It doesn't take much for your kid's room to become a mess. Daily playing, and the tendency of children to take things out more than they put them back, means chaos can happen in just a few hours. Here are some simple, inexpensive ways to take control of the clutter; don't forget to enlist your child's help in keeping his room organized.
Under-Bed Storage
Use the empty space under your child's bed with under-bed storage bins; they're great for out-of-season clothes. Store everyday toys in bins with wheels, which are easy to pull out and refill. If they're too tall for the bed, put the bed on risers; your child will enjoy climbing a little farther to get in, like a mini bunk bed. Put a small one-step stool or riser beside the bed to help.
Stackable Bins
Put large plastic stackable bins in the corner of his room. Different colors can designate different things; for instance, red for stuffed animals and blue for Legos or a toy car set. Or use see-through storage bins so you can tell what's inside, and put labels on the outside. Tell your child that every time he empties out a bin to play with what's inside, he needs to put it all back in the same bin before the next mealtime.
Shelf Containers
Smaller shelf-size containers are perfect for organizing small toys, and they stay out of the way on a bookshelf. Use clear ones and labels so your child knows what's inside without opening them all. They can hold fashion dolls, toy race cars and race track pieces, paints and markers, puzzles, pictures, papers, comic books, magazines and more.
Egg Cartons
You can even organize within larger bins or containers. Use egg cartons for doll's accessories, toy soldiers, game pieces or other small items; for slightly larger items, use disposable food storage containers.
Wall Baskets
Hang bicycle baskets on the wall to hold toys, games and books. Hang a tiered wire vegetable basket in the corner for stuffed toys of various sizes. These solutions let the toys remain visible while still being out of the way.
Wall Rope
Hang a rope or large ribbon along the entire length of one wall, and clip things to it with clothespins. It can hang pictures, artwork, birthday cards, hats, and other small things worthy of being on display.
Shoe Bag
Hang a see-through over-the-door hanging shoe bag on the back of the closet door. The pockets are perfect for Beanie Babies®, Barbie® dolls, action figures, markers, crayons, craft supplies, baseball cards, playing cards, blocks, and other small toys.
Hooks
Install clothing hooks all around the room to hang uniforms, jackets, caps, scarves, bags, and backpacks, and in the closet for a bathrobe and PJs.
Milk Crates
Plastic milk crates make cheap but colorful shelves on the floor of a closet. Don't stack them too high for kids, but one high under long hanging items, or two high under the shorter hanging items like shirts, will let you store shoes, sweaters, sweatshirts, jeans, and other foldable clothing.
Hampers
Put a clothes hamper in the closet or beside the dresser, and tell your child to put all his dirty clothes in there instead of on the floor or bed.
Desk
On top of your child's desk or work area, make sure there are lots of places to keep things so they don't end up scattered around or on the floor. Use coffee cans or old mugs for pens, pencils, markers, paint brushes, scissors, and rulers. Get an inbox or magazine organizer from the office supply store for notebook paper, and use an old shoe box for art supplies such as paints, glue, paper, and plasticine.
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