This is off da hook, yo. Forgive me for getting a little gangster. That’s my inner $herdog coming out. Anyway, you know that we’ve slowly been making over John’s sister Emily’s nursery on a major budget and the good news is that we’re back with yet another update. We already shared how we painted some modern vertical stripes, added large mirrors to open things up, whipped up a super easy no-sew bed skirt, and made some free art by painting right over an old canvas with leftover wall paint to create some simple high-contrast pears.
But what about function and storage? Emily does have a nice sized armoire in the space as well as a changing table, a full closet and even some under-crib storage thanks to the aforementioned hide-everything-skirt. But we had one last display idea to keep a few things at arm’s reach in a sweet and interesting way. Remember how we mentioned that we had a plan for the empty space under those two large mirrors?
Well, we finally got to implement our super simple idea. And it took about ten minutes. Literally. We just hung six hooks under the mirrors to ground them and add function to the room as well as a cute modern clothesline-ish feeling.
But they’re not just any hooks. Oh no, these are insanely cool foldable hooks. So whenever they’re not in use, or if Emily ever wants to tuck them away…
…they just fold up and snap into place:
So from bibs to outfits (hats, shoes, onesies) to diaper bags and backpacks- even cloth bags or hanging baskets that can house toys or dirty laundry- this wall is super diverse and functional. Of course the obligatory warning here is if you have kids who are toddling around, be sure there aren’t any straps or cords hanging from the hooks that they can get stuck in. Safety first! And it certainly helps to hang them a good distance from the floor so your little ones can’t hit their heads on them (Emily’s are around three and a half feet from the ground).
So that’s how two packs of $9.99 hooks from Ikea can add interest, fun and function to any room for under twenty beans. And while we’re revealing more of the nursery makeover, we’ll share a much requested photo of my pear painted canvas from last week all hung up. Isn’t she a beaut? Perhaps the most beautiful thing about this DIY art was the $0 price tag. If keeping money in your wallet isn’t gorgeous then I don’t know what is.
Stay tuned for next week’s nursery update which not only includes some new lighting for the room but a DIY lamp shade makeover (for less than eight bucks). In the meantime, tell us what you’ve been doing when it comes to adding function around your own home. Any hook-hanging individuals out there who want to pipe up? Any basket freaks who have the guts to admit their basketoholism? I’ll start. Hi my name is Sherry and I’m a basketoholic.
Love the little row of hooks. I always hesitate to put hooks up because the previous owners were apparently in LOVE with hooks and put them in every single room of the house, mostly in the ceiling. Who does that? :-)
Sherry, I echo your sentiment of being a basketoholic. They are so versitale. Why use plastic bins when you could use baskets! I actually just posted the other day about not being able to pass up a basket on sale.
http://thesouthernnest.blogspot.com/2009/08/great-finds.html
Looks like your getting plenty of practice for your own nursery! Looking good!
Who doesn’t like to organize with baskets??? I also like old boxes, and fun painted boxes for kid’s rooms. I have old wood antique boxes stacked by my back door entrance to store shoes everyone kicks off upon entering the house.
Those hooks rock!
The bones of this nursery are going to be so cool, clean and modern that if you moved out the baby items, an adult would and could delightedly move into that room with absolutely no revisions.
What’s not to love!
Love. Those. Hooks!
Here’s a post of my new guest room redo!
http://321-home.blogspot.com/2009/09/guess-how-much-guest-room-cost.html
That’s a great way of setting out clothes for the next day as well. I typically get my little guy’s clothes out each night and lay them on the back on his chair in his room, but this would be a great way to do that as well – Heck, it would work for me in my room too!
You are doing a wonderful job! The piture looks really nice – it brings everything together – love it! And the hooks are a great idea too!
I’m not sure the location of the hooks is a good idea with young kids in the house. I think you mentioned an older sibling and if any roughhousing occurs, those hooks could make a serious “impression” on the kid that bumps into them.
Hey Carol,
Emily’s two existing children are actually much older (9 and 11) so they’re definitely old enough to know that the baby’s room is not for rough-housing (they’re lucky enough to have plenty of other spaces like a full basement and a playroom to get rowdy in). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
I love how you implemented these hooks! Hooks are a key element in our new DIY walk-in closet design. I bought a few brushed nickel five-hook rails from Lowes and strategically placed them by the ironing board (so you can hang the clothes after ironing and before dressing) and along one wall so that I can hang jeans or pants. It’s perfect, because I am lazy when it comes to putting pants on hangers–with this I can just hang by the back belt loops and they stay pressed.
Foldable hooks – what a great idea! Our house doesn’t have a coat closet so our laundry room becomes Outerwear Central when the weather cools down. We added a counter under the wire rack where the coats hang so they sorta hang and sorta sit on the counter now – not ideal. These hooks would work great on the opposite wall. We’d open them and use them in the winter then fold ’em up and forget about them in the spring and summer. The McMom is already asking for Xmas ideas and I think I found a stocking stuffer for her.
I love the stripes! They’re so adorable! Great color palette too :)
So Sherry – when are those precious pears going to be available in your shop? ;)
I love them!
Hey Rachel,
You’re not the first to ask. Maybe we’ll do a limited edition print made from the painted canvas! Stay tuned…
xo,
s
Well, that’ll make getting the baby dressed in the morning super fast. Great practical idea!
Hi my name is Cheryl and I’m a basketoholic. My fiance actually calls me a basket case because I go gaga over baskets. But I only buy them on sale! My latest find was a markdown on extra-small baskets I didn’t really need at 99 cents (regular price was $5.99).
I’m trying to add function in the form of increasing my usable floor space. There are pictures on the blog under the This Crooked House tag (I figure I’m safe with that category title since I don’t have the blog traffic LOL). What I’m considering is pushing the loveseat up against the unused front door which opens directly into the living room between two windows. I’m thinking of hanging a set of curtains centered between the windows to hide the door and pushing the couch against that. I have a pair of contrasting panels in a fun stripe pattern that will pick up the colours from the kitchen walls but I’m still undecided. I WILL have a functional space; I’m just working out the details. Loving your blog for inspiration and you-can-do-it! too.
Oh Sherry I love baskets too!
They are my favorite part of any home/craft store. The more unique, the better. I have so many my husband has tried to throw them away or hide them from me! I might need a little advice on how to use them efficiently. Will you please please please do a post on baskets and how to you use them for different purposes?!
That is a CUTE room! Does Emily have plans on painting the crib? I think a crisp white would look so good and would coordinate with the white mirrors!
Hey Amanda,
Here’s an old post all about how we store almost everything in our house with baskets, bowls and bins. Hope it helps! As for painting the crib, the current one may actually just be a placeholder for a new one that a family member has offered to pick up for Emily (the existing one is an older hand-me-down) so we’ll see if it makes it into the final room. You never know!
xo,
s
*runs off to IKEA to buy foldable hooks*
Thx for the heads-up, $herdog :)
Inner $herdog! That just made my morning! I snagged the KROKEN rail and s-hooks from Ikea and installed them near the kitchen door. The hooks hold my purse, keys, and the kids’ backpacks. We no longer have to play “Where’s your backpack?” before school each morning. We just grab them on our way out the door!
What a great idea! I love that the hooks can disappear also. I just love how this room can grow with the child instead of totally being a nursery.
I love what you’ve done, but I’m concerned about the hooks and safety – I’m glad they fold into place, but as a parent of an adventurous kid, I have to tell you that kids (especially between the ages of 2 and 5) will try to hang on them, build things on them, take your last reel of twine and create insane ‘rope art’ that makes spider webs look like child’s play, and worst of all – may get tangled up in anything hanging from them when they’re learning to pull themselves up and walk.
So while I’m glad they fold up, please be careful of those milestones when they don’t realize how dangerous ‘fun’ objects can be. I think at that stage, they should be used not to hang clothes or anything with rope, but as something far more child-friendly like hanging contruction paper (creating a hole in the paper to fit through the hook), a small basket for chalk, crayons, etc, and possibly clothed dolls that can be hung from the backs.
I hope you don’t think I’m being critical, but I come from years of near-heart-attack experience with our son (catching the TV just as he knocked it from its stand, saving him from choking to death after he attempted to climb a tree and his necklace got caught on a branch as he fell, using plastic Preskool hammers to tap out the glass in our old window… thank GOD he’s old enough to know better now!) :)
Hey Pretty Things,
We completely appreciate your input! This will be Emily’s third child so she knows how rowdy kids can get but I think since the baby has yet to be born she figures she still has a few years to enjoy the hooks before they can be reached (they’re 3.5′ from the floor). She’s a total safety freak so we’ve already talked about how she’ll be sure never to hang anything with cord or rope that could entangle an on-the-move toddler. And she’ll definitely remove them altogether if they ever become a hazard a few years down the line. In fact, we’ll be right there helping her caulk and paint the little holes we made if it ever gets to that. Promise!
xo,
s
I’m so old that I remember a day when my peers and I would have been told “if you run into this damn thing and cause us a trip to the ER, you’re going to get it when we get home”.
That would have been enough.
We hung hooks in our 6 year old daughters room for all of her purses (she has more than me!!) It’s a fun way to display them AND keeps them off her floor. Big hook fan here!
oh those are cute cute cute. I think those would be so fantastic in a laundry room too….
keep up the fun ideas.
oh and cause sometimes I don’t shut up..
:)
another basketholic here. Im packing like a mad woman, and there is seriously half the garage is filled with empty baskets whom contents are already packed… the hubby is shaking his head in disapproval for sure.
shut UP!!! I have those hooks all over our bedroom.
On a recent (my first!) trip to Ikea I fell in love with these hooks. Our bedroom constantly has clothes all over it. We got five packs of these hooks and scattered them all over one of our walls in the bedroom. Both when they are empty and when clothes are thrown up on them they look kind of modern art/funky. No more clothes thrown on top of the dresser.
Sherry- You guys did an amazing job! I love the way everything is turning out. I can’t wait to see more.
The hooks will be perfect for our new laundry room. Thanks for the link! Sturdy hooks have been an organizational must in our old farmhouse ~ which until recently didn’t have any closets.
The “pairing” of your original pear art with the crib bedding is scrumptious. Can’t wait for the next update and the lighting reveal.
Sherry, do you think I could spray paint the Ikea hooks in an oil rubbed bronze finish without messing up the folding mechanism?
Good question! Hmm, I’m not sure. Maybe snag a three-pack for $9 and test things out by spraying just one. If it works you can continue with the other two and if not you’ll have only messed up one (and can repurpose or pass along the other two to a friend). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Those hooks are great! I love them – but I have to agree with some of the previous commenters. 3’5″ is still too low! Nothing will keep a curious toddler from pushing up a box or some kind of step stool thing to reach those hooks.. and then oh my.. the things that could happen. I’ll stop beating the dead horse now! =]
Opps – my bad! I read over the part about Emily already having 2 kids… she knows what it’s like then. Not enough coffee today!
I am so getting these hooks for my son’s closet – these will be perfect for his belts, hats, and assorted boy stuff.
Thanks for the great ideas!
Where can I find those foldable hooks! They are perfect for kids rooms!!!!! Love them!
Hey Sandra,
The foldable hooks are from Ikea! We actually included a direct link to them in the post above so feel free to check ’em out. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
LOVE what you are doing with this nursery! But I also love the little outfits that are hanging! Where are they from?
Aren’t they cute? Most of those outfits are from Target’s Dwell line. Emily registered for a lot of them and right after her baby shower we sifted through all of her loot and picked out a few things that matched our color scheme for the hooks. Who knew I could be so into little boys clothes?!
xo,
s
Hi, my name is Sarah. I am a basketaholic. Not just baskets, though, but any container/storage/organizing device. I am trying to be better about only buying baskets/boxes when I have an actual purpose in mind for them. It isn’t always easy.
I “had” to buy a few silverware caddies and drawer organizers for my new house the other day. I got excited. Now I smile slightly every time I get a spoon. (I am hoping it will wear off soon.)
Now I am trying to think of a reason why I should go get some of those awesome Ikea hooks! I’m sure I’ll come up with a use for them…
3M Command Hooks
OMG. Love.
I have one in a metal finish on my front door. It was on the front door in my last house, too, because it’s a Command Hook, and you can do that! It hold wreaths or holiday decorations (wooden batty-type Halloweeny things; you know the ones), and it looks nice. And, if it bugs me when it’s unused (which it usually doesn’t, because it’s purty), I can just take it down!
You guys are rockin’ the nursery – great job!!
What great hooks! I’m already planning to plaster our house with 30,000 hooks from Anthropologie, but surely we can make room for a couple of these little folding guys too!
Sherry! I JUST blogged about my love of baskets! http://geyersinchatt.blogspot.com/2009/09/my-organizational-weapon-of-choice.html
I think we’re soul mates.
The hooks are cute! I wish I could do something like that in my kiddo’s bedroom. Unfortunately at 15 months old, he would be swinging from them and using them to create a rock wall in his bedroom, pulling the mirrors down on himself. Three and a half feet is nothing for my agile climber! I would tuck the idea away for when he is bigger, but I don’t think it would be as cute with teenager size clothes hanging on the hooks. :)
I just stumbled across this adorable clock and think with a little of that leftover paint it would look amazing in that baby’s room. Maybe as a welcome home baby gift?
http://www.moderndose.com/product_info.php?cPath=67_91&products_id=699
Hey Jessi,
That clock is too cute! The best would be if I were handy enough with a jigsaw to make one myself using a simple clock kit. Oh if only there were more hours in the day (and more tools in our garage).
xo,
s
Wow, the hooks are such a cute idea (I mean baby clothes are probably the cutest things ever – besides the baby, of course). It’s both functional and nice to look at at the same time, things you both do so well! Love it!
The nursery is turning to be so cute and yet modern. I love the hook idea! Makes me want to start a nursery of my own…well almost.
wowsers!!! what a uniquely custom and gorgeous room. l love love love love it
I love how the nursery is shaping up, guys. Those hooks are such a great, functional idea! I’m totally getting some for my utility room.
Very nice. It says “baby” without being cutesy.
Very clever with the hooks. Those wee little garments hanging from them look very fetching too.
So cute! I love what you’ve come up with and designed. Those hooks are so clever and the room is adorable! I’ve been helping my sister with a nursery too! :)
Have an awesome holiday weekend!
Roeshel
Hey, youngsters! I’m cheating a little on my “break” and just had to pipe up and tell you that you’re doing a fabulous job :) Super cute ideas. And Sherry, who knew you had so much of the Arteest in your petite little veins?! Lovely :)
Overly detailed observation – do you think it’s worth it to snag a 6pk of wooden hangers? Since they’re for display, it seems like using wood instead of the basic white plastic might look **extra** snazzy. Just a thought. Shower gift?? ;)
Oh, and congrats in advance, Emily!! We’re all excited to meet this adorable room’s resident :)
XO,
Jacci
You’re so right about the hangers. Little modern wood ones would be great. We were working with what we had after Emily’s shower, but snagging more polished and decorative hangers is definitely on our wish list for the reveal. Stay tuned…
xo,
s
Oh, and of course I love baskets as much as the next gal, *but* there are compelling reasons for nice, tight, seals :) Check it out…
http://homeforthebetter.blogspot.com/2009/09/labor-day-at-home-for-better.html
Have a great Labor Day Weekend, guys!!!
xo, Jacci
Those hooks are fantastic and I love how you hung them. I struggle with just hooks on a wall sometimes and this is a great idea. I love function and form! I am transforming my at home work space (mainly for recreational use!) currently and can’t wait to share it with the blog world. It is on my list to finish up over the long weekend. Stay tuned to my blog for a full reveal! http://www.lifewithkikiandcoco.blogspot.com
You just helped me solve my problem with these little hooks. I was looking for some hooks for a entry way corner to hang my girls’ jackets/sweaters on. These would work perfectly to use daily and then “hide” when we had a party where you do not want to see the “clutter”. Now to find a 14 x 14 cube so they can put their shoes on or place my purse on.
Wow, what a fabulously chic nursery. Those hooks are genius!