It’s a new year, and a time for new beginnings. One way to freshen up your home, specifically your kids’ rooms and play spaces, is to revamp your storage solutions. This is helpful for multiple reasons:
1. It is a good way to go through some of your kids’ toys and clothing, which they may have outgrown. Weeding through toys that have been languishing in the bottom of closets, under beds and in baskets can be donated to charities, taken to a children’s consignment store or perhaps packed away for future siblings or friends.
2. It can motivate you to organize other areas of your home. I know personally, once I get started cleaning one closet, I am so happy with the results that I can’t wait to move on to other rooms of the house.
3. The best reason – making room for all those new toys and clothing!
Some helpful tips with regard to organizing spaces for little ones:
Keep things within reach of little hands. If children can’t see it or get to it, they won’t play with it! We don’t have a dedicated playroom in our house, so a lot of our kids’ toys are in the family room. I purchased large baskets with lids at Home Goods, so they not only look nice, the lids help keep things under control and also provide flat play surfaces.
Get creative and get it off of the floor! Try getting some wall mounted plant racks at the hardware store, spray paint them whatever color you desire, and stuff some stuffed animals in them. A tall wire hamper can serve the same purpose. A wall mounted magazine rack is also great for a bedside bookcase. Any of these things can be purchased for a reasonable price at places like Lowes, Home Depot, Marshalls, or even yard sales.
Legos. Ah, Legos. My son’s sole obsession. Lego now makes these amazing plastic storage containers in various sizes. The coolest part of these is that they are shaped like large Legos, and are actually stackable! We also employ those two-handled, snap-top plastic storage cases (ours are from Target) to keep the tiny pieces out of tiny hands.
A more expensive (but in the long run, perhaps more practical and usable) solution is to add a piece of furniture like a toy box, shelving (either on the wall or a floor unit) or a trundle. Our son is too young for sleepovers, but when we bought his ‘big boy bed’, we added the matching trundle specifically for under the bed storage. A storage ottoman for common spaces is also a great way to hide toys.
Need design advice, guidance or inspiration for your little one’s nest? We’d love to help!
Jennifer Prindiville, Owner/Designer
Two Little Birds Interiors (www.twolittlebirdsinteriors.com)
Design for Your Little One’s Nest
