Summer’s over and it’s time to shift gears for back to school. This means getting everyone out the door on time in the morning and making sure homework is done at night. With a busy family, this can be challenging and, sometimes, seemingly impossible. Does your morning sound anything like this?
- Where is your backpack, it’s time to go!
- I can’t find my other shoe.
- Mom, she’s wearing my shirt!
- I missed the bus; can you drive me to school?
- My book report was right here last night…
With work, school and bus schedules, mornings can become hectic. Implementing some organization will help both you and your kids start the day on time, feeling prepared and confident.
Designing a Kid-friendly Bedroom
A kid-friendly room will make mornings go more smoothly when your kids are able to easily find everything they need to get ready for school. Two important considerations in designing a child’s room are age and whether or not it’s a shared room. Storage demands will certainly increase if more than one child is in the room, but the basic needs of a school-aged child’s room include:
- Place for backpacks, books and supplies
- A place to do homework
- Clothes storage such as a dresser and/or closet
- Space for toys, games, treasures, and sports equipment
- Possibly a pet cage or aquarium
Maximizing the room space goes hand in hand with closet design, since the more items that can be in the room on book shelves, in cabinets or drawers, in under-bed storage, stacking bins or trunks impacts what will need to be in the closet.The bottom line is that you want everything accessible and organized for ease of use.
Tackling the Closet
An organized closet is the best way to speed up getting dressed in the morning. Most closets become a catch-all for clothes, toys, books, etc., so the first step to getting organized is to empty the closet. Discard clothes, shoes or uniforms that don’t fit or are never worn. Get rid of whatever is in the closet that could be somewhere else such as sports equipment to the garage, or toys and games to shelves in the bedroom. Design around only what needs to be in the closet and be realistic about how much the closet can hold. Here are some tips for organizing a kid’s closet for greatest utility:
- Install two-tier rods for more hanging space
- Separate school clothes by section or with color-coded hangers
- If a shared closet, each child can have their own hanger colors
- Open shelves are good for folded items like tee shirts and jeans, or shoes and purses
- Use labeled bins to hold smaller items like underwear, pajamas and socks
- Vertical shelves maximize space and less used/seasonal items can be stored up high
- Place shelving in the middle of a shared closet to give each child their own side for hanging
- Have a laundry bin in the closet to keep clothes off the floor
- Have hooks for “quick grab” items like jackets, pajamas and tomorrow’s outfit
- Over-the-door shoe hangers can provide pockets for shoes, jewelry or hair accessories
The Homework Headache
Homework is never a favorite with kids or parents, and it can become a source of tension in the home. Having a designated homework space reduces stress and encourages your child to focus on the task. Whether it’s a desk in their bedroom, or a counter top or table in the kitchen or family room, this space should be optimized for getting homework done as painlessly as possible.
- Quiet or low-traffic area to eliminate distractions
- Clutter-free, ample work space
- Comfortable chair or stool with proper height work area
- Sufficient lighting to avoid eyestrain and minimize computer screen glare
- Available supplies (paper, pens, ruler, scissors, glue) to facilitate getting homework done
Depending on the setup, this space could also double as storage for backpacks, books and other school necessities so they don’t get lost throughout the house. Eliminate the morning trauma of missing homework or misplaced permission slips.
Closets by Design can Maximize Your Space
If you need help getting your family organized for back to school success, Closets by Design will be happy to help. We are the experts at maximizing space and streamlining organizational processes. For everything from closet design to setting up a homework station, our talented designers can work with you to discover the best use of your space to meet the individual needs of your family.Call 1-888-500-9215 or go online today at www.closetsbydesign.com to find a designer near you and schedule a free, in-home consultation and start getting organized!
