Control the Clutter in Kid Spaces
Please note that this post contains affiliate links. We believe in these items, and we may receive a commission, at no cost to you from items purchased through this post, which helps us continue to provide free content. To learn more about how we choose products and other policies, please visit our full disclosure page here. Thank you for supporting us in this way!
Remember this time last year when Marie Kondo was teaching us how to spark joy via unfolding and then refolding clothes the right way? Kondo’s serenity was inspiring. The hardest part of purging and reorganizing my life has always been my kiddos’ plethora of toys. Giving them their own space to play and create has been one of the best parts of parenting. So my husband and I gave them a playroom for Christmas, but really the gift was for us: It keeps the toy clutter to a minimum in the living spaces of our home.
Here’s how we did it:
1. Organized Art: We hung a peg board on the wall for some great vertical organization. From there we hung metal pails and baskets filled with markers, paint brushes, and toys.
2. Horizontal Surfaces: This is one of my favorite creations. We bought a door from Home Resource and attached some hairpin legs (Buy the 28-inch tall ones or higher for a taller table) to make a tall, sturdy table. This table has seen so much art! We paint, complete homework projects, roll out play dough, and make slime! It’s the perfect surface for adult projects too, like my new obsession with calligraphy, which I admit I am no good at!
3. The Theater! The Theater!: Right now my 5-year-old daughter is begging my mostly unwilling 8-year-old son to pretend to be a chicken. This stage where kids’ imaginations run rampant doesn’t last forever. We decided to give our kids a stage for their dress up games and performances, constructed out of stackable decorative shelves (three-shelf and six-shelf options). The curtain is hung from a curved shower curtain. It also helps mom and dad keep the dress up clothes organized!
4. Hang some shelves to store puzzles and games. Cubbies make great places to display toys or more dress-up clothes.
Look, let’s not pretend this solved all of our organizational and tidiness problems, but it helps keep the clutter to a minimum and gives our kids a system to follow as they pick up their toys. Follow a few of these tips and you’ll be well on your way to a Marie Kondo-approved home!
