10 Steps To A Cute And Clutter Free Kid’s Bedroom

Written by Neat Freak

Every family with children faces a mountain of clutter at times. What with toys, clothes, and school things, the clutter can seem impossible to control. How do you organize and store this stuff without having your child’s room end up looking like a warehouse? How do you keep the clutter attractively contained and not just piled up? And, how do you keep your children interested in solving their storage problem? By keeping the storage fun, of course!

Luckily, there are ways to get your kids’ things organized without putting all their stuff in cardboard boxes stacked to the ceiling. You can create some fun at the same time you create storage. Bright colors and popular characters from your child’s favorite stories will definitely add to the decor rather than distract. Combine a variety of storage solutions to create a place for everything so that you’ll have everything in its place, looking cute.

Step 1: Decide on your budget and space needs.

You need to decide what kind of storage will work best, what type of storage is within your budget, and how much storage you need for all the stuff your child has to keep in their room. There are many types of storage to fit a variety of needs. You’ll find special under-the-bed storage boxes and built-in units, storage units that can be hung on the wall or behind doors, storage within furniture pieces and, of course, closet organizers.

Step 2: Involve your older child in the decision making.

The age of the child will determine how much input they can have, but it is nice when you can include your child’s opinion in deciding what type of storage they need. Involvement early in the process will help encourage your child to actually put their things away in “their very own” storage places. Pride of ownership helps a child feel motivated to keep things nice and tidy.

Step 3: Tackle the clothes on the floor.

This problem is often the number one complaint in a kid’s room. There are many cute hampers and little tricks to encourage putting dirty clothes in the hampers instead of on the floor. One of my favorite tricks is the basketball hoop above an open hamper. The hoop attaches to the wall above the hamper or on the hamper itself. Some of these hoops come with suction cups, so you can attach it to a smooth wall without damage. Fun and affective. Might as well give your basketball star something to shoot for!

Step 4: Choose dual purpose storage at the desk.

Many pieces of furniture for a child’s room are designed for storage and serve a dual purpose, such as desks attached to tall book shelves or armoires. There are even desk chairs that have storage in the chair itself. Consider looking at these desk chairs as a place to put your child’s school bag and homework so it’s always accessible and ready to pull out when it’s school-work time.

Step 5: Use dual purpose storage for larger seating.

You can also find cushion topped seats in larger window-seat or toy box size that have an attached lid so you can store items inside. This storage solution is excellent for lesser used items, perhaps for stuffed animals or extra blankets. When closed, your child has a comfy place to sit and read. If you have room under a window or at the end of the bed, this is a good dual purpose solution to seating and storage.

Step 6: Find under-utilized dual purpose storage for the bed.

Your child’s bed may actually be the perfect solution to your storage problem. If you are in the market for a new bed, consider a captain’s bed with built-in storage drawers that form the base of the bed. I’ve also seen enterprising folks build simple storage solutions under the bed by creating a box out of plywood the size of their child’s mattress and installing drawers or slipping colorful baskets in the space provided. You may also find head-boards that are actually boxes hinged at the top that form a nice, deep storage place for items that are not often used. Of course, with a little bit of carpentry skills, you could build this, as well.

Step 7: Create a wall full of bright storage.

Big bookcases with colorful wood or canvas bins is another attractive way to get the clutter out of view but keep it handy. There are many pre-planned units to choose from, or if your budget is tight, you could purchase simple bookcases at a reasonable price from a big outlet store and buy an assortment of baskets that fit. Look for colorful baskets on clearance racks in big hobby stores. You’ll find a lot of deals so don’t pay full price!

Step 8: Choose fun and interesting specially designed storage.

Another cute storage unit is the collapsible bin. These are fabric or mesh bins built around a large spring that can collapse into a flat circle for easy storage. Some are decorated to look like cartoon characters or animals and have a lid for the head, which is attached at the back like a hinge with velcro to keep them closed. On some, the bin is the body, and the big mouth, like the alligator bin, is the lid. You’ll find critters and characters with flippers, wings, and paws all to create a fun fantasy and encourage your child to put their toys away.

Step 9: Give rewards to stay clutter-free.

In order to keep your child’s room organized, you’ll need to find creative ways to help your child put their things in the places you’ve designed. If you have more than one child, you could make it a contest to see who can keep their room the neatest for the longest. Each child could start earning points toward a special treat for every day they clean up their room without being asked. This is a great way for your child to learn about the rewards that come when we make a good effort. It won’t take long for you to find out what works the best for your children.

Step 10: Evaluate routinely your child’s needs.

As your children grow and their needs change, you’ll need to rethink your child’s storage solutions. Just as they outgrow their clothing, they will outgrow their rooms and before you know it, the clutter will reappear. This is a sign that you need to take a look at what’s working and what isn’t. Remove the toys, books, and clothing that are no longer needed. Take a look at any storage solutions that are no longer used and either remove them or change their use. Again, involve your child with this process so you have the information you need to make the changes.

A clutter free home is certainly something we’re all striving towards, both for time saving reasons and just to help keep our sanity! When you make that clutter disappear and keep it fun, too, you’ve really accomplished a lot. Be sure to check back here often for more tips and ideas for a clutter free house… and life!

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Comments

One Response to “10 Steps To A Cute And Clutter Free Kid’s Bedroom”

mybedlinen says:
May 16th, 2011 12:28 pm

Stuffed animals always take up so much room, but you can’t throw them away! If you hang a net from the ceiling, you can put most of the stuffed animals in there. Have your child pick out the ones they want to play with for that week and just rotate the stuffed animals. That creates a lot of extra room in kids bedrooms.