Sunday, October 26, 2008

A Children's Bedroom Gets Organized Real Simple brings order to these sisters' lives

The Play Area

Adornment for Walls and Windows
The girls produce artwork at a dizzying pace. Now they can change the displays themselves with these front-loading PhotoBox frames. Pop out the front and switch the artwork inside (no rehanging!). The ill-fitting window drapes were replaced with home-sewn, washable-linen ones.

A Home for Toys
Before, the girls’ extensive stuffed-animal collection made the room look as if it had been hit by a tornado. Now their furry friends live in this roomy canvas bin.

Central Command for Crafts
The Activity Table has a pair of roll-out bins underneath for easy supply storage, plus a built-in paper roll on the side. Starting new projects is a cinch, and the paper doubles as a protective surface. Bonus: The table comes with three sets of legs (15, 23, and 30 inches tall), so it can be made taller as the girls grow.

Cabinets Devoted to Dress-up
Existing cabinets (part of a larger unit) were separated and transformed into a dress-up center. Tutus and magic capes that were formerly shoved in with the girls’ everyday clothing now have a designated place. Accessories hang on outer hooks. Afifah gets the lower cabinet, Zahra the top.

Little Things That Count
Thoughtful touches abound in the new room. Cute, inexpensive crab-shaped cushions make kid-size foam stools even softer for little bottoms seated around the activity table. A colorful hand vacuum with wheels, tucked in the corner and light enough for Afifah to use, makes cleaning up glitter and paper scraps a cinch. The result? Daily maintenance, so messes never get out of hand.

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