Tidying your children's bedroom can be an arduous task, and when it comes to keeping it tidy? Well, that's nearly impossible.
So if you're tired of standing on lego bricks - of neatly lining up teddies just to see them scattered on the floor minutes later - don't worry.
A professional organiser named Vicky Silverthorn has shared six easy steps to keep your child's bedroom tidy.
Writing for the Official Cricut Blog, Vicky explained that the first step is to come up with a simple organisational system, implementing something that children can follow, because let's face it, no child is going to spend hours organising their stuffed toys into size order and keeping them out on the windowsill for display.
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So, instead, start by grabbing some cheap boxes that match your kids' room's decor and show them how easy it is to keep their room clean.
"Whether it’s a box for dolls, another for puzzles, or one for blocks, it’s a simple dumping technique that saves the floor space and your time!" Vicky explains.
Next, it's all about labels.
Whacking a label onto a box can be more helpful than you think. It gives clear instructions to your kid on what needs to go where - and can be turned into a fun craft activity.
"If you’ve got young children, why not create pictures of the things to go in each box or storage unit?" Vicky suggests. "That way, they can easily identify what goes in each one".
For older kids, keep it simple with worded labels.
Vicky's third tip is all about decluttering, so it's time to take a long hard look at all the stuff your little ones have.
Over time, children's rooms get filled with old toys and teddies they're no longer interested in. Don't let your children hoard unwanted items just because they can.
"Have a clear-out and donate to a charity," says Vicky "It’s a great excuse to get children involved too and implant this idea so it becomes a part of their lives. We grow up and out of things and ‘that’s ok’ is the message".
Donating items can also open up a dialogue with your children on the importance of being charitable.
Tip number four puts focus on your child's artwork.
Instead of having drawers full of pictures, or piles of paintings on the floor where they can get messed up and ripped, why not create something special for them.
Vicky suggests having a "designated area for wall art in their rooms".
It's a budget-friendly way of decorating your kid's room too! You can purchase cheap frames online, and can easily replace the art when your child gets bored of it.
And if you're looking for a way to keep a room tidy that is shared by two children, then colour-coding can be your friend.
Having two children share a room doesn't have to mean double the mess. If you use colour coded boxes, children can learn from a young age how to share and stay organised.
"Some toys are for sharing so can have a designated neutral space or live in another part of the home," advises Vicky. "It’s a brilliant way to get the room in order, encourage tidying and teach them vital life skills that will help them as they grow up too".
Finally, Vicky recommends using wall stickers to help make rooms look as appealing for children as possible - without having to completely redecorate.
Adding some bespoke wall stickers can be a great way to freshen up the room and make it more personal. Is your child obsessed with space? Why not add some alien and moon stickers on the ceiling? The possibilities are endless, and you can both have fun in the process.
What's your best tip for tidying children's rooms? Let us know in the comments below
