Tips for Children’s Storage
Kids are messy. It’s the truth. No matter how hard we try, everything always seems to tornado with them around and the second everything is clean you invite another mess in. It can seem overwhelming and unavoidable, and almost as if you’ll always live in a little bit of a mess.
We’re here to offer you a respite from the disaster zone – and give you tips and tools for making kids organizing a healthy routine and part of everyone’s daily life.
While it may seem that kids will never be clean, there are some ways to curb the mess and make cleaning fun and manageable – or at least add fun colors so the mess in your playroom as an aesthetic appeal.
- DIY Multi-Purpose Shelves.
These will quickly become your best friend with your kids ever-increasing number of belongings – and they don’t need to be expensive! There are many you can make yourself that can serve as a book case, toy bin, organizer, shelf for pictures, etc. For inspiration, check out this one, this one or this one.
2. Sophisticate It
Kids décor can mean whatever you want it to mean! It doesn’t have to be loud colors or obnoxious prints if that’s not what you want. Toy organizers don’t need to be plastic and disrupt a space. They can also have a more sophisticated feel – like this or this. (Or even pull a fast one and upcycle something like this shelf made out of an old tire.
3. Expect the Unexpected
Toy organizing doesn’t need to include buying all new things – take a look around your house and you’ll notice many things that have a defined purpose that can also be used in a kid’s room. Tupperware, shoe organizers, spice racks, dish racks, etc. Take another look at various storage options around your home, it’s almost as if they’re all dual-purpose and also made to tame kids’ messes. Get inventive and find a new job for something you no longer need or already love to use in your kitchen, bathroom, etc.
4. Crap Buckets
Crap. Buckets. These are perfect for those teeny pieces of plastic that inevitably end up in the pile of stuff on the ground in a kids’ room. They’re not things you can throw away, because they obviously have some purpose, but that purpose is not clear. Crap buckets. Do it. And label with the kids’ names if you want to get really fancy.
5. Bungee Cords
These are a great addition if you want to create your own DIY crate for stuffed animals, or wrangle things into a corner. They stretch, hold, and keep their shape for years and years.
6. Don’t Underestimate Magnets
Use wall space! It’s there, and so many things can be attached via magnets and easily put back. Bins for coloring books, cups on the refrigerator, favorite drawings, cups full of crayons, etc. Create some much-needed space by expanding storage options upward!
7. Use Air Space
A continuation of the previous point, take up extra corners of the room with toy hammocks – a great choice both aesthetically and logistically. Take a look at a great example here.
8. Legos, Legos, Legos
In the eyes of your children, there are never enough legos. They pile up, get mixed up, can all fit together and can REALLY hurt on bare feet. If you’ve ever accidentally stepped on one on your way out of your child’s room at bedtime you know what I’m talking about. OUCH.
So how can we keep them off the floor and out of harm’s way? There are many ways – Ziplock bags, plastic bins, color-coded storage, storage by size, themed set, etc. Whatever your strategy is – define it now and stick with it. Save your arches and don’t leave it up to chance.
9. Outdoor Storage
Backyard storage is just as important in terms of organizing, enjoying your space and increasing the longevity of your toys. Designate bins per type of toy or child and make it a habit to return everything to its home after every Saturday outside.
10. Binders for Manuals
Ah, manuals. Often neglected but desperately needed in rare but nonetheless critical moments. We recommend saving all of them and organizing them in a binder if possible. You’ll thank us later.
Photo by Vanessa Bucceri on Unsplash
