We adore city life, but Baltimore’s narrow rowhomes can be tricky for growing families. New parents suddenly find their living areas crowded with toys and baby gear with no place to hide anything. When the kiddie chaos escalates, try these 6 organizing tips to restore order and reassert your grown-up style!
1. HUNT & GATHER. Collect toys, games, books, DVDs and baby gear in a central location and sort items into categories. You may be surprised by the sheer quantity, or find things you forgot you had.
2. FILTER. Only keep items that are needed and used frequently in the room. Broken toys, games with missing pieces, and items the kids have outgrown or are bored with should not occupy precious living space! Repair, discard, donate, relocate or store them. Involve your older children and explain that they can donate gently-loved toys to charity for other kids to enjoy.
3. THINK UP. Vertical space is your best friend. Opt for tall furniture with lots of shelves and put your walls to work by hanging decorative hooks, wall-mounted bins or shelves. The more vertical space you utilize, the more floor and tabletop space you can de-clutter.
4. MULTI-TASK. Why not store things inside your furniture? Look for multi-functional pieces such as storage ottomans, coffee tables and side tables with drawers and shelves underneath. You can even turn your couch into storage with an over-the-arm sofa caddy.
5. CONCEAL. Wicker, leather or fabric storage bins provide a sophisticated façade for small, brightly-colored toys inside. Plastic under-bed storage boxes slide under the couch for hidden storage, and room dividers conceal strollers from view. Try covering a folding table with a long tablecloth or fabric skirt, park large toys underneath and use it as an end table or console.
6. MAKE IT FUN AND FAIR. Allocate equal toy storage space to each child to avoid competition. Let each child select a few favorite toys and store the rest, rotating toys occasionally to rekindle the excitement. Label bins with pictures or words indicating what’s inside, store them within children’s reach, and maintain order with a one in, one out rule and a bedtime organizing routine.
Enjoy your newly organized space!
EMILY HERWIG IS A LOCUST POINT RESIDENT, PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER AND OWNER OF TIDY LIFE, AN ORGANIZING SERVICE FOR BALTIMORE RESIDENTS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS. | 443.438.4129 | WWW.MYTIDYLIFE.COM
