The 12 Best Cubby Stories of the Year

Cubby is turning 1! We created Cubby to be a space for families at home — a fresh, fun, and useful place for home decor, cooking, and play. In the year since, Cubby has grown up to become the daily resource that we’ve dreamed of. Here’s a look back at a dozen of our most-favorite stories from the first year of Cubby’s life, and here’s to another year together! — Faith & Thao

As editors, whenever we need a refresher on what Cubby is all about, we return to this flagship story on designers’ favorite bedrooms for kids. From a starry-printed attic renovation to a banana-wallpapered nursery that sparks all the smiles, this story never ceases to provide inspiration. 

We fell hard for Stacie Abdallah’s home for so many reasons: a book-lined family room, clever storage solutions (check out the IKEA hack), playful kids’ bedrooms, and an outdoor space brimming with color. 

For many of us, it was the year of DIYs. This kids vintage roll-top desk is a quick and easy DIY with huge reward — all in one afternoon’s worth of work! Bonus: kids can get in on the fun with an age-appropriate dino drawer hack!

Emily and Chris bought this Tudor home in Detroit, Michigan, after falling in love at first sight. We guarantee you will also adore this space, with its warm, natural touches and a very surprising bathroom you must check out.

And for a thoughtful read on family homes and our relationship to clutter, try this researched and empathetic piece, with tons of takeaways to manage this omnipresent struggle for parents. 

Who says family dinner has to follow the same old formula every night? We have an idea for a low-effort, high-reward strategy that can bring the spark back into mealtime.

Speaking of family dinners: it’s fall, the sweaters are out, so of course, that means we’re leaning into cheesy comfort dishes like this one. Trust me: it’ll become one of your standbys too. 

If you’re thinking of how to optimize your mornings (less scrambling, more time for coffee), take a look at these make-ahead breakfast ideas that are nourishing and, most importantly, super quick! (I’m eyeing those warm hand pies, personally.) 

We can’t forget the all-important weekly grocery run either. These Costco staples are hand-picked for budget reasons and because they’re the ol’ reliables in the kitchen for families. 

The best baby gift doesn’t have to cost a lot to be meaningful — or in this case, anything at all. Here’s our idea for a foolproof formula that will bring all the sweetness for new parents. 

We’ve got the top toy picks for all ages and all price points, from a game system that remains a classic to low-tech, hands-on adventures to … stilts?! You’ve gotta see these.

Any parent knows the value of a really solid storage solution. Enter: this genius buy that somehow corrals the mess and keeps our Editor in Chief Faith’s small bathroom looking neat as can be.