Bedrooms are trashed. Finding it hard see pics

[Shithole101]

I have been through a really hard time which I hope is going in a better direction. I have to cope with things completely on my own with no support. Whilst supporting others . There's lots of mental health issues. Special needs. Vulnerability etc .

Anyway as I say some things are starting to get better. But the kids bedrooms are a shit hole . The kids are with their father this weekend so I'm trying to use the time to get things done. But I get tired and out of breath so quickly I get drained and don't get much done . I have just managed to do the 2 youngest kids room. I need to tidy /clean and take old bed apart in the spare room . And then put new double bed together for that room. I have to get it done tonight. Because my other son is coming over tomorrow to chat /company as he's struggling mentally so I don't want to do it whilst he's here .

So I'm drinking an energy drink in the hope it will help me stay awake till late /give me some energy

I have included pictures because I want to shame myself and motivate myself to get it done. I will add after pictures as well once done

Any ideas how the kids can keep it tidy ? In an easy to manage way. One child is autistic and forgets what he's doing. By the time he gets to his room . And then the younger one gets upset because he feels like it's on him.

I will change it once my house is tidy 😂it's just a temp name. Just for this thread. I'm hoping to get some more done tomorrow a proper tidy up weekend. I was hoping to stay up late and do loads . Think I'm getting to old for all nighters.

Way to go OP, I hope you are feeling very pleased with yourself 😊

It looks great OP
It must be such a relief to have a secure home after such uncertainty
Rome wasn't built in a day, so please don't be hard on yourself

It looks great!

Looks brilliant! What an achievement! Hope you feel proud of yourself!

If you are allowed (if it is rented) you could stick some pictures or posters on the walls but honestly kids don't really care.

Also they can tidy up a bit but not a proper great tidy and clean like you have just done.

Great job!

I do feel better than I did. But I keep going up and down. I still have alot to do and want to get it done this weekend. Whilst I'm child free .

Honestly those rooms are better than my mum and dads house growing up, Im aspergers and 3 of my siblings are ASD and ADHD and the rooms were ten times worse than this

You have done an incredible job. Well done 😊🥳

You should really give yourself a pat on the back!

I had low folic. Crushing. I had anxious jittery feeling like and felt like I was having a heart attack even when sitting down, and also soooo tired! I thought I was dying. I had no energy for anything. You will start to feel better soon with the tablets.

I will say don’t turn your nose up at second hand furniture. There’s two very good reasons for this.

• Firstly the best furniture I have is all second hand. I have absolutely no issue spending god knows how much on new furniture but the quality is shit. Seriously. I have bought white company, Maisons du monde, Cotswold co. You name it. So many big brands. Looks nice but about as sturdy as a paper bag. It’s no better than ikea really.
• Second it takes time to figure out how you’re going to use a room and what storage you actually need. No matter how good you are at planning or conceptualising or measuring etc. You will get this wrong. It’s better to get everything second hand and then replace it when you see the right thing rather than searching for stuff. Because searching in itself is relentless and time consuming and on really possible online - and then back to point 1 you cannot tell quality on line!

For walls I bought the Argos frames very cheap simple black, white or wood. I cut out shapes from old paint testers on paper and made alphabets, numbers and shapes series (copying kids room art from Etsy). It looks really good and was quite a therapeutic activity.

Welldone 😊

https://direct.asda.com/george/home/home-accessories/photo-frames-albums/black-a3-photo-frame-set-of-3/

Sorry should say Asda not Argos. Really good for price. Looks smart and no different in look from much more expensive frames.

Thank you . I'm not ready to decorate yet . I just want ti keep on top of the tidying/cleaning did now . I will be decorating/making it more homely after Xmas.

IKEA delivery is really cheap for accessories. It’s like £1.99 I think, and that’s for unlimited things like baskets/ duvets/ nic nacs/ and similar. It only goes up for large rugs and furniture.

i would 100% look again at second hand furniture though. I needed two wardrobes. Was over £1000+ each for solid wood versions, was £300+ each for basic ikea/ Argos type. Found a hotel locally that was redecorating and got two solid wood Italian wardrobes for free. They look far better that anything we could have afforded, and freed up money to to buy other stuff for renovations.

I would get a bedside table for each bed with lamp ontop. Get dimmer lamps and they can then put on dim if one goes to bed later or reads. Gives somewhere for them to put water, or other things.

Wall mounted book shelves or bookcase.

get a desk each. Can be used for art and colouring, school work later, puzzles, or just building lego or similar so they have own private space with things other isn’t allowed to use

Look on Amazon if IKEA is too far from you, it has storage boxes which will fit the Trofast and Kallax units. You can find the measurements of the Ikea crates on the ikea online catalogue. That’s what I did for a second hand Kallax unit in the grandkids room and found some nice plastic boxes that fit perfectly.

I totally understand about you not wanting second hand but please dont overlook the free stuff sites. Lots of stuff on there is practically brand new and sometimes people will deliver for you if you offer something to cover their petrol costs.

Well done OP on great progress!

I had a go at finding out the cost to have 8 (random number!) IKEA trofast deep ‘bins’ delivered to my address. It would only be £4. Delivered on Monday. So maybe worth checking from your address.

I'd chat with them about what they think they need in their room. A bit of ownership might help.

If IKEA delivery is too much check out your local FB marketplace - IKEA stuff comes up loads on mine as kids outgrow it.

Labelling for kids is really good.

I have a "crap basket" that toys can get thrown into throughout the day or week and then sort. Have one kid find all the cars, another find the cuddly toys etc.

I do think you need better storage. And storage that hides stuff is great.

Good luck, it feels overwhelming but you will get there!

Morning thank you for everyone's replies . I'm so tired have only had 4 hrs sleep. Don't even know why. My door went so thought I may as well get up.

Anyway thank you for everyone's replies and being so encouraging. I'm hoping to get some more done today. I may do another Shame photo . It kind of encourages _pistes me to get it sorted as I commit to an after photo 🤣

People have mentioned several times about 2nd hand stuff as I said before it's not that I think its a bad thing, The reasons are simply that I don't want to. Also 2nd hand stuff is very popular it gos fast loads of people asking for it . I'm mainly competing against people who drive / have a means to pick up the seller is going to offer to them people not to somone who needs delivery. I know some people will deliver but its not that easy to come by.

Congratulations!
My only tip would be to print off instructions for your kids in large letters re your expectations and rules (i.e. no clothes on floor, toys picked up etc.) I find this helpful with my 13 year old son who zones out upon hearing my voice. And it saves me having to nag as much.

My 8 year old can't read at all. 7 year old can read but very slowly.

I was expecting worse. A big rug, that you lift up and tip all things into a box / crate at the end of the day. A chair to put clothes.

Oh wow, bloody well done OP - you have done an amazing job.
Have a nice day today with your son.

Thank you 😊 I'm gonna get ho. To help me move the wood from bed later.

I just looked on ikea . I can't see the runners for the unit that I have.

I dont think they have got runners. The crates just go in the channel.

I take that back, the white ones do have runners,

Here is a screenshot of the item number. I would contact IKeA about them.