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The thing with small children is that they soon become bigger children and gather with them more and more stuff. As their interests and hobbies develop it can feel like your home is becoming ever smaller! Now that our three are getting older their interests and quite distinct which means that where they might once have shared a toy or item, they now are less keen to. Their clothing is bigger and their shoes and accessories ever more numerous.
I thought I’d share four tips to help you with maximising the space in your family home.
Be Ruthless
This is probably the hardest thing of all, but be ruthless in the things you are keeping. We go through the children’s toys and books at least twice a year for anything that they might have outgrown or are just no longer interested in. We offer the items to young children in the family, give them away on local thrift sites or donate them to charity shops. It can be really hard to let some things go, I often find that it’s a real sign that the children are growing up. But it’s nice to see some of their toys being enjoyed by their younger cousin. The same with books. We have so many books and whilst many of them are well-read and are read time and time again, there are plenty that the children have outgrown. We have kept hold of some of them from a sentimental point of view, and these will be stored for their own possible future children. We simply cannot keep everything. Being ruthless and removing items no longer in use is one great way to cut down on clutter in the house.
Plan the Space you Have
It really does pay to plan out the space that you have available. Think about how you want to use the space. So, for us, we keep our living room as clear as we can. We have a bookcase for our books and the children’s books but their toys and the majority of their books are in their bedrooms. I have large baskets for my needlework projects and have been looking at how I might store those better too. We spent some time planning out the children’s room to really maximize the space and opted for quite tall wardrobes that make use of the height in the room. We can use the upper part of the wardrobes for storing bedding, winter coats, etc.
Look for Hidden storage options
Hidden storage is the dream and is a really key way you can maximize the space you have available. Ottoman Beds are an excellent way of getting some much-needed storage. The platform of the bed lifts which gives you some much-needed space underneath. This is an ideal space to store spare bedding, seasonal clothing items, shoes, and even perhaps those items that you’re just a little too sentimental to give away. They’re a superb way to make use of otherwise dead space and are perfect for all types of rooms.
Another option might be a divan bed. These have pull-out drawers which also help you to better use that under bed space. It keeps everything looking neat and tidy and clutter-free with the added benefit of really making best use of all that space underneath the bed.
It’s also worth thinking about the size of bed that you want. Don’t just assume that it has to be single or a double. There are many different sizes of beds available and if you opt for one such as a divan or ottoman style bed you can utilize the storage space too which means you might not need other items of furniture in your room, adding to a feeling of less clutter and more space.
Maximize Shelving
It’s really worth making the most of your shelving space and going as high up as your can. Large baskets can really help to gather up the smaller items such as toys or magazines and can make shelves appear tidier and more ordered. Living in a home with high ceilings means we can really make use of the additional wall space with our shelving, creating more floor space in the process and space for the never ending books, toys and games. We have some large baskets that sit atop the shelving for storing the children’s toys in; it is quick to tidy away and makes the house feel much tidier.
How do you make the most of the space in your home? Are there any tips that you can share?
