The first step is to find a place for all of the things. From the time they are babies until they move out and get their own place, kids have a lot of stuff. In the meantime, you have to find places for everything from strollers and building blocks to hockey sticks and Barbie collections. When everything has a place, there's a better chance that it will get put away. Don't waste space in your closet. Add a shelf unit and some storage bins, and if possible, hang hooks on the back of the closet door. The small dresser your young child used can be put in the closet when he or she is older.
Under most children's beds, there are storage spaces, and nightstands can have drawers or shelves. Bunk beds and sleeping lofts are obvious choices for saving space when kids share a room. Teenagers, especially those who are taller than 6 feet, may need a full-size bed instead of a twin. Again, think about storage under the bed or headboards that have storage built in.
Even if your school-aged child has a computer desk, it may not be big enough for him or her to spread out books and binders when doing homework. Think about getting a big desk if there's room, or keep an open mind about doing homework at the kitchen or dining room table. But keep in mind that a young child's feet should touch the floor to keep them from getting restless. If the chair in the dining room is too high, put a box or stool under their feet.
Using storage chests, large plastic cubes, or shelving units with bins can help keep track of toys and sports gear. Hall trees often come with a bench that can be used to store things like coats, boots, and skates.
You'll save yourself a lot of trouble if you paint your kids' rooms instead of putting up wallpaper. Children grow out of cute prints quickly, and a simple fix is to just paint over the old ones.
Choose fabrics with a high thread count and tight weave that are easy to clean and can stand up to a lot of use for living room and family room furniture. Textured fabrics don't last as long as flat weaves do. The new microfibers are a good choice for living with kids and pets, and slipcovers that can be taken off and washed are the easiest thing to clean. Also, sectional sofas are very flexible and can fit in any room. They are also comfortable for everyone in the family. Add a set of tables that fit inside each other and can be moved easily from one room to another for games and projects.
Family stuff shouldn't trip you up. There is a way to make everybody happy, even Mom.
