If you are a parent then you probably know that successful kids bedrooms are all about storage! Who wants to be tripping over toys or sorting through boxes full of mess in search of missing puzzle pieces? By providing your children with the right storage solutions you will help them to keep their bedrooms tidy as well as look after and find their toys easily. Here are 10 easy tips to help you choose and create the best storage solutions for your child's bedroom:

1. Discuss the room with your child. Take a pen and paper and sit down with your child and ask them what they like about their room. Ask them to draw a picture of how they would ideally like it to be, this will often give us a different perspective on what their world is like. Ask your child what they would like in their room to make it easier for them to play and pack away. If you listen carefully then there are bound to be some gems to help you understand where improvements can be made. You will understand what is most important to them and how they like to spend their time in their bedroom.
   
   
2. See the world through your child's eyes. If you get down on the floor with your child then you'll notice the world looks completely different from your child's perspective! Almost instantaneously you will be able to see that some high shelves are out of their reach, and that they don't ever look up except when lying in bed. High shelves are often very useful for storing complex toys or toys that should only be played with under supervision. Coat hooks at the right height will make it easy for kids to hang up their school bags, scarves and jackets when they get home from school. Mobiles or installations near the child's bed will make for interesting viewing as they drift off into dreamland. Kids need a place to draw, build puzzles and play, therefore there should be sufficient storage nearby for all the items used during these activities.
   
   
3. Make a list of what you need. The most important thing to do when choosing storage for your kids' bedrooms is to make a list of their requirements and then carefully plan what you should pay attention to. Try not to settle for anything less or something that is not quite suitable or safe as it will end up costing you double when it needs to be replaced with the right thing. My mother always used to say buying cheap always ends up costing more.
   
   
4. Draw up a floor-plan. Measure the bedroom and draw up a scale model using graph paper. Be sure to indicate the windows and doors. It is much easier to draw up the items of furniture separately and cut them out than it is to keep redrawing the room and rubbing out when you want to make changes. By shuffling the various furniture items around the room you will quickly and easily be able to come up with a well designed layout. This will also stop you from purchasing pieces of furniture which you may not need and don't have space for. The secret is to make your furniture go farther by purchasing the right item and not by trying to make too many pieces of not quite right furniture fit into a small space together. This will only lead to frustration and more mess. The most important thing to remember when planning the layout of the room is to allocate sufficient floor-space as this is where children spend most of their time.
   
   
5. Allocate your budget. It's no use aiming high when the budget does not allow for it. Be realistic about your needs and be willing to spend what's necessary but try and find ways to combine budget items with some high end pieces which will last a life time. Think ahead about every item you purchase, how long will it last and can it be converted into being appropriate for the next phase of your child's development. Cots that convert into toddler beds for example are a clever solution to a piece of furniture that would otherwise only have lasted a year or two.
   
   
6. Does it fulfill your needs? Parents are often convinced to make on the spot purchases because they have seen a sample room setup which looks nice. This can often turn out to be a costly mistake because the items are either not the correct size for your particular room or the layout of the room simply does not lend itself to fitting the items purchased in a user friendly manner. The first and foremost aspect of purchasing furniture is that the piece should fulfill your minimum requirements if not more.
   
   
7. Is it sturdy? If the budget is set quit low, you may consider purchasing budget ranges. Although this may be suitable for immediate solutions it may not be the wisest decision in the long run. Consider the fact that most children are quite hardwearing on their furniture, pieces are often used to climb on or in, or turned upside down. If your new kid's furniture is not sturdy enough then your budget buy may soon turn into a safety hazard for your child and end up being thrown out much sooner than expected leaving you right back at square one and out of pocket.
   
   
8. Does it come pre-assembled? Pre-assembled kids bedroom furniture is often much more sturdy than flat-packed items only because their joints are mostly built using solid cabinetry building methods. Flat-packed furniture is generally cheaper as it costs less to ship and makes it easier to get the new furniture into a room. I have often been witness to the problem where beds and cots simply won't fit through a standard bedroom door. This is where the benefit of flat-pack furniture is so much greater. It does take a bit of time to put together plus some elbow grease but the satisfaction of having built something for your children soon makes one forget the hard work. It is always useful to note that moving knock down furniture in an assembled state is not advisable, rather partially disassemble to ensure minimal damage to your furniture.
   
   
9. Is it safe? Before purchasing storage furniture, make sure that all the drawers are on proper runners and will not tip the unit over if pulled out all the way. Check that handles are properly attached and will not easily break or be unscrewed by curious hands. Also check for self closing hinges or otherwise make sure that there are door catches to keep the doors on units in place. Make sure there are no sharp corners on the furniture and make sure that backing boards are properly attached. It is very important to make sure that when you install high shelving units that they should be secured to the wall using wall ties or L brackets purchased at your nearest hardware store. Most children will attempt climbing shelves in order to reach the top shelf and this precaution is sure to avoid any harm from coming to your children.
   
   
10. Does it match your décor style? Of course you say you would only purchase something for your kids' rooms which you actually like, but often times we can be swept up into choosing cute character products or girly colour schemes. A valuable piece of advice is to keep the furniture neutral and simple. It is easier to dress up something plain than it is to get rid of themed cutouts or garish colours that no longer suit your style. Not to mention all the times I have swapped furniture around in my own house, often changing shelves as various house members needs change, thus it is always useful if one adheres to a general sense of furniture style throughout the house.

About the Author:
Yulande Roxburgh - Clever Little Monkey
Yulande is a mother of two, artist, children's furniture designer and founder of Clever Little Monkey a reputable online children's furniture store shipping countrywide in South Africa.

Posted: 14 July 2010

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