wooden toddler bed to unify the look. Keeping clothing, toys and diaper supplies separate is achieved by using color coded storage containers.
Bonavita: Do you have any products/tools that you use to keep things neat and organized?
CBP: I’m a fan of baskets, tins and just about any fun container that can keep a nursery room tidy. In addition, I like furniture that does double-duty such as cribs and benches that offer storage options. For a nursery, dressers that have the ability to be a changing table are great investments.
Bonavita: Just like Bonavita’s Francais Dressing Chest!
Francais Dressing Chest in Antiqued Charleston Cherry
Bonavita: Space is sometimes a big issue when it comes to the nursery. For those who have small rooms, how can they maximize the little space they have to create the perfect nursery?
CBP: Think vertically. Invest in bookcases, shelving or hutches, or hooks to maximize the space. Just make sure bookcases and hutches are braced to the wall to help keep baby safe.
Bonavita: Finally, for people who are new to organizing, it can seem almost overwhelming when they look around the clutter. For many, even beginning to organize can be an extremely daunting task. How do you recommend they get started?
CBP: Many times the biggest hurdle in getting organized is procrastinating. Taking action is the first step in stopping procrastination. Plan your mission and keep it simple. Just select the one project you must get done to feel productive. It may be going through that pile of mail, purging old shoes from your closet, or organizing the utensil drawer. Keep it simple and choose a manageable item you can complete in 5-15 minutes. Break the day up into a series of “sessions” for other tasks and balance the time spent planning with time spent doing. Don’t over think it and take too much time planning ~ this too can cause procrastination. Once complete, review your progress, pat yourself on the back, and plan your tasks for the next day. I find my clients get more and more motivated as they complete tasks.
Bonavita: Thanks Cristin for these great tips on organizing the nursery!
Are you getting ready to organize your nursery? Let us know if these tips helped by commenting below!
As Always, Bonavita Wishes You Inspired Nesting!
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