Don't Let Your Kid's "Stuff" Overtake Your Home!

A Guide to Keeping Your Children's Clothes and Toys Off of the Floor

No matter what their age, children have a lot of stuff. Beginning at birth, children need diapers, clothes, bibs, toys, car seats, high chairs, and on an on. As they grow, their "stuff" changes. It can be quite challenging to find storage solutions that don't require you to redesign a child's room every few years.

To avoid spending a fortune over a child's lifetime, there are several key things to keep in mind when creating a storage solution for a child's room: flexibility of the storage system, current age of the child, your budget; storage space; and child's personality and individual style.

First, the child will grow and grow up, so whatever storage system you select will need to afford flexibility in what is stored and how it is stored. A storage solution that is designed strictly for a toddler will be inappropriate for an elementary school child, and you'll find yourself re-purchasing storage containers and redesigning storage systems every few years.

Your budget is a key factor in determining what storage system you'll purchase for your child's room. From a strictly practical perspective, it would be best to purchase the most durable and well-made storage pieces you can afford. They will last longer, wear well, and hold up over the years.

The amount of space available for storage is another key consideration. If you plan to convert a small closet into a custom-made storage area, you don't want to purchase a large piece of furniture that won't fit in the space.

You'll also want to consider the types of things that will need to be stored in your child's room. Different sizes and shapes of storage areas will be needed for sports equipment and paraphernalia than will be needed for matchbox cars and Lego's, for example.

A great storage solution that affords flexibility and adaptability is a corner hammock for stuffed animals and dolls. Several toy hammocks can be installed at varying heights, and/or they can be elevated as your child grows. They are available in various colors and sizes and you can select the hammock(s) that match the color scheme and decor of the room.