| Is your kid's room lacking in floor space? With | | | | Make stacks of shorts, jeans, t-shirts, long |
| dressers, desks, end tables, beds and toy boxes, | | | | sleeved shirts, sweaters and sweat suits on the |
| open space is a rare commodity. Consider opening | | | | smaller shelves. Items that take up more room |
| up the space and making their rooms more | | | | can go on the larger shelf. Getting everything out |
| inviting. Organizing your child's room and reducing | | | | of the dresser puts it where you can actually see |
| the clutter can renew their spirits and yours. Use | | | | everything available. You can buy wire baskets |
| these tips to not only create space, but to help | | | | that hang down from the shelves and act as |
| your child keep their room clean and organized, | | | | drawers for socks and underwear. No more |
| while spending very little money. | | | | digging through drawers to find their favorite |
| What you can actually accomplish depends on the | | | | outfits. Having everything visible really cuts down |
| size of your kid's closet. A good idea for a | | | | on messiness when it comes to your kid's clothes. |
| standard closet is to install a sturdy bottom shelf | | | | Also, things that aren't ever worn tend to stay at |
| about three feet high. Have it come almost to the | | | | the bottom of the stack. It makes it a lot easier |
| closet door, but leave room for a chair to be | | | | to get rid of things that no longer fit or just |
| stored there. This will be your child's desk. They | | | | never get worn. |
| can use it for art, homework, or small | | | | Next install a hanging bar below the desk. Hanging |
| manipulative games. Install another deep shelf | | | | clothes that aren't worn every day are out of |
| above the desk and place a light beneath it. Push | | | | sight and are no longer the focus of the entire |
| lights work well in places where you may not | | | | closet. Put the most worn clothes towards the |
| want to go all out installing special lighting and | | | | center. Store extra blankets, sheets and coats in |
| switches. Avoid lamps with incandescent bulbs | | | | a bin on one side of the floor. You can store |
| because the heat from the bulb can be a real fire | | | | shoes on the other side of the desk chair. Utilize |
| hazard, especially in a kid's closet where it can | | | | hooks on the back of the door for backpacks, |
| easily be knocked over, left on or unattended for | | | | belts, hats and other items that can be hung. |
| long periods. | | | | Now that everything is in the closet, you can get |
| The next step is to install three to four smaller | | | | rid of bulky dressers, desks and the chest of |
| shelves, shallower than the first two. Make these | | | | drawers. Your child will appreciate having room to |
| a little closer together. These will be for all of their | | | | play. You'll appreciate the ease of putting away |
| clothes. I try to leave the biggest space at the | | | | and finding clothes. No more stuffing that dresser |
| top for storing the entire out of season wardrobe. | | | | to the hilt! |