NURSERY PLANNING · MEASURE BEFORE YOU MOVE
Plan a nursery around the room you actually have
You do not need a showroom. You need a workable arrangement for everyday tasks, somewhere to put supplies, and enough information to check the equipment you plan to use.
This planner uses simple rectangles to help you think about space. It cannot evaluate safe sleep, installation, emergency access, supervision, or product compatibility. Follow current guidance and each product's instructions before arranging real furniture.
Measure more than the length of the walls
Sketch the usable floor area, then mark door swings, closets, windows, outlets, fixed heaters, and anything that cannot move. A rectangular outline is only a starting point: an alcove or an inward-opening door can make the usable space smaller than the overall dimensions suggest.
Measure furniture at its widest and deepest points. A reclining chair needs more room in use than when upright; a dresser needs room for its drawers to open. Record those extra spaces separately instead of assuming the rectangular footprint includes them.
Try a simple layout
All measurements below are in inches. The starter rectangles are illustrative dimensions, not product specifications or recommended clearances. Enter your measurements, select an item, and use its position controls. You can also drag it or use the arrow keys while it has keyboard focus.
Enable JavaScript to move the example furniture. You can still use the measurement guide below.
Layout positions stay in memory only and reset when you reload. The tool checks rectangle overlap and room boundaries only. “No overlap” does not mean an arrangement is safe.
Walk through three everyday tasks
Put supplies away
Picture carrying a basket of clean clothes into the room. Can you reach the right drawer and open it? Keep frequently used items together rather than distributing them across decorative storage.
Change the arrangement
Imagine needing to move or remove a piece of furniture. Is the exit route practical? Does something have to be dismantled? Plan for change rather than filling every available gap.
Clean the space
Check whether you can reach the floor and the areas around furniture. A plan that looks balanced from above may be awkward to maintain in person.
What this drawing cannot check
A top-down drawing does not show reachable cords, a piece of furniture that can tip, a changing surface's compatibility, or whether a sleep product is appropriate. Review the CPSC safe-sleep guidance and product recalls, and follow the exact manufacturer's instructions. The CPSC emphasizes an appropriate firm, flat sleep surface and keeping the sleep space free of soft bedding.
Once you have a draft, measure it in the actual room and check every moving part. A person with relevant expertise should review safety questions; this tool deliberately does not display a “safe nursery” score.
Use the registry planner to separate useful arrangements from optional purchases. Start with the room you have, then buy only what solves an identified need.