Keeping kids rooms neat and tidy is a tremendous chore. Not only do kids have a tremendous talent to destroy a room in the blink of an eye, but they also keep getting more and more stuff. Holidays, birthdays, parties, family reunions, you name it, the kids always come away with something in hand. Of course, whatever they received last is the-most-important-can't-give-that-away-ever-I-love-it-so-much thing--until they get the next thing.
In order to manage your kids stuff, you need to know which possessions have real meaning to them. These are those precious items that really are important. They differ from the other stuff in that they have lasting significance to your kids, and they would be hurt if these things were taken from them.
Toy Shelf Organizer
On the other hand, a lot of stuff that they get is truly forgettable and disposable. I've noticed with my kids that a new gift gets a lot of attention, but within a very short period of time they get bored with it and move on. This doesn't mean that they won't come back to it some time in the future, but I've gotten to be pretty savvy on what has lasting power, and what's "yesterday's news." This is where smart storage for kids rooms comes in. If you are successful in keeping the stuff down to a reasonable amount, then you can manage your kid's rooms, and the storage of the important things.
Of course, it's the smart and educational thing to include your kids in weeding out useless toys and junk, this teaches them responsibility. The problem is that they tend to have a warped view on these things. Show them a dust-covered plastic thingamajig that you found behind the furnace in the basement (doesn't really matter what) and the usual reaction is "NO, I could never part with that!!! I got it from that person at that thing that time... I love it and play with it all the time!" Sound familiar? I hate to be brutal about it, but organizing your kid's room is best done when they're out of the house.
Okay, let's say you've gotten through phase 1, and you've weeded out the junk. Also, take the time to weed out good toys that your kids simply have outgrown. Don't throw them away; give them to a charitable organization.
Now it's time to organize the stuff that stays into manageable and logical categories. First of all, books and reading materials. These have to be on bookshelves or kids book display shelves. Make them as accessible as possible. The books should be on eye level. Any extra shelf space that you might have on the bookshelves at the top can be for display toys or pictures. There are so many great bookshelves and display shelves nowadays for kids rooms, you should see what's available at The Home Shelving Guide to Kids Shelves. You'll also find great suggestions for kids storage units and even kids revolving bookcases. You are sure to find things to help you get your kid's rooms organized.
Next come games and toys. Obviously not everything can be at eye level and easily accessible, so try to figure out which toys and games are most popular. Anything that is stored higher up should be visible to the kids.
I'm a big believer in baskets and storage bins. While the containers that the toys come in are more colorful and eye-catching, they waste a lot of space since they are all different shapes and sizes. By transferring toys such as Legos or Playmobil pieces to uniform storage containers, you can stack them up and really organize your shelves.
Likewise, bigger items such as stuffed animals and dress-up clothes can be readily stored in baskets. Baskets are easy to handle, easy to work with, and are an economical way to solve your storage needs.
There are really nice cube shelves that are designed specifically to hold storage boxes and baskets. This way, you have an attractive and practical piece of furniture which will hold the boxes and add color to the room at the same time.
Wall-mounted shelves are also a great way to organize stuff. While they usually aren't very big, they have the extra added bonus of adding color and character to a room. Most kid's rooms have available wall space which you can take advantage of, and kill two birds with one stone. You can decorate AND store things at the same time.
It all starts with you knowing what's available to help you get your kid's room into shape. Once you have a good idea of what you need, and also a plan for organizing the toys, books, games and other stuff, all you need to do is be tough and do it!