Kids and Clutter: Solutions for decluttering, simplifying and decrapifying your home
It’s unavoidable. Sharing your home with kiddos means sharing your space with an endless collection of toys, games, books and art supplies of various shapes and sizes. Your once tidy, organized, “a place for everything and everything in its place” home is a thing of the past.
“A place for everything and everything in its place”
With two kids of my own, I have come to accept that having kids means having mountains of toys, craft supplies and school papers. The challenge is finding a way to sufficiently store away the clutter, and to do so with a sense of style. Well fear not! There is hope - and a 3-step approach to limiting, containing and donating kid clutter.
Step 1: Limit
Reduce the number of toys, games and books your child has available at any given time. This doesn’t mean toss ‘em, but a great strategy is to tuck a few away and introduce throughout the year to keep things fun and fresh
Limiting toys simplifies the cleaning process for kids and reduces the amount of kid clutter building up in your home
When it comes to school projects and artwork, keep only what you love and will want for the future. I keep anything personalized or with a handprint. All of the other things can be photographed and uploaded into a photobook which can be a great keepsake to pass onto your kids when they are older
Step 2: Contain
Whenever possible, buy dual-purpose furniture with built-in storage such as ottomans with removable lids, beds with underbed drawers, and dressers with a hutch
Opt for adult-size storage furniture and skip tiny kid shelves; full size models use more vertical space and your kids can grow into them
Eliminate the visual noise in a room by using storage containers which will instantly make it look more organized – decorative baskets for corralling toys serve a functional purpose in a room and contribute to the overall décor, canvas bins are a great place to stuff all those stuffies, and clear storage bins are a simple solution to keeping craft supplies and small toys under control
Step 3: Donate
Commit to donating unused toys, books and games 1-2 times per year
Include kids in the process of donating items and give them control over what stays and what goes so that they’re more likely to cooperate
Start a donation box and encourage your kids to donate to the box every time they get a new toy
Make it a habit before a major holiday like Christmas or birthdays. This way you can explain that you’re making room for new toys to come
What’s your secret to keep a clutter-free home?