Kids stuff - where do you store...

[LilllyLovesLife]

I am in the process of moving and unfortunately my 2 girls (3 and 5) are going from having a double bedroom each to having to share one small ish double (and the built in cupboard has the water tank so even less space). We are getting bunk beds and have got rid of well over half the toys but I still don't see how it's all going to fit in. One the beds are in and up, they have one floor to ceiling wardrobe for their clothes, a bit of toy space in the airing cupboard and I am hoping to squeeze a chest of draws in. They do also have 2 storage draws under the bed. And some built in shelves in the old fireplace which are the right size for their books etc.

A few things we are struggling with:
SOFT TOYS! I have managed to scale them down to 2 of those pop up washing basket type things full, plus the ones on their beds. And I will have another go at getting rid of a few more but to be honest they do love all of them that are left and have already got rid of lots of lovely things they would hate to see go. Is there any better way of storing them that would keep them out the way? We have bought this new house (having previously only rented) so can finally do things we want to the house so any suggestions to add storage are more than welcome!

Also, Craft/drawing/paper crap, my daughters are both obsessed with this and my house is always cluttered with paper, pens, "models" and everything else that comes with it. Any suggestions with ways to get orgainsed with this? I am thinking of maybe using one of the shelves on the fireplace thing for all the pens etc and use the threat of what's not put away will go in the bin when they are at school/nursery.

Also just interested to know any good ways to boost storage really - we don't really have any lower wall space as each wall is taken up by bed on one side, window on the other, fireplace and cupboards on the other and the radiator and chest of draws on the 4th side.

Just panicking they will hate it - we have a baby due a few weeks after we move (hence why the 3rd room is taken). They are also having to move schools and have major changes in their lives so really want to make it nice! The room will be white and pink (and also has a bit of lime green on their wallpaper).

Any help would be very much appreciated!

[helenrhardwick]

All over the house! It's a big house but their stuff is in every room. They (boys 9 and 6) have their toys, books and lego in each of their rooms in lots of Ikea Trofast. Ikea Lack coffee tables also set up in each room for Lego. Board games are in a sideboard in the hall, jigsaws in another cupboard in the hall, tech stuff in a sideboard in the living room and all the art stuff in a chest of drawers in the dining room, paper in one drawer, pens etc in another, crafty stuff in another etc, with paints in a plastic box with lid in the garage (so they have to ask for it and I get the red flag that paint is a-comin and I can get the newspaper out). Homework and current projects in a box file each. Then there is all the archived toys and pictures etc... in a storage/loft type cupboard. But that's rammed... we're extending soon to include their own sitting room for video games etc so will shift some of it in there but I think it is time for a big clear out!!

[MissRainbowBrite]

I came on to suggest the zoo storage and see someone has already recommended it. My Dad made one for my daughter recently and it's fab. If you know someone who has basic woodworking skills then the wood and bungee rope (from eBay) cost about £30. You can have it made to measure and because it's so tall it holds dozens of cuddlies of all shapes and sizes.
This is DD's.

[Leeloo2]

I haven't read the whole thread, but as your girls are small and will have single bunk- beds, the pop up baskets of toys would fit at the end of them. We have art stuff in a kitchen cupboard and toy storage under the stairs. :)

[Colacolaaddict]

Clothes in drawers at the bottom of their wardrobe, and ikea kallax or floor to ceiling deep shelves for toys, where you were going to squeeze the chest of drawers in.

They really don't need that many clothes. 7 tops, a couple of dresses, a skirt, 2-3pr leggings, couple of cardis/jumpers, that kind of thing.

I have embraced trays for pens, paper etc. Big tray on the dining table with art supplies, pens/pencils sorted by type into old peanut butter jars (like jam jars but plastic so safer), stuff just has to be put back on tray or in correct jar to count as tidy.

Storage in baskets under coffee table (get one with a shelf), in a storage bench and under any side tables in the living room.
If you have a dining table you could consider replacing some of the chairs with a monk's bench, or built in bench,, with hidden storage underneath.

Don't scrimp on the underbed drawers. Really good solid deep ones hold absolutely loads. Cheap ones can fall apart if you put much weight in them.

[Colacolaaddict]

Also if you still have a water tank in the airing cupboard, you could consider removing it to create more storage, depending on your other plans for the house. Congrats on your new home btw.

[TimeToDash]

We find most of the crafty stuff happens in the dining room so we put a chest of drawers in there for all their craft stuff. Board games are all in a big cupboard in the hall, tech stuff all in a sideboard in the living room so a lot of their stuff is not in their bedrooms. Also they have these storage pouffes for some of their soft toys in their bedrooms. Then lots of Ikea Trofast and Billy bookcases in their rooms. All the bulky things like science kits etc go in the eaves storage and we bring them out one at a time. Shelves in their bedroom for their completed art work.