HomeWork: Homeowner Tips For Winning the Kiddie-Clutter Battle

Small children have a tendency to create “kiddie-clutter” in a house, which can give a room a sense of chaos and lack of space. There are several tips that can help parents declutter and give them back useable space, particularly important in a small house. Creating unexpected storage is, fundamentally, the first step that can be done to tame clutter and make a home look neater and more roomy. Using tall, narrow bookshelves beside a child’s bed will create space for collectables, nighttime story books, and other things that parents can reach on the upper shelves, while baskets placed on the lower shelves will hold small toys, like dolls, and be within the child’s reach. The inside of closet doors can support calendars, memo boards, or even a shoe organizer that can be repurposed to hold toys, art supplies, or other items that could become clutter. Space-permitting, windowseats with built-in storage are great space saving solutions that double as seating, while installing built-in shelving in corners or bump outs provides additional space for books and toys on the lower levels, and for breakable items on the upper levels. Relatively inexpensive, and non-permanent solutions include storage bins and baskets, which come in many materials, shapes, and sizes. These can be color-coded for specific toys or to say which child’s toys are inside. A less obvious storage item is a repurposed old armoire, which can be painted to serve as an accent piece and has doors to ensure that the clutter remains out of sight. Larger toys can be stored in wooden chests, which can be great decorative objects, and the installation of safety hinges will ensure that the lid doesn’t accidentally fall on the child’s fingers. If introduced well, a storage system can become a fun way for children to help keep their space clean, making their parents happier and the house more presentable. | Read More