Organizing a kid's room can be a challenge for both the parent and the child. Sometimes it seems as though clutter begets clutter, so when one item finds its way to the floor, more quickly follow. An unmade bed is an open invitation to pile things haphazardly, creating a mess that often becomes overwhelming to the child who lives there. As you organize your child's bedroom, try to look at the big picture through his eyes, according to the Organized Home website.
Sort
Spend a day with your child sorting items. Have three piles: one for items to keep in the room, one for items to store and one for items to discard or donate. After you finish sorting, determine what display or storage units you need to purchase based on the types and number of items you have. You'll need one bin for out-of-season clothing, another for toys to rotate when she's tired of the toys she wants to keep in her room, and another for miscellaneous items such as keepsakes and collectibles she doesn't want to display or supplies for occasional art projects. Label the bins before you store them in the attic, garage or spare closet.
Kid Size
Provide easy access to closet racks, drawers and other storage areas for your child so he can keep his own room tidy. Have a low-hanging rack and child-size hangers so he can put his own clothes away. Place clothing he wears often in lower drawers so he can reach them easily. Place bookshelves at his eye level so he can easily put books back when he finishes reading them. As he grows, you can raise the levels of his storage and organizational tools.
Closet Door Organizers
According to the Real Simple website, you can hang organizers on bedroom closet doors. Choose those with as many pockets as you need for your child's accessories such as hair ribbons, sunglasses, jewelry and other small items that tend to clutter dresser tops. Other items to store in the hanging organizer include stationery, often-used art supplies, wallets and shoes.
Message Center
Place a large message center in your child's room. For example, you can use a piece of Plexiglas on top of a desk or mounted to the wall. Smaller children can tape art work or pictures to it. As they get older, they can slip items they want to keep under the Plexiglas for protection. According to the Good Housekeeping website, you also can mount a corkboard to the wall for your child's photos and mementos.
Label
According to Woman's Day, you should label everything you use for storage, including drawers, shelves, bins and chests. When the children are small, take snapshots of items and tape the pictures to the outside of the containers. As the children get older, use labels describing the contents. This makes locating items much easier and less frustrating on those mornings when your child is getting ready for school. It also helps keep things where they belong.
Periodic Purging
Set a schedule for purging unwanted or unused items. This can be a family event or one you set for your child. Let her know that if she wants something new, she'll have to make room for it by getting rid of an item she's no longer using. This includes clothes, toys and anything else that takes up space in her room.
Member Comments