I Gotta Get Me Some Baskets & Bins

I really, really need things to be in their place.

Especially toys.

I am a firm believer in the put-something-away-before-you-get-something-else-out method of play.

It is a good thing that I have one child.

I know that is what you are thinking.

Anyway, I have been planning on participating in Organizing Junkie's Monthly Organizing Round-Up.

For, like, the last five months.

But I've still got time to join in for June's Playroom Challenge.

We use an extra bedroom for The Princess' playroom. It is actually the largest bedroom in our home, but it is the only downstairs bedroom. We wanted to have everyone sleeping on the same floor, so it worked out perfectly.

Since we didn't use the clothing rod in the closet, we added shelving. My goal was to create a place for all her junk toys so that the playroom floor could remain uncluttered.

This is a look into her closet.

The shelves that are straight ahead were already there. We added the shelving on either side.

The basket on the lower shelf holds her dolls and their accessories.

Her magazines, sticker books and coloring books are in the white magazine holders.

The green baskets hold art supplies, Littlest Pet Shop things, Polly Pockets, etc.

We left a space for her toy box. It holds sports equipment and big stuff that won't fit anywhere else. Little boxes and baskets are handy for smaller things. Note that one of those holds her band-aid collection. When The Princess was little, she said she was going to open a band-aid store when she grew up. Made sense to me...

I love big tubs for her dollhouse furniture. We also keep a big tub of toys for little kids to play with when they come to visit.

We call it Operation Distract and Entertain.

I had an old piece of furniture that we painted silver to hold her movies and video games. We added new knobs--that now strangely remind me of that bra Madonna wore--and it looks like a brand new piece of furniture. Um. Pretend that those knobs are totally level.

Here's a few shots of the rest of the room.

I love these bookshelves. The back of the shelves are mirrored, which adds a little sparkle to the room.

And no, we did not buy The Princess a flat screen TV. The King moved his TV in her room for the ultimate video game experience.

His. Not hers.

The bulletin board behind the TV would be easy to make. A frame, some fabric and a little ribbon.

These swirls were painted by a friend. I love what they add to the room.

We found a "chandelier" in the sale area of a lighting store to add a little glam to the room.

I love to find ways to use older furniture or inexpensive furniture for a child's room. There is so much that a little paint, mirrors and fabric can do!!

Oh. And remember how I said the goal was to keep the floor uncluttered? Well imagine how it would look without the baskets...

The organizing is still a work in progress, but it is nice to know that it is working. Creating a spot for most of her items really encourages her to put things back. It also cuts down on the, "MOM!! I can't find my stuff!!"

And that is worth almost every penny.

Comments

[Lizzie]

Ooooooh, we could totally be related and not even know it. Doesn't it warm the cockles of your heart to see all those pretty green baskets up on that shelf? I tried to do something similar with my linen closet this week but miscalculated basket size and now my cupboard door won't close flush, LOL. Never mind - I'll use those baskets elsewhere and it will give me an excuse to buy more!

Awesome ideas and TONS of inspiration, thanks!

Cheers,
Lizzie

http://lizzieshome.com/
http://whisperofgrace.blogspot.com/ (encouragement and resources for the new Christian)

[Tammy]

WOW. I better not let my Princess see all those baskets or there will be quite the basket-envy. We use a book shelf and bins from Target for our kids things and under the bed storage bins. I can't say they always use them without strong kind encouragement from me. But it's a good way to teach them how to organize things and learn that everything has a place. Right? I think so too.

[Raising Country Kids]

I'm trying not to be horribly envious that you have a separate playroom and closet for all the toys. But aside from that, I'm right there with you on the tubs and bins idea. I went so far as to print off labels for everything - including pictures so the kids who can't read don't have an excuse to not put things back properly.

Other moms ask how I can keep things organized with four kids, but I wonder how I could not keep it organized and still keep sane.

[Straight Shooter]

Wow. Wow! WOWZERS! I am impressed. And inspired once again! I love it when you do that...

[Moriah (Please Pass the Salt)]

Hey! I'm pretty new here. I had a laugh over the mental picture of a full-grown man playing video games in such a girly PRINCESS HAVEN!!! Now there's commitment to video gaming.

[Fuschia]

Oh, wow...would you please adopot me?! I could play in that room for days on end.
I love the mirrored shelves; what a GREAT idea! Also, though I couldn't see them very well, the curtains look like they, too, are fantastic...bright and shimmery.

We got the okie-dokie from our landlady to paint our house. She's buying the paint, but I get to pick the colors. How can you beat that deal!!

[Lisa@take90west]

That is a room truly fit for a Princess! What a great space.

[Beth (A Mom's Life)]

What a wonderful playroom! I have grand plans (in my mind!) of doing something similar to our playroom but I doubt it will ever happen.

[Kellyn]

Beside the jealousy monster that is creeping up because you have a room for a playroom....

Love it! I am working on Boo's room, but it takes time and patience. Two things I don't have a lot of. lol

I love having the baskets to organize things. It makes it so much easier for a child to know what goes where.

Thanks for sharing it!

[chickadee]

that's the most beautiful closet i've ever seen!

[Stephanie]

I totally agree on having a place to put things. We have bins, one for friends which is anything with 2 eyes and a nose, whether it's Shrek or Buzz Lightyear, one for Robots incl. transformers, another for cars, and another for the Flav of the month like Speedracer. Congrats on organizing. It feels sooooo good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Org Junkie]

Wow what a FUN hangout room, love it! The closet is a thing of beauty, I like how you made space for the toybox even. So clever! And the green baskets, all lined up like that, now that's art :)

Thanks for sharing it with us!

[susie harris]

I came across your blog and I love it. You make me want to go clean my closets! What neat idea using baskets and bins.. I just may have to give it a whirl. I have so many small polly pockets and barbies and the list goes on and on... Thanks for the inspiration... Susie H~

Girl YOU have got it going on over there! Princess heaven!:) Don't ya just love The Organized Junkie!

[Mama Belle]

Well, aren't you just a design star! You daughter's room is super cute. Does it stay that clean or is that just for the sake of the pic?

The organizing bins and baskets are also nifty. You go, girl!

[Kelly @ Love Well]

Swooning.

Seriously. That's beautiful.

Good organization is next to Jesus in my heart.

[Sarah]

OK, I cannot let my princesses see this room--they will die (and then beg in whiney voices to have a chandelier, etc.) :-)

We just moved to a house with a huge unfinished basement, so all of the princessy dress-up and dolls have a nice place of their own. Out of my living room....! It is so nice to keep the toys confined. Great job with all of the baskets and bins--I would die without mine.

[Julie]

I love the closet with all the bins. Where did you find those cool green bins? The Princess' room is very nice! It looks great!
Julie

[Thea @ I'm a Drama Mama]

That's a pretty cool playroom, wow! Great job!

[rrmama]

Can you come organize my garage? We have the shelving but things are just thrown on them. Same thing with the hall closet. It is the catch all closet. I hate to open it. Things fall out.

[Lynne - The Clarkin Family]

What a super cute room! I love the paint swirls on the wall and the purple! Great job on organizing the closet! I LOVE the green baskets! They make the look uniform and complete! Don't you just love to go in and "look at it"? Enjoy! Thanks for sharing!

[kristi]

Amazing! I love the baskets and the swirls on the walls. Thanks for sharing!!!

[Elizabeth]

Your playroom is so beautiful! I love how you've utilized the closet space. I have a huge room in the basement for the boys to play in and it just looks like a boring room in the basement... Time to get to work!

[Laura]

Wow what an awesome closet and wall display. Thanks for sharing.

[Aimee]

I love your playroom!!!! Bins and baskets are great for Polly and such, I must say that my girls' room looks like the dollhouse and Barbies exploded right now-they are next on my cleaning list!

I may give the bulletin board idea a try as Christmas gifts for the girls this year. Thanks!