Sherry Borsheim

Just about every parent has been there.  It’s been a long day, and the last thing you want to see is your family room in total disarray.  It can be exhausting, overwhelming, and yes, it can make you throw up your hands in frustration.  One person can’t do everything alone.  However, there are ways that you can convince your children to help you keep your family room somewhat organized.  Make it fun.

Tip # 1:  A Color per Child

If you have more than one child, you know how important it is to make sure that each one knows how unique and special they are.  One of the easiest ways to do just that is to have different bins that is specially designated for each child – each one having their very own color.  If the child has a specific place to put their toys and other treasured items, there is a chance that they’ll be more likely to place it there when they are finished using it with your encouragement.  Make sure you let them truly make it their own – let them decorate it however they want.

Tip # 2:  The Game’s Afoot

Of course, children will often surprise us in what they are willing to do, or not do.  More often than not, picking up can turn into a boring chore.  Why not try to make it fun?  Turn it into a friendly competition.  Perhaps a friendly race to get all the toys put away.  Or if the family room is in a complete mess, perhaps a scavenger hunt is more applicable.  If you get the entire family involved, chances are your messy family room will be cleaned up in no time.  It’s up to you what the reward will be for the winner – but common ones might be the winner choosing what video to watch on TV, or perhaps they get to stay up ten minutes later at bedtime.

Tip # 3:  Keep Your Entertainment Simple

Let’s face it—kids aren’t the only reason why your family room is often in chaos.  The stacks of DVDs, video games, endless cords, and remotes also contribute to the problem.  Remember the best way to stay organized is to keep things simple.  Why not take the idea of having a bin for each of the child’s toys and extend it to your “toys” as well?  Keep the items where you are most likely to use them.  Maybe put a small basket on the table for the remotes.  A media tower or small bookcase next to the DVD player can make it a lot easier to put them away when you’re done.  As for the cords, simply take a cable velcro strap, a rubber band or buy a cable organizer to loop the like cords together.  That way they won’t turn into trip hazards as easily.  Take it one step further and label the cords so you know what they belong to.

These are just a few tips you can use to organize your family room.  Try them out and tell me what you think!

Whether it’s your first place or your downsizing after the kids have grown, dealing with a cramped kitchen is one way to get your creative juices flowing.  If you’re faced with a kitchen that needs to serve a small family, but has the capacity of little more than a walk in closet, here are a few ideas to get you started.

Tip # 1:  Minimize Clutter

Let’s face it; you don’t have much space to work in, so none of it can be wasted.  Things that are not essential to cooking or eating should be kept out of this small space, or at least be kept to a minimum.  If you absolutely must have that cute porcelain cow dish, make sure it does double duty – perhaps as a sugar bowl or creamer.

Tip #2:  Adjustable shelves are a Great Investment

The things you use in the kitchen often will come in different sizes.  I have yet to see a box of cereal, a box of pasta, or a can of soup that share the same size or shape.  It’s amazing how many different sizes and shapes can exist in the world—especially if they always seem to have the same amount of food!  If you don’t feel comfortable transferring everything into different containers, consider investing in some adjustable shelves.  That way you can easily adjust your shelf height to accommodate those larger items, or make the areas smaller to get rid of wasted space.

Tip # 3:  Make use of Vertical Space

Take a moment and reach up to the sky.  Really stretch out your arms.  See the amount of reach you have?  Why not use that in your kitchen?  If you look closely at many restaurants and bars, you’ll see that they make use of vertical space through the hanging of glasses, knives, or stirring utensils.  Why not use the same idea in your kitchen?   It can be as simple as placing a board with hooks along the top of your window, or putting a few clothes hooks at strategic places around the kitchen.

Tip # 4:  Keep it Easy to Clean

You know that your kitchen is going to get messy.  It’s what happens when you have a vibrant home life.  It’s a good idea to be able to clean things up quickly and easily.  One of the best ways to make clean up easier is to store messy or spill-able items on shelves that can keep the messes contained.  This can be as simple as having a simple lip around the shelves, and putting a simple easy to wipe material such as vinyl on the shelf itself.   For those bigger or unexpected messes, consider designating a shelf for your cleaning materials.  Many people choose to keep everything below the sink, but there are many other options available.

Remember, keeping things organized in your small kitchen will allow you to make the most use of what you have.