Children’s rooms are overflowing with stuff, and they have no clue what to do with it all. They might not even recognize that it bothers them, but when the chaos subsides, they feel better. They are less distracted when they’re free to enjoy their play in a clean, peaceful environment. Parents, do your kids a favor by helping them to control the clutter with a few easy steps.

It’s too much to expect a child’s room to be neat all of the time. However, encourage neatness by teaching children organizational skills. Providing them with boxes, baskets and bins to put everything in will allow cleanup to become a routine.

Storage systems don’t have to be elaborate or expensive. For starters, add a long row of hooks to the back of their door. The hooks should be mounted to a sturdy board, which is then attached to the wall. The hooks can hold coats, hats, scarves and backpacks to keep everything neat and accessible.

A large basket or tub is great for shoes, and a low bench where children can perch to put on socks and shoes would be ideal situated nearby.

An adjustable closet system is a practical idea for a child’s room. The components can be changed and rearranged as their storage requirements evolve. Put the basic organizational structure in place, and there’s a chance that your children will keep their stuff organized.

Here are a few more pointers to help get your kids organized:

• Kids should be able to toss things into baskets and bins without any fancy arranging.

• The younger the child, the fewer the shelves, drawers, bins and cabinets.

• Shallow shelves, shallow cabinets, shallow drawers.

• Be creative with storage. Almost any container can be put to use. Show your child how to straighten up the room a time or two, and then they will know what to do at cleanup time.

• Get your kids involved! Make picking up and organizing a game – keep a clean dustpan handy for scooping up toys, set an egg timer and race to put away the most items, or start a chore chart (good for ages 2+) to keep track of their assignments and rewards.

BONUS! Need some more inspiration? There are TONS of great ideas to help you get the most out of your space on Pinterest.com and Houzz. com. Here are a few tricks to using these phenomenal resources: Create Specific Boards Whether you’re working on a specific project or just collecting ideas for later, create boards and idea books that are specific and easy to find and navigate. For example, have a Pinterest board for each child’s room, a Houzz idea book where you store inspirational spaces to aspire to, and a board exclusively devoted to great organizational tips or products. It’ll make it easy to find those great ideas when you’re ready!

Follow The Experts If you like an industry professional’s style and aesthetic, following them on Pinterest and Houzz is a good move. Not only will you have access to their ideas and inspiration, but you’ll probably also stumble across some other experts you want to follow. It’s like inviting an instant, free interior designer into your home.

Make A To-Do List Narrow down the top five or 10 steps you need to take to complete your project, and use your Pinterest board to keep track. For example, if your project is organizing your growing toddler’s room, your pins might look something like this: Cleaning Out Baby’s Room, Donation Drop-Off Spots, DIY Shelves, Affordable & Stylish Baskets and Chore Charts For All Ages. Checking off the steps will come easier with the instructions at your fingertips.

MORE INFORMATION:

If you have questions about organizing your home or designing your dream closet, visit www. melaniejohnsonsclosets.com or call 453-0964. Follow Melanie Johnson on Facebook, Pinterest and Houzz. com for ideas and inspiration!