Dear Kathi,

I am a work-at-home mom, not to be confused with a stay-at-home mom, with no job besides her kids! I work 30 to 40 hours as an occupational counselor and, quite honestly, systems are not my forte.

I am at a loss about how to organize my kids. Issues constantly arise over where they should put their toys. I’ll admit that this is because there is no real method created to store their toys.

Another problem is where to put the oversize clothes that my youngest is waiting to grow into. We don’t have much extra space and storage is at a premium. Any solutions you might offer would be great!

Thanks.
Emily, Coronado

Emily,

Even full time moms experience the same difficulties, so don’t feel too alone. Toys can easily get out of control. As your children grow, systems need to be constantly updated to accommodate their different types of toys.

One proven method is to use stacking crates for toys. Place these along one wall or in a closet. Use the lowest bins for the smaller children and the top crates for the older (and taller). Use cartons to separate items within these crates. Small clear food storage containers can contain loose marbles, Legos, and other toys with many small pieces. Clear plastic shoe boxes work miracles for loose toys and they stack exceptionally well within crates. Puzzle pieces and rock collections can be stored and dispense easily in recycled milk cartons.

Labels are an effective way for your kids to remember where to store their toys. This can be a fun family activity if you use a little creativity. Take magazine clippings, drawings and photographs to mark where each item should live when it is not in use.

Sling a length of line or colored ribbon between two hooks on a wall, and use clothespins to suspend stuffed animals and beanbag toys. Personalize this area by also clipping up favorite pictures and drawings.

As an aside, I always instruct my clients to teach their children that each toy and game has a “home” where it lives most of the time. Stress the “home” concept. Don’t ask your kids to put their toys “away.” Instead, request that they take their toys to their individual “homes.” This exercise alleviates the problem of kids stuffing their toys to an out-of-sight, off-the-radar region, with the idea that they have lived up to your request and put their things “away.”

If you can’t find any extra shelf space up and out of the way for the oversize or off-season clothes, install slide out drawers under each child’s bed. There are also low rolling bins that slide under beds for storage. Oversized clothes are great stored in plastic bins, grouped by size. Label each bin. Rectangular bins stack neatly. You might also consider using space bags. These bags compress to hold up to three times the amount of clothes in the same space. The drawback to these bags is that they hold so much that you will probably store multiple sizes together. To keep organized and combat this problem, separate by size within each bag before compressing, or simply use smaller bags, one for each size pending.

When you make storage decisions, follow this guideline: the more often an item is used, the lower it’s shelf or drawer. Squirrel away lesser used items higher up and you will be asked to help retrieve toys less frequently.

Thanks for writing and don’t hesitate to write with any other specific questions.

Please submit your questions to: advice@addspacetoyourlife.com

San Diego Professional Organizer

Dear Kathi,

I have five kids and their toys have taken over my house. How can I handle storing my children’s toys and keepsakes without sacrificing my entire home?

Annie, Del Mar

Annie,

Start by sorting through your toy collection. Gather your children and have them group all of their toys together into separate piles. Each child can then choose what toys and keepsakes they wish to keep. You will be surprised how fast and decisive they are at clearing out their clutter. Children are normally much less sentimentally attached to their belongings than adults.
Hold a toy garage sale to get rid of the cast-off toys. Let your kids keep the profits. If a sale is too time-consuming, donate. Help your children select the local charity where they will donate their items. Take them with you when you deliver the donation. Being a part of this process, your kids will learn about giving, feel a sense of accomplishment and will more likely be willing to help on the next clearing spree.
When you have successfully cleared the old abandoned toys, take action and create a separate holding zone for each child’s toys. A large container works well because it creates a physical limit on the amount of toys each child can own. If your child wants a new toy, he/she will need to give away an item to create space within their bin for the new toy. Let your kids know that they are responsible for returning their toys to their individual storage containers before bed. These excercises will teach your children how to remain clutter-free throughout life.
Have a permanent donation box set aside in your home for unwanted items. Your family will soon develop the automatic habit of releasing old and unwanted items on a regular basis. As the “donate box” becomes a permanent part of your life, you will happily and easily clear at least one box of old possessions every month!
For the remaining keepsakes, put a trunk at the foot of each child’s bed or use an under-the-bed box. As they grow, you can add items to it and than send it off with them when they leave the nest.

Dear Kathi,

I have a really hard time storing my clothes. My closet is very small and I can’t get everything to fit inside. How can I optimize my incredible shrinking closet?

Cathy O, Cardiff

Cathy,

Use as much vertical space as possible within your closet.
Maximize your overhead closet space by installing a long shelf just above the clothes bar. If you already have a long shelf, see if there is enough space to add another above it. Use shelf dividers to keep your piles neat. Baskets also keep items separated and tidy. This is a smart spot for jeans, sweaters and bulky wardrobe items.
Stack 2-4 shoe shelves next to your closet to free up the interior shelf space. If you have a large vertical area just outside of your closet, consider adding a tall bookshelf.
Increase the use of your new exterior shelves by adding pre-made drawers or shallow boxes that fit on each shelf. These lightweight drawers are handy for delicate items. If you are on a budget, you can use shoe or gift boxes. Simply apply a coat of bright paint that coordinates with your room colors and you have a well put together look. If you wish to camouflage your shelved items, hang a piece of fabric or a roll-up blind to fit the front of your shelf.
Install a few hooks strategically on the inside walls of your closet to stow your pajamas and other daily wear items.
Use the back of your door to add space to your closet.
Install a thin drapery or towel rod on the inside of your closet door to hang folded scarves & belts. Gloves & other small items can also be kept here with shower curtain clips attached to the rod.
Remember, most importantly, purge your wardrobe as you are optimizing your closet. Keep in mind that you probably only wear 20% of the clothes that you are storing. Releasing clothing items will make your usable space much more rewarding.

Kathi is a professional organizer, image consultant and event planner based in San Diego California.

Please submit your questions to: advice@addspacetoyourlife.com