If you have a 3 bed semi, 2 kids, how did you finally get your house sorted?

[millionaireshortie]

I am struggling. The house is massively getting me down. At what point do you admit defeat and accept you don't have enough space for a family? Problem areas everywhere, clutter everywhere, in spite of constantly 'tidying'. We've installed fitted wardrobes, regularly cull kids toys and clothes, have a donate box permanently available in my landing cupboard, regularly visit the tip/charity shop and don't feel we buy excessively AT ALL. What amazing storage furniture am I missing? Any tips on how to manage a house of this size with a family of 4?

Lived in small rented flats and we found this type of things best for toys/books storage

www.dunelm.com/product/foldable-grey-ottoman-1000111410

A 3 bed semi is more than big enough for a family of 4 imo. I have 2 siblings and grew up in a 3 bed semi (my brothers shared a room and I had box room), and I now live in a small flat with DH and DS, no garden. The trick is to do regular clear outs - clothes, toys, things you just don't use anymore. Either to charity shops or you can sell on Facebook or ebay if you have the time/energy (kids clothes bundles are an easy way to make some money).
We also avoid buying anything too bulky. There can be quite a lot of joy in learning to live in a more pared down way I think - you keep the useful and the beautiful and let the rest go! I'm not a great housekeeper by any means, but I am a ruthless declutterer and I think that's what makes it work.
Also - look up. There's loads of space higher up that goes unused. Think bookshelves near the ceiling or round the door frame, wardrobes built to the ceiling etc etc. Wall space offers lots of storage possibilities!

A porch can make a massive difference. Ours is called the crap trap for a reason - coats, shoes and outdoorsy stuff lives there.

Also are the coats hung on hooks? That always looks a mess!

Could you build a coat cupboard and hang things on coat hangers inside on a rail?

I’ve got 3 kids and a messy husband, it drives me crazy!!! I have those over door hangers in kids beds rooms for shoes, hats, gloves, umbrellas etc and try to keep coats that aren’t being worn in wardrobes upstairs. I feel ‘upside down’ myself well the house is upside down. I guess it’s all part of family life though!

I often think of this quote when I’m getting stressed about the mess too!

Yes! I think a part of it is learning to accept the constant minor chaos. Thats just family life I think

Personally for me I would find it too small for any more than 1 child. About to ttc and we have a 3 bed semi, one room is bedroom/en suite, other room has fitted wardrobe, day bed and dressing table and other room which is a box room has DP's desk and computer in. I don't know how we will make it work but we will, but if we have anymore than 1 (hopefully) we will definitely look for a 4 bed. My parents have a lovely 4 bed detached which they mention they'd like to downsize in a few years so I've got my eye on that 🤣 many people make it work though, but I selfishly love my dressing room too much.

We have 3 beds, 2 dc - a DS and a DD, now 9 and 12. About 6 years ago we split the living room in half with a stud wall, into a smaller living room and a playroom end - this end is knocked through to the kitchen into a big kitchen playroom/den/diner. This has really helped.

All our furniture is as full of storage as it can be. The DCs both have cabin beds, we have drawers under our bed. Coffee table has drawers and a shelf. TV on wall. Lots of shelves. Washing machine and dryer in garage. Things stored in roof and garage. No hoarding. No room for nostalgia - judicious consideration of what to keep in the way of first shoes, school books, football programmes etc

You have to be minimalistic regardless what size house you have. If your not a minimal tidy person you could have a mansion and it would still look cluttered

We were a family of four, in a small two bed terrace. It was never a problem. Yes we had lots of stuff but it wasn't a stress. They move out and then you've got lots of room .

Personally for me I would find it too small for any more than 1 child.

You can’t serious?

Ottoman beds are great. You can store summer clothes, shoes, etc. then reverse in the spring. My friend has one for every child and themselves now. example below

www.happybeds.co.uk/beds/storagebeds?storage_bed_type=10845

@Smallsteps88

It can’t be just coats in the porch that’s the problem though Op. what other stuff do you have around the house that’s making you feel cramped?

Clothes airer or 2 constantly out in lounge throughout winter

Homework to be done

School bags
Shoes, boots, wellies
Hats, scarves, gloves, hair accessories
(I need to look at my hallway perhaps as a starting point!)

Laundry to be put away

Ironing pile

Stuff out on kitchen counters as it won't fit in cupboards

Lego creations all over children's floor which they want to keep - how to display/store?

For the coats specifically, we have an adult height rack of hooks on the wall and a kids' height rack of hooks. It makes it look less bulky having the coats split like that.

Watch the Home Edit on Netflix. It'll give you some good ideas.

We're a family of four in a three bed terrace and we make it work, although my kids are younger than yours and share a room. I'm ruthless with our stuff. If it hasn't been used in 3 months (as long as it's not seasonal) it either goes or gets put in long term storage in the loft.

We gave the kids the bigger bedroom and second room as a playroom. Decluttered everything. Used flylady. Use wall and door storage to get things off the floor.

Garage full of storage boxes.
We have a 4 bed semi for 2 adults and 2 kids, still clutter everywhere. Constantly tidying and decluttering, no clue where it all comes from.
Kids have a bedroom each and a chill out room/study. There's an upstairs storage room, it's still cluttered everywhere!
The house is a dorma though so not much room for cupboards as a lot of the upstairs rooms are under eaves.

Clothes airers will make things untidy. Could you wall mount a drying rail somewhere out of the way? I have a long rail in my laundry room which is fantastic. Could you put a tumble drier anywhere? Maybe in the garage?

Clear out your kitchen cupboards to get the stuff off the worktops - what sort of things are out? Clear worktops is a key thing I feel.

Homework waiting to be done goes in a cupboard. Keeping the kitchen table clear is also key.

Laundry gets put away as soon as folded.

Shoes / gloves / hats / bags stays in porch.

Clothes airer or 2 constantly out in lounge throughout winter

Get a Sheila’s maid and fit it in the space above the stairs.

Homework to be done

That doesn’t take up space for more than an hour or so and just takes up the kitchen table. Then the books go back into the school bags.

School bags

Either in bedrooms or on hooks under the stairs

Shoes, boots, wellies
Hats, scarves, gloves, hair accessories

All in the owner’s bedroom unless they are their every day shoes. Everybody gets to keep one pair of shoes downstairs on the shoe rack which is under the coat hooks.

(I need to look at my hallway perhaps as a starting point!)

Consider making it a cupboard with doors that close and shut it all away.

Laundry to be put away

Put it away?

Ironing pile

Put it in a basket and put it in a bedroom until ready to iron. Do it once a week.

Stuff out on kitchen counters as it won't fit in cupboards

Is your kitchen short on cupboards? Or do you have too many appliances? Or what sort of “stuff” is out?

Lego creations all over children's floor which they want to keep - how to display/store?

Either have a time limit on how long things stay out on display or move the Lego to their bedrooms.

When my ds was younger we put shelves along his bedroom wall where he could display Lego creations.

We have an ottoman bed already! Amazing!

Care to share links to cabin beds for kids? That idea might help.

Also wondering about some kind of outdoor storage box for cycling helmets, walking boots, wellies etc but it would need to be lockable.

Think I'll get a bigger kallax in DCs room :) Not sure where else I could fit further storage

Hi.. I live in a 3 bed semi with 2 children. Big age gap so no sharing
I think it comes down to not buying more furniture to store stuff, get rid of the stuff!
When we moved last time I had a huge cull and it's made thung alot better.
As for your specific questions I'd say get plenty of hooks for hallway and decent place to put shoes. You can't have less coats so just make peace with that, our hallway looks full but tidy.
Have hooks over every door! That's where the school bags live behind the kitchen door.. hoodies on them in kids room and towels on the ones in bathroom.
Just be ruthless with what you own and just keep what you love most.
Kids lego and toys are stored in a dresser so it blends in with the lounge.
Lego displays stay in their rooms..
Kids rooms are more cluttered but that won't be forever so I'm not fussy about that
Hope some of that is helpful

@KittyMcKitty

When my ds was younger we put shelves along his bedroom wall where he could display Lego creations.

I definitely need to do this to get it off the floor!!

We also have an outside box for wellies and boots and other stuff that would clutter the hallway