| There is one thing that you can count on when | | | | under the stairs, in the attic or in a dry basement |
| trying to sell your house: the kids' bedrooms will | | | | area. Some people even go to the extreme of |
| always look disastrous! If you do have a 'creative' | | | | hiring a short term storage space to get some of |
| child, one way to balance this is to ensure that | | | | the clutter away from their home. |
| the rest of the house looks spick and span. | | | | When you move into your new home, plan |
| The real estate agent may explain all about how | | | | storage into the design of your child's bedroom. |
| to 'home-stage' our house for a viewing, but | | | | Include lots of lower level storage space. Look for |
| there is never enough time to get around to | | | | beds with large and easy to open drawers |
| every corner of the house. | | | | underneath. Use chests that double as a seat |
| Kids have loads of 'stuff', but perhaps that is not | | | | when a cushion is thrown on top. |
| the real problem. The biggest complication is that | | | | You can be creative with storage space - a child's |
| they want all the 'stuff' out on display at the | | | | rocking cradle can be used to house all her dolls |
| same time. They think this looks great and very | | | | soft toys. Another way to store toys that can |
| interesting and we think it looks like a cluttered | | | | look fairly cute is to hand paint a wooden rocking |
| mess! | | | | chair and keep all the soft toys on that. A toy |
| How to solve the problem and still keep the | | | | box (with a hinged lid) can hold all manner of toys. |
| peace? Just for the duration of the sale time, | | | | Stacking boxes with very large ones at the |
| perhaps you could push some extra shelves inside | | | | bottom of the pile can look great. Paint each one |
| the closet. The closet doors could be left open | | | | in a different bright color and use each box for |
| with all the toys and fun jumble on display - but it | | | | only one type of toy, e.g. building blocks, model |
| is quickly closeable! This way the 'interesting' stuff | | | | cars, doll clothes, Lego bricks, etc. Sets of six |
| is out of sight. | | | | boxes can be bought with the largest box being |
| Book shelves can look untidy, and they will always | | | | about eighteen inches square. |
| be on display. Keep only books and 'book shapes' | | | | These blocks can be painted in more subtle tones |
| on the shelves. This means boxes or storage tins | | | | to match more sophisticated color schemes as |
| can be stacked on the bookshelf, but keep them | | | | the child ages. This way the boxes could always |
| all together. A good idea is to use the lowest shelf | | | | be a part of their bedroom furnishings. (I.e., |
| and stack them with the large books. Stack all | | | | eventually becoming filled with art and craft |
| books according to size - it helps! | | | | accessories, CD's, stationery, make-up, hair |
| One of the newer ideas that seems to work is | | | | accessories, etc!) |
| the 'hammock' that spans from corner to corner | | | | Some of these ideas may help to allay that |
| with a selection of stuff crammed into it! At least | | | | panicky rush to the kids' bedroom after the |
| this is not taking up floor space, so it does not | | | | realtor phones. If the rest of the house is |
| reduce the spacious feel of the room. | | | | immaculate, it is okay to have one room looking |
| Find a space in your garage to keep seasonal | | | | like a disordered jumble. It makes the rest of the |
| clothes, sports equipment or treasured (or | | | | house look impeccable! |
| cumbersome) artwork. You can also stack stuff | | | | |