Keeping a child’s bedroom organised and interesting can be a challenge, especially if you prefer to keep everything neat and tidy. There’s nothing worse than finding the floor littered with toys every time you need to hoover.
We’ve rounded up some clever ideas to help keep play things safe, neat, but easily accessible, while still keeping the bedroom or play area a place kids want to spend time.
Play Tables
Play tables are a great idea and there are various ways to install them so they are multifunctional. You could have a simple storage bench or window seat that provides plenty of room inside for toys and games (or spare bedding), but which doubles as somewhere to sit.
If you mount a fold-down desk on one of the walls, this provides a handy space for homework or artwork and you can fold it flat against the wall when it’s not being used.
If your kids like building blocks of any description, you could choose a table with built-in storage drawers. It would help keep bricks or blocks organised but offer plenty of space on top for construction projects.
Bed Storage
Go for a divan or ottoman style bed that has built-in storage or, if you prefer, a frame bed that has plenty of space underneath for storage tubs. If you’re trying to reduce your household plastic, traditional cardboard boxes make perfect sense. Painting them or decorating with a collage of cut-out pictures or stickers is a fun and creative way to personalise a plain box.
Raised beds are a good idea if your children are old enough to use them sensibly and safely. Some have built-in wardrobes underneath, or alternatively look for ones with a desk or workspace beneath the sleeping area.
Hanging or Wall Storage
Floating shelves are the obvious choice and there are lots of creative ways to use them. Installing hooks beneath the shelves, for instance, creates hanging space for coats or aprons. Small hammocks beneath shelves are cute places for soft toys. A few other wall storage ideas include:
Pegboards that are easily installed and also easy to customise with hooks to hold art supplies, baskets or even mini shelves to display small items.
Magnetic strips that could be handy if metal toys such as cars will stick to them.
Wall-mounted fabric pockets that may be useful by the bed for a few essentials or comfort items, or beside a desk to hold craft items.
Clothes and Dressing Up
For everyday clothing, try and keep things at a child-friendly height when you’re trying to encourage independent thought and self-confidence. When kids can choose and reach their own clothes for the day it gives them a sense of autonomy and confidence, even if you do sometimes need to modify their choices before you leave the house.
Kids love dressing up, and it’s good for them too. install a child-height clothes rail for costumes and accessories. We often make the most of festive costumes for Halloween, easter or Christmas and there’s no reason not to make these fun items available at other times too. A simple chest, box or trunk is also a good idea for play clothes as most little kids have fun rummaging through muddled treasures.
A Bespoke Art Wall
Given half a chance, kids are prolific artists. Give them a special place to display the latest masterpiece by installing a cork board. You could choose one large one or have several smaller ones. It makes it very easy to swap and change as new works emerge. Save old favourites in a special binder or document box, so you can look back at them in the future.
Another idea is to paint the front of a wardrobe with chalkboard paint, making an instant art area that’s always available for drawings, quick notes or reminders.
General Toy Control
The saying ‘less is more’ often makes sense when it comes to possessions too. It’s definitely possible to have too much of a good thing or be spoiled for choice. Having too many toys to choose from can sometimes make kids feel overwhelmed, so they don’t know where to start. Limiting the number of games or playthings can help them focus in a positive way.
Storing some toys in a self storage room can help prevent this type of overwhelm without limiting the number of toys overall. Have a good selection and variety of activities available at home, and when kids are bored with them, swap them for items in self storage. This rotational system is similar to that promoted by the Montessori method of teaching.
With kids often having the smallest bedrooms in the house, it’s a great idea to organise storage so there’s room to both play and tidy things away. Hopefully one or two of the ideas here will spark some thoughts of your own so you can create the ideal play place and/or bedroom for your child.
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