Wall space is the most underused real estate in a nursery. Floor space runs out fast — crib, dresser, glider, hamper. But the walls? Most rooms leave them almost empty.

Hanging baskets fix that. They move storage off the floor and onto the wall, keep everyday essentials within reach, and add texture and warmth to a room that can otherwise feel functional but flat.

See how we've used vertical storage across our 450+ curated nurseries → — every room designed with exactly these kinds of details in mind.

Below: the prettiest hanging baskets available right now, plus seven specific ways to put them to work.

Why hanging baskets work in a nursery

Across 450+ nurseries, vertical storage is one of the first things we introduce when floor space is tight — and hanging baskets are one of the easiest wins in the room.

They're lightweight, easy to install, easy to relocate, and available in textures — woven cotton, rattan, macramé, jute — that photograph beautifully and hold up to daily use. They don't require furniture or floor space. And unlike wall shelves, they're soft, which matters in a room where a curious toddler will eventually be pulling things down.

The key is placement. A basket that's too high is useless at 3am. Too low and it becomes a toy. The sweet spot: arm's reach from wherever you're standing or sitting most often in the room.

If you're mapping out where everything goes, our nursery organizer tool keeps every storage decision — and every product — tracked in one place.

7 ways to use hanging baskets in the nursery

1. Diaper changing station

In our Boston studio, we always specify at least one hanging station beside the changing table. Having diapers, wipes, and creams within one arm's reach — without taking up counter space — changes the routine entirely.

Mount a single basket at adult arm height on the wall beside your changing table. Stock it with diapers, wipes, barrier cream, and a spare outfit. Everything you need for a change, visible and accessible, without rummaging through a drawer with one hand on a wriggling baby.

One basket, one job. That specificity is what makes it work.

2. Books and soft toys

A low-hung basket — 18 to 24 inches from the floor — doubles as a toddler-accessible book and toy store. Books go in spine-down so covers face up. A few soft toys alongside.

The result is a self-service corner. Your toddler browses, picks, brings something to you. That behavior — independent selection — is worth designing for from the start. A pile on the floor doesn't create it. A basket at eye level does.

For more ideas on fitting storage into a small nursery, see our full guide to nursery storage ideas →

3. Swaddles and muslins

Swaddles multiply. You start with four and suddenly own fourteen. They need to be accessible — you'll grab one mid-feed, mid-bath, mid-spit-up — but they don't need to be in a drawer.

A soft woven basket hung near the glider holds six to eight swaddles folded loosely. Visible, reachable, and honest about how many you actually have so the pile doesn't quietly take over a shelf.

4. A low-maintenance plant

A hanging basket with a trailing plant — pothos, string of pearls, or a small fern — adds softness and life to a nursery in a way no product can replicate.

Keep it high enough to stay out of reach. Choose a variety that's non-toxic and tolerates low light. Pothos is the standard recommendation: hard to kill, air-purifying, and grows quickly enough that the room feels alive.

This is the detail that makes a nursery feel designed rather than assembled.

5. Baby care essentials

Lotions, massage oil, lavender bath wash — these are used at every bath and bedtime routine, and they're always ending up in the wrong place.

A small hanging basket mounted near the changing table or beside the bathtub keeps them together, visible, and out of the baby's reach but in yours. Decant products into matching amber glass bottles if you want it to look considered rather than cluttered.

6. Tiny accessories

Bows, socks, hats. The three categories most likely to disappear into a drawer and resurface six months later in the wrong size.

A hanging basket with a few small interior compartments — or a basket with a flat base that holds items upright — keeps these accessible without mixing them into drawers where they're never found. Near the dresser or changing table works best.

7. Craft and activity supplies (for older children)

As the room transitions from nursery to toddler room, storage needs shift. A hanging basket at toddler arm height holds crayons, coloring books, and small art supplies — accessible enough that they'll actually get used, contained enough that they don't take over the floor.

Mount it beside a small table or floor cushion. The basket defines the zone. Everything the child needs is right there, and everything else stays out of it.

What to look for when buying a hanging basket

Material. Woven cotton and macramé are the softest options — good for nurseries where the basket might be at a child's level. Rattan and seagrass are more structured and hold their shape better for heavier items like books or bottles.

Depth. Shallow baskets (under 6 inches) are best for accessories, small products, and folded muslins. Deeper baskets handle bulkier items — toys, swaddle stacks, craft supplies.

Hardware. Check what the basket comes with. Wall-mounted hooks, ceiling hooks, and adhesive strips all have different weight limits. For anything holding bottles or books — use a proper wall anchor, not an adhesive hook.

Tone. Natural, undyed textures — cream, oat, natural jute — work across almost every nursery palette. If the room has warm wood tones or earthy walls, a darker woven basket in caramel or brown grounds the wall nicely.

The baskets we'd actually buy

The right basket depends on the room and the job. Here's the short version:

• For a changing station: a structured woven cotton basket with a flat base — deep enough to hold a stack of diapers, shallow enough to reach into easily.
• For a plant: a macramé hanging planter with a built-in pot holder. Ceiling-mount for best light distribution.
• For books and toys: a rattan or seagrass basket, deeper than it is wide, mounted low enough for a toddler to reach.
• For accessories: a small, shallow woven basket — 6 to 8 inches across — near the dresser.

Adding these to your nursery list? Use the nursery organizer tool to track every product and task as you set up the room. And when you're ready to build the full product list — coordinated with your style and palette — the nursery registry builder does that in one place.

FAQ

Are hanging baskets safe in a nursery?

Yes — with the right placement. Mount them out of reach of a standing or climbing child, use proper wall anchors rated for the weight, and avoid placing them directly above the crib or play area. Soft-material baskets (woven cotton, macramé) are the safest choice near child-accessible zones.

What can I store in a hanging basket in the nursery?

Diapers, wipes, and creams near the changing table. Swaddles and muslins near the glider. Books and soft toys low on the wall for toddler access. Small accessories — bows, socks, hats — near the dresser. Plants anywhere there's adequate light and height.

How high should a hanging basket be in a nursery?

It depends on what's in it. Changing station and baby care baskets should sit at adult arm height — roughly 48 to 60 inches from the floor. Book and toy baskets for toddlers should be low — 18 to 24 inches. Plant baskets should be high enough that a child can't reach them, typically ceiling-hung or at 72 inches or above.

What material is best for a nursery hanging basket?

Woven cotton and macramé for soft, tactile textures that suit a nursery aesthetic. Rattan and seagrass for more structure and durability. Avoid anything with loose weaving wide enough for small fingers to catch on, and skip anything that sheds fibers near a sleeping baby.