This is off the hook — forgive me for getting a little playful. That’s just my personality coming through. Anyhow, we’ve been slowly revamping John’s sister Emily’s nursery on a tight budget, and here’s another update. Previously we showed how we painted modern vertical stripes, added large mirrors to make the room feel bigger, crafted a no-sew bed skirt, and created simple high-contrast pear art by painting over an old canvas with leftover wall paint.
Function and storage were next on the list. Emily’s nursery already has a sizable armoire, a changing table, a full closet, and under-crib storage thanks to the bed skirt. Still, we wanted one more clever display idea to keep everyday items within easy reach while adding personality to the room. Remember the empty space beneath those two large mirrors? We finally put our idea into action.
The solution was super simple — and fast. In about ten minutes we installed six hooks beneath the mirrors. The hooks help ground the mirrors visually and add useful storage without cluttering the space. The effect is modern and a little like a clothesline display.
These aren’t ordinary hooks — they’re foldable. When not in use, or when Emily wants a cleaner look, the hooks fold up neatly and snap into place.
They tuck away easily:
This little addition makes the wall very versatile. From bibs and onesies to hats, shoes, diaper bags, backpacks, cloth bags or hanging baskets that can hold toys or laundry — the hooks keep frequently used items accessible and organized. One safety note: if you have toddlers around, avoid hanging items with long straps or cords that could create a hazard, and mount hooks high enough that kids won’t bump their heads (we placed ours about three and a half feet from the floor).
All told, two packs of $9.99 hooks from Ikea added interest, charm and real function to the room for under twenty dollars. While we’re sharing more of the nursery, here’s a requested shot of the pear canvas from last week now hung on the wall. It’s a simple piece with a zero-dollar price tag — proof that stylish DIY doesn’t have to cost much.
Stay tuned for next week’s nursery update: we’ll be adding new lighting and showing a DIY lampshade makeover for under eight dollars. In the meantime, we’d love to hear what you’ve been doing to add function to your home. Anyone else using hooks creatively? Any devoted basket fans willing to confess their basket obsession? I’ll go first — hi, I’m Sherry, and I’m a basketoholic.