The Family Room Dilemma!
Close your eyes for a minute. Imagine a daycare. If I were to guess, you probably see toys as far as the eye can see. Big ones, little ones, and legos as they get their own category. Broken ones, toys with missing pieces, kid meal toys that never served a purpose, moving ones, and stationary ones. You see tall toys, short and everything in between. Bins that are open and toys hanging out, over and behind every container. Lids missing and long gone.
Now, open your eyes. Does my daycare description describe your home but it’s NOT a daycare facility? If so, let me help you, please, let me help you! Here are some tips on how to take your home from daycare to a kid friendly home…..trust me, there is a fine line.
Go through every single toy
This has to be done, even if it takes you days. Decide what stays and what goes. Donate toys that are outgrown, aren’t used, or drive you nuts! Take busted, missing important pieces, or just plain pointless (kid meal toys) and recycle or throw away. Some experts (other moms) suggest doing this without the kids. However, take the opportunity to teach children an important life lesson and organize early in life. Help children decide what is necessary to keep or when it is ok to let something go.
Find a décor friendly storage container
Condense your toys down to keep only what fits in the container. When you do that, clean-up will be a breeze and your home will look good in the process. We have an upholstered toy box that doubles as an ottoman between our couches. When I get a call from a friend that is dropping by in 5 minutes, we throw toys in the box, shut the lid, throw magazines on top and suddenly, there’s no trace of kids other than in pictures. Never underestimate the power of a big, beautiful basket. Of course, don’t fill it to the brim.
Utilize the skirted furniture
If I asked you to look under your couch, chances are it’s either clear or you would rather do nuclear war negotiations. Either way, your skirted furniture (that’s the key), can be a great way to hide toys. Get low profile containers to slide underneath to keep puzzles, small cars, games, crafts, etc. Using containers is the only way this will work to keep toys specifically contained and not lost in a black hole.
Why does kid friendly over daycare matter, you ask?
Because adults live there, too! Adults visit there and adults pay that mortgage. I hear friends say, there’s no point to decorate while my kids are little. FALSE! You owe it to yourself to have a home that appeals to everyone who lives there. I have 3 little kids. Although, I want them to play and enjoy our home! I also appreciate that we can do the flight of the bumble bee and have our home visitor ready in 5 minutes! Our homes need to reflect the entire family. Making a home kid and adult friendly benefits everyone.
Audrey Whiteley, CSE®
works for Balance & Harmony 360², as a Certified Staging Expert in the HOME division. The home environment affects your health, productivity, and happiness. She works with individuals who need to freshen-up outdated décor, “show” a room’s potential, or help homeowners create a lifestyle. Audrey makes the most of your surroundings whether you are staging for a quick sale, building a home, or want to elicit a more productive and peaceful setting in which to live.
Audrey Can Help Create:
Ideas or Design Boards
Room Layouts and Arrangements
Organization Solutions
Home Staging DIY Reports
Pre-Move Prep Strategies and Moving Plans
Purchasing and Hands-On Staging
Project Management from Start to Finish
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