Tips for buying storage solutions for kids rooms

Children’s furniture has come a long way from traditional bedroom sets that were just a smaller, more cheaply made version of adult furniture. Children’s furniture now comes in a range of styles that encourages a more creative use of space, as children’s bedrooms tend to be used as playrooms and studies as well as sleep spaces. However, as rooms become more multifunctional, the amount of things kept in them inevitably increases. Children today have more “stuff” than ever before, and keeping their belongings neat and out of the way, yet accessible, is a challenge to even the most organized parents. Luckily, furniture stores offer a wide range of storage options, and with a willingness to use space creatively, you can find plenty of extra space in even the most cluttered room.

The first trick is to find usable space that is being “wasted.” In a child’s room, much of this space is high up. Install a high shelf on the wall to keep knickknacks and souvenirs on display while preventing them from cluttering bookshelves or the tops of dressers; you can even install this shelf so that it borders the entire room. The stuffed animal hammock, a length of stretchy net material that you can hang high in a corner, is a cute way to store your child’s plush friends.

Another way to use wasted space is to find furniture that does double duty. It isn’t hard to find a toy box topped with a cushioned, couch-like bench seat; even cube chairs around a play table can store crayons and drawing materials. Since the area beneath the bed tends to become an automatic repository for forgotten toys and dirty socks anyway, why not organize the space with pull-out drawers? Even the inside of a closet door can be transformed into useable space with an inexpensive, easy-to-hang shoe rack. These usually come in clear plastic, and can be used to store small cars and trucks, dolls, and even art supplies, along with shoes and accessories.

If you can’t seem to find enough “wasted” space to transform into storage, think about creating space. A loft bed is a perfect way to create a significant amount of space in any room. The space underneath the bed can be used for storage or as a play space. As a bonus, many children love the novelty of sleeping up near the ceiling; it gives them a perspective on the world that they don’t often have.

The last way to create just a little more space in your child’s room is simply to better organize the existing storage space. If bookshelves are cluttered with toys or other non-book items, buy some inexpensive rectangle baskets or brightly colored cardboard boxes. Line them up on the shelf, and have your child put the toys or other items in the baskets. This solution may not actually make the room any neater, but it will provide a little extra space, and will look much nicer.