A child’s room that no longer fits his needs is much like a pair of outgrown jeans. But unlike clothing that’s too small, spaces that seem too confining can be redesigned to be functional and flexible.
Finding sufficient storage is the biggest hurdle. The first step is to move all the clutter to another location, then consider some of the following options. All of these can promote orderliness-an easier task for kids if they help decide what goes where.
– Under the bed: So much childhood play takes place on the floor, why not put dead space under a bed to work by keeping playthings there in containers? Deep plastic basins or cardboard boxes work fine, but the easiest containers for a kid to use are roll-out bins made for this purpose. Sold at furniture stores, bins come in varied sizes, so measure before buying to be sure it will fit under your child’s bed.
– Over the bed: A headboard featuring storage compartments can house everything from extra bedding to books and a radio. Above the headboard hang narrow shelves for stuffed play pals and other lightweights that can’t harm a sleeper if they topple.
– By the window: In a window alcove like a bay, build a lidded enclosure and use as storage space. Cushion the top and it transforms into a window seat.
– Behind a door: Many household organizers fit behind doors and can corral kid stuff just as easily as everyday items. One catchall that’s fun and functional is a hanging shoe pocket used for school supplies and whatnots.
– Odd nooks: Is your child’s room under the eaves? Turn that slanted cranny into open storage with shelves angled to fit. Are there a few inches between an entry or closet doorway and wall? Put them to good use with narrow floor-to-ceiling, made-to-fit shelves.
Look to the closet for more hidden storage opportunities. Remove the door, revamp the insides and discover a gold mine of usable space. Budget permitting, consult a space organizer to make the most of this area.
A doorless closet opens up a room, but if it’s too chilling to contemplate open storage, rest easy. With a pull curtain on a rod or vertical blinds, contents can be hidden when necessary.
To make a closet space-efficient, consider these details:
– Two adjustable clothes rods hung 30 inches apart and raised as dictated by your child’s growth.
– Storage drawers along the floor.
– A closet divided in two with split-level clothes rods on one side and open stacked adjustable shelves on the other. In a double closet with sliding doors you might even allocate half the area for the dresser to free a little floor space in the bedroom.
The top shelf can become loft storage for stuffed animals. Under-the-loft space-saving ideas include a study area made by bridging storage units with a painted or laminated board.
Put twofold furnishings to work for more breathing room.
Like building blocks, modular units assume split personalities depending on configuration. Used alone, they act as low storage; used one on the other, they turn into wall units.
A high bookcase placed well becomes a room divider. Custom built with 12-inch sides that are stepped, it becomes a play staircase. Other dual-purpose designs include:
– Futon chairs that flip open as sleep units or padded tumbling mats.
– Low chests and trunks topped with a pad for seating.
– Free-standing cupboards like armoires serve myriad uses from storing belongings to accommodating electronic gear.
– Loft beds with built-in study areas below and platform beds supported by storage drawers are ready made for multi-use.
Practical considerations aside, there are whimsical ways to deal with this issue. A few decorating ploys, such as art that appears three-dimensional, fool the eye into believing a room is bigger. In tight spaces, they spell relief as well as magic.
When placed so most of the area is within view, reflective material appears to double a setting’s dimensions. In the same way that a mirrored wall in a restaurant “enlarges” a site, full-length mirrored closet doors visually expand the space they reflect.
Color also creates a sense of spaciousness if the walls, woodwork, window and floor coverings all match. Paint furnishings the same color and the overall monochromatic effect increases the optical illusion. Keep in mind that light colors give the impression of open space; dark ones do the reverse.
Obviously, the illusion of spaciousness doesn’t dent the problem of confinement. But it does help prevent claustrophobia.
Having a small room doesn’t have to be a limiting experience. Learn together with your child a lesson in ingenuity.
Eliminating kids’ clutter
When it comes to cramped quarters, a kid’s room requires constant spring cleaning.
The best way to fight crowding is to establish a routine for eliminating discarded, broken and outgrown items.
Let the annual book benefit or clothing drive signal times for children to weed through their things.
To encourage someone young to make room for what the future holds, keep lesser-used belongings out of the room on a revolving basis. Susan Isaacs, a child development specialist, explains the Exchange System in her book “How to Organize Your Kid’s Room.”
“When a child doesn’t use something but doesn’t want to give it up,” Isaacs says, “put it in the Exchange System box. When one toy is put back in the room, another has to be put in the Exchange System.
“Don’t fight with your child about throwing out or keeping items. If he wants to keep something, let him. But if he is ambivalent, set up an exchange system or storage place. If there’s no spark of interest when an item rotates back, your child has outgrown it.”
