Let’s get babyproofing around the house

Although it seems like it was just yesterday you were bringing your sweet baby home for the first time, the months have flown by. You’ve joyfully witnessed baby’s first smile, first time rolling over (both ways), and don’t even get us started on how amazing it was the first time baby sat—without padding or leaning on anything. Sounds like crawling is just around the corner—yet another in the line of baby’s firsts. That means it’s time to start babyproofing the place.

Our handy babyproofing checklist includes clever DIY tricks that make your home safer for your child and can save you some money too. Whether you need to babyproof your cabinets, your fireplace, or drawers, these ideas are a great place for any parent to start.

When to Start Babyproofing

As your little one gets close to crawling, it’s time to babyproof your home and other places they visit frequently, like grandparents’ homes. To start, get on the floor and look at the surroundings from a baby’s perspective. See what’s tempting to grab and pull on, what’s at eye level, and what could injure them. Then, put away fragile items, move cords, secure furniture that could fall over, and put padding on sharp edges. Every few months, and when your child reaches a new milestone, like walking, evaluate your home for additional babyproofing needs. As kids grow taller, the danger zones will change and likely increase.

Related: 12 Babyproofing Tips to Corral Your Crawler

Babyproofing Checklist for Your House

1. Secure stairway railings

The railings on staircases or landings on upper floors may look narrow, but they’re big enough for kids’ limbs (or heads) to get stuck in. Secure clear plastic or fabric to railings to deter kids from playing on them.

2. Hide cleaning products

Plastic bins with lids and latches that baby can’t open are a safer place for cleaning products than under your kitchen sink. If you can store them on a high shelf or out of sight in a tall cabinet, that’s even better.

3. Corral cords

Cut a slit down an empty paper towel roll or piece of pipe insulation and thread multiple wires through it to keep them from becoming tangled in your tot’s curious hands. You can also use zip ties to pull together cords and then tuck them far away from baby’s reach. Don’t forget your USB cords that still hold a charge when they’re plugged in.

4. Cover outlets

Plastic covers are the easiest way to cover outlets around the house (and safest too). But in a pinch, or when you’re visiting relatives or traveling, you can put adhesive bandages or duct tape over electrical outlets. Avoid cartoon varieties of bandages that will attract little ones’ attention.

Related: 15 Products You Need When Your Baby Starts Crawling

Renee Servinsky of Sassy Wife/Classy Life

5. Block off the fireplace

Babyproof a fireplace without sacrificing aesthetics too much by covering the opening with a piece of magnetic chalkboard (we love the one above from Sassy Wife/Classy Life). The chalkboard blocks off the fireplace and give little ones a surface on which to draw with chalk and play with magnets (choose large magnets that don’t pose a choking hazard).

6. Place dishtowels out of reach

Nix the dishtowel hanging off your oven door handle. Kids can pull down on it and open a hot oven or bonk themselves with the heavy door. Move towels to a higher shelf or put them on command hooks out of baby’s reach.

7. Test choking hazards with a toilet paper tube

There’s no need to purchase a choke tester. Anything that can fit into an empty toilet paper tube is small enough for your baby to choke on. Keep all those wee things out of reach.

Related: Your Guide to Safe Sleep for Baby

8. Create a TP protector

Babies love to unroll toilet paper as much as pets do. Keep your TP intact and out of baby’s hands and mouth with a two-liter soda bottle! Cut off the top and bottom of the bottle and cut a slit down the remaining center piece. Use tape to cover sharp, raw edges and slide the container over your toilet roll to cover it. See the tutorial at My Frugal Baby Tips.

9. Protect with pool noodles

These summertime staples can be used for everything from door stoppers to crib-rail covers that prevent tots from rolling out of bed. They’re also good for wrapping around sharp edges, like around the fireplace, to minimize bumps and scrapes.

10. Pad corners with tennis balls

Tennis balls can soften sharp corners where a pool noodle doesn’t fit. Cut a few small slices into the ball’s core so you can wedge it over items like table corners. It may not look pretty, but this hack is pretty temporary. Before you know it, your toddler will be steady enough on their feet that you no longer feel the need to protect every corner in your home.

11. Shorten pull cords

Use clothespins or twist ties to shorten and hold up pull cords on curtains and blinds to remove this strangulation risk from your home. Command hooks are also handy for keeping cords out of reach.

12. Sock it to knobs

To keep little hands from turning door knobs, cover them with a spare sock and wrap a hair tie or rubber band around the base to hold the sock in place. An adult can still squeeze and turn the handle, but a child won’t be able to.

13. Band together on horizontal cabinets

Attach hair ties or rubber bands to keep paired cabinet doors closed. Just loop the tie around the handles and your baby will only be able to open the doors a little bit, not wide enough to slip a hand through.

14. Get a handle on vertical drawers

Slide a yardstick or tension rod (or another long, thin object) through the handles of horizontally stacked drawers, rather than spending time and money on individual locks.

Make sure to capture photos of your baby crawling around their newly babyproofed pad—and share them with your family and friends near and far—with the Tinybeans app. The secure platform puts parents in total control of who sees and interacts with photos and videos of their kids.

OK, that’s an exaggeration…she didn’t really almost ruin my marriage, but she did make me very twitchy and short-tempered with my husband for a few weeks.

It started out innocently enough: One morning, my perennially messy husband began bemoaning the state of his dresser, as he tried in vain to locate an undershirt without pit stains or holes in it from within a tangled wad of old t-shirts.

“You should read that tidying up book,” I said sarcastically. To which my husband replied, “What are you talking about?”

After I explained the basic premise of Marie Kondo’s “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” which was so hugely popular a few years back, I noticed a foreboding twinkle in my husband’s eye. Next thing I knew, he’d downloaded the audiobook and was listening to it every morning as he got ready for work.

His obsession began slowly, presenting itself in his innocent yet sweeping suggestions of how Kondo would handle my ongoing fight against the after-school clutter that my children amass—with graded papers spilling out over the dining room table and squished school snacks littering the bottoms of backpacks. At first, it was kind of endearing that he was noticing what I struggle with on a daily basis and offering sympathy and advice (albeit unsolicited advice).

Then, a week or so later, my husband quietly observed me tussling with our Tupperware cabinet. As I tried to find just the right storage container with matching lid for leftovers, he said, “Have you ever considered holding each of those storage containers in your hand and asking yourself, ‘Does this bring me joy?’” This was the first of many times in the coming weeks that my eyes rolled violently back in my head and I cursed the day that I ever uttered the words “Marie Kondo” to my oblivious husband.

But the straw that broke the camel’s back was the day that he suggested that “we” (meaning I) change the way that “we” (I) fold our laundry to better facilitate the ease with which we can find what we’re looking for in our dresser. I’d had enough.

You see, I’m the laundress (if you will) in our house. I’m the one who pre-treats stains, washes, dries, folds and hangs our laundry. It’s a job that I actually (mostly) enjoy—I find it meditative to quietly fold clothes and I enjoy the scent of fresh laundry—call me crazy. Also, I have it down to a science. I have a certain way that I do things. Certain days I launder bed linens and towels. Certain ways I sort delicates from denim and certain ways I fold t-shirts, socks and towels. Don’t question my madness and please don’t accuse me of proliferating a 1950s housewife stereotype because I’ve already done all of this myself. But this is what works for our family. And so it is.

So, you can imagine the offense that I took when my husband, who has maybe used the washing machine once in our marriage—and, in spite of holding a degree in technology, still seems wholly unable to figure out how it works—suggested that I was doing the laundry wrong. That’s when my head just about exploded. But I humored him and let him earnestly teach me the “roll technique,” while fully planning to go about folding the clothes my own damn way as soon as he’d left the room.

But then, something unexpected happened: I started working at perfecting “the roll” and I figured it out. I began to see the value in it. I found that I was easily able to fit more shirts in our drawers and was able to find just the shirt that I needed without upending the whole drawer in the process. Rather quickly and unexpectedly, Kondo’s method of rolling t-shirts turned our drawers into organized, easily navigable laundry holders. Maybe Kondo—and my husband—were onto something here… grumble, grumble.

As the weeks passed, the verve with which my husband initially embraced the “KonMari” lifest‌yle began to wane. While he has steadily kept up the momentum of many of the ideas and organizational tips that the author explains in her book, he has let go of some of the more rigid habits (for instance, he’s finally stopped uttering the words, “Does that bring you joy?” and I’m forever grateful because that was annoying as all hell).

And I’ve actually continued to implement the roll method of laundry folding. I think it’s safe to say that I am not only a believer now, but also a proponent of the whole idea (but don’t tell my husband this).  Another good thing to come from this journey is that now my husband often helps me fold laundry, so that’s an improvement in our previous division of the laundry labor.

All in all, I like the ideas that Kondo presents in her book. Nothing that she writes is particularly earth-shattering, but she does offer a fresh perspective on organization. What challenged me most was my husband reading one book on organization and thereby declaring himself the resident expert on de-cluttering and laundry. Ultimately, though, the KonMari method effected change in our home and I think that my husband has a new appreciation for what I do on a daily basis to keep our home functioning. Also, I’ve learned to be more judicious with my self-help book suggestions from now on. Be careful for you wish for…

Originally published May 2017.

RELATED LINKS
My House Is a Disaster & I Couldn’t Love It More
How to Clear the Clutter from Your Kids’ Rooms for Good
Dear Husband: I Need More Help from You

I'm Jenny, a married, sober mother to two kids and a whole gaggle of pets. I've lived in Texas my whole life and am the by-product of two dyed-in-the-wool Southern families. As a result, I can write a phenomenal, heart-felt thank you note and never wear white shoes after Labor Day.

Marie Kondo has been an organizing guru for years, but when Netflix debuted not one, but two shows based on her methods, everyone binged watched. Moms everywhere purged their homes as if their life depended on it and took the KonMari method to heart.

If that was you and you’re still hooked on keeping only those things that spark joy, then keep reading to see some of our fave storage solutions that are totally KonMari-compatible.

Kitchen Drawer Organizer

If you've watched Tidying Up, you've probably seen Marie show up with her own box of...boxes. The organizer swears by the technique of using boxes within drawers to help keep items alongside like items for that perfect tidy look. This 8-piece set ($8) of kitchen organizers comes in varying sizes to accommodate all sorts of baubles, but more importantly to keep everything organized. Perfect for your bathroom drawers, too!

Foldable Drawer Boxes

Once you've mastered the KonMari folding method, you're going to need to plenty of space to keep those beautifully folded clothes. If your drawer system is lacking, then these foldable drawer boxes ($27) can keep you on track. They're great for organizing baby and kid clothes since they're too small to stand up in large drawers, and to keep undergarments tidy, too.

Delta Children MySize 9 Bin Plastic Toy Organizer

If this storage solution looks familiar, it's because it actually made an appearance on the first episode of Tidying Up with Marie Kondo! The toy organizer ($58) comes with nine bins and is available in six different colors to match your decor, while also providing some major functionality. 

Boxbox Plastic Storage

Drawers can quickly become a haven for mess, especially when you have a junk drawer––wait, isn't that a "bad word" in Marie Kondo's world? Instead of tossing pens, keys and random objects into the abyss, stock up on simple clear boxes like these. For $14 you'll get a pack of 10 that can wrangle all types of clutter.

Battery Organizer

Is it us, or does this battery organizer ($18) spark some major joy? With room to store 82 batteries in all shapes and sizes, this holder not only keeps them from accidentally de-charging, but you can also use the detachable battery tester to make sure you're only keeping the ones that actually work.

Sterilite Stacking Drawers

Whether you use them to organize shoes, small toys or garage essentials, this six-pack of stacking drawers ($45) will keep your home looking clutter-free. The stacking features means you'll have ample floor space, while the clear plastic keeps everything within eyesight.

Flex Totes

Whether you're storing away sweaters for the summer or just trying to organize the linen closet, flex totes ($20) like these will get it done. The clear plastic panels are Marie Kondo-approved and makes finding what you need a cinch! The top zipper makes for easy access and the huge size means these little bags can pack it all in.

Air-Tight Food Storage Containers

Tired of never knowing what you have in the pantry? Make grocery shopping more enjoyable and cost-effective by keeping snacks and other foods in clear containers in your pantry. This airtight version ($30) not only looks sharp, but it's also clear and will keep your food fresh longer than a toddler who doesn't know how to close a bag to save their life!

Clear 70 Quart Ultra Latch Box

Even if you follow Kondo's method to a T, we all still have items that call for storage throughout the year. These four-pack of clear latch boxes ($89) make great garage storage because they are large, clear and all match. Nothing says tidy like matchy-matchy boxes!

Sterilite 6-Quart Boxes (Pack of 12)

This basic 6-quart size clear box is a must when it comes to organizing. There are so many uses that you won't have a hard time using the entire 12-pack ($31) for things like shoes, craft supplies, toys and pretty much anything.

 

––Karly Wood

Featured photo: Canva

 

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Whether you’re tired of the clutter or just getting the house in shape while you’re home so much, it doesn’t have to be an expensive task. From organizing kid toy chaos to purging your pantry, these dollar store organization hacks won’t break the bank and will give you all the Marie Kondo vibes. Keep scrolling to see some simple ways to stretch a dollar and clean the house at the same time.

Pin these amazing dollar store hacks!

Small Bins for Bathroom Drawers

Bathroom drawers driving you crazy? Pick up a few smaller bins and boxes to get everything in check. Most of the time, small organizers like these are two or three for one dollar, a major score! Use for hair ties, floss, and anything else that is rolling around in those drawers.

Organize Purses with Lid Racks

The Organized Mama

Lots of small bags and clutches lying around? Gran a $1 lid holder the next time you're in the kitchen aisle at the dollar store like The Organized Mama did, and you have instant organization! The simple and versatile holder will keep your purses neat and tidy. 

Create a School Lunch Station

Design Improvised

Keep the kids (and yourself) organized when it comes to school lunches. The brilliant minds at Design Improvised created a lunch station that includes simple bins to keep lunchboxes, snacks and containers neat and tidy. We love this idea because it give kids the autonomy to get themselves ready for school.

Spice Rack for Nail Polish

Liz Marie

Nail polish piling up in a box somewhere? Now you can put it on display easily with a dollar store spice rack. Liz Marie shares this simple idea which not only organizes your polish, but prevents you from buying the same shade of pink over and over.

Under the Sink Clean Up

By Lauren M

Raise your hand if your bathroom or kitchen sink cabinets are a mess! By Lauren M shows how easy it can be with a few baskets to get all the cleaning supplies and necessities under control.

Perfect Pantry

The Social Home

Pantry a disaster? Whip into shape with dollar store bins like The Social Home! With some careful planning and neutral products, you can store dry goods in both plastic and glass containers that will have your pantry looking like something out of a magazine shoot, no matter how big or small.

Tidy Linen Closet

Today's Creative Life

Are you scared to open the linen closet because of the overflow of sheets and towels? Kim at Today's Creative Life has put dollar store bins to good use and the result is an organized linen closet. Add in some labels and you'll never end up with a mouthful of falling towels again!

Simple Toy Bins

Easily corral toys with dollar store bins. Choose from a variety of shapes, sizes and colors and simply label to keep multi-part toys like LEGO bricks, marble runs, dolls clothes, cars and more.

Car Caddy

The Castro Family Happynings

Keep your mom mobile in ship shape by using simple plastic shower caddies! They are perfect for storing all your car essentials, like changes of clothes, snacks, wipes, diapers and pretty much anything a mama on the go needs. Castro Family Happynings came up with this idea and it has served her road-tripping fam perfectly!

Tangle-Free Jewelry

Smile & Wave DIY

Want a stylish yet functional way to keep your jewelry tangle free? Use a dollar store wire basket like this one from Smile & Wave DIY and you have instant organization. 

Clean Up Craft Supplies

Clutter Bug via YouTube

Whether you're a creative crafter or your kids love to keep a huge art supply stash, getting organized with dollar store bins is a breeze. Clutter Bug uses inexpensive bins and DIY labels to get her must-have supplies in tip top shape.

––Karly Wood

Featured image: Karly Wood 

 

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A cluttered and dusty bedroom is a stressful bedroom. So many of us rationalize not bothering with spending a lot of effort clearing the bedroom “because the kids will just mess it up tomorrow and no one ever sees it.” But you see it and your family see it. Every day and every night and consciously or subconsciously, a disorganized bedroom has an impact on how you start and end the day.

There is always yet another chore left for “next weekend” calling to you from some corner of your home but both parents’ and children’s bedrooms should be top of the list. This is the place where you want your family to feel calm, relaxed, and peaceful. It should be clean and orderly, laying the foundation for a good night’s rest.

1. Start by Creating Storage That Works
One of the major culprits of clutter, besides lack of time during the daily grind, is inefficient storage space. Adding more designated homes for your family’s things ensures not only a cleaner space but also an easier time finding what you need and putting things away. Plastic storage bins and over-the-door organizers are inexpensive fixes to piles of seasonal clothes and shoes. For a more permanent fixture, consider adding floating shelves and modular closets to utilize more vertical space. These are great for holding more than just clothes: jewelry, shoes, handbags, toys, sports gear, workout equipment, and office supplies (if an office is the parents’ bedroom as has become the case for many this last year). Furthermore, modular storage units are customizable and can fit in any sized space.

2. Declutter Your Closet Items before You Put Them Back
Before you refill a newly redesigned closet with all of your stuff, it’s time to sort. Use the “Three-Bin Method.” Get three large plastic bins and label one “Love,” another “Donate,” and the last one “Undecided.” Obviously, anything that mom, dad or the kids enjoy and wear on a regular basis goes into the “Love” bin, and things that they dislike or have not worn in over a year go into the “Donate” bin. For items that are harder to part with (but aren’t necessarily needed), store them in the “Undecided” bin and hide them away for three to six months. Chances are the attachment will disappear by then. If it doesn’t, then keep that item. Toss out anything damaged or worn out.

Once the closet is sorted, you can add some extra pieces to organize stuff, in ways you might not have thought of: plastic storage bins are inexpensive fixes for out-of-season clothes, shoes, and accessories. Put away items that you don’t need in the current season, neatly and tidily. That way, they’re easy to find and ready to come out next season!

  • A shoe organizer that hangs on the back of the closet door doesn’t have to be for shoes! They’re also great for costume jewelry, makeup, hosiery/socks, small toys such as action figures or legos, crayons, craft materials, and more.
  • Hooks for scarves, handbags, backpacks, and caps ensure that you can see all your favorites, and don’t end up cluttering the closet floor.
  • Add dividers into dresser drawers. Dresser drawers are the bane of many families’ existence. Why bother folding clothes if they mess up anyways every time you pull an outfit out to get dressed? Drawer dividers are a perfect solution for keeping clothes separated and nice and neat. Use anything from plastic grid inserts to fabric bins and DIY cardboard compartments to categorize belongings.
  • Store jewelry, makeup, and other small items in shallow canning jars, tin muffin pans, and cutlery trays. For a creative flare, align the inside of the drawers with colorful, heavy-duty wrapping paper or cardstock paper before installing the dividers.

3. Give Your Bedroom a Deep Clean
In addition to avoiding clutter, you want the space your family spends 6-8 hours a night in to be pristine and clean.

  • If you have carpeting, get it steam cleaned, including inside the closet and under the furniture.
  • Flip and clean the mattresses: sprinkle it with baking soda, leave it for an hour or so and then vacuum up the powder. The soda will soak up any odors and the vacuuming will pick up dust mites and dead skin. If you don’t have one already, a mattress cover can go a long way to keeping your mattress clean and fresh.
  • Clean all bedding. Even most throw pillows can go for a refresh in the dryer, to help get rid of any dust or dirt. The pillows you sleep on should be washed at least twice a year.
  • Replace pillows regularly—they get flat and their support weakens—and mattresses every 7-10 years.
  • Address window treatments and overhead fans or lights. These need to be cleaned and dusted thoroughly. If you are planning to wipe down the walls, start at the top and work your way down. Crown molding also needs a swipe!
  • Clean under the bed and move furniture such as dressers etc. so you can clean underneath and behind and get the piles of dust bunnies that tend to collect there.

Now that you’ve organized and cleaned your bedroom, your family can look at it as a nightly retreat, a place to relax and unwind, letting go of the day’s stresses and looking forward to a deep and restful slumber. Sweet dreams!

 

Marty Basher is the home organization expert for ModularClosets.com. He regularly offers advice on family and home organization including improved morning routines, best practices for setting up a productive homework station, and how to prevent the massive shoe pile up in the entry way.

Oh, baby! There are few things in life more joyful than designing a space for your baby to grow and thrive in. Whether you’re designing a classic room filled with traditional decor or a nursery in a more modern style, or you want the perfect mix of both—we’ve got you covered. Check out our picks for new and innovative nursery furniture and decor that will make the baby’s nursery your favorite room in the house.

Animal Framed Prints from Lovevery

Lovevery

We're huge fans of these realistic animal illustrations that are hand-painted, Montessori-approved and a perfect addition to any swoon-worthy nursery. Fill an entire wall with animals (there are nine to choose from) or pick just one. Either way, you are blending art with education and your baby will be a whiz at identifying animals before you know it. These sweet prints come in a wood frame with shatter-resistant plastic cover insert and have hanging hardware. 

Available at lovevery.com, $35.

Nursery Works Compass Rocker from Pottery Barn Kids

Pottery Barn Kids

There will be nights, during the early months, that you'll want to fall into the coziest glider imaginable, so why not plan ahead? This stylish Compass Rocker, available in  four soft colors, from Pottery Barn Kids features plush cushions for ample support and ensures a free-flowing, rocking cadence that will sway your baby (and you) into a slumber.  

Available at potterybarnkids.com, $999.

Wooden Mobile Expression from Burke Decor

Burke Decor

Expressions are everything! This modern wooden mobile from Burke Decor adds an artful and playful look to your baby's room. 

Available at burkedecor.com, $17.99.

Motherly Timeless Dresser with Changing Topper from Storkcraft

Storkcraft

Storkcraft has been delivering dream nurseries and kid rooms for more than 75 years, which means they've gotten really good at innovating new, functional pieces that last. This Timeless 6 drawer dresser pulls double-duty as a changing table. Featuring three deeper drawers for maximum organizing and storage potential plus three streamlined drawers to store items requiring quicker access, the Timeless Dresser blends nursery style and function. Comes in white and gray.

Available at shop.motherly.com, $399.

Levo Baby Bouncer by Charlie Crane from Smallable

Charlie Crane

Add a Parisian flair to your baby's nursery with this sought-after design-forward rocker by Charlie Crane. Its natural rocking softly follows the movement of babies while its aesthetic design adapts to any interior. Fabric is detachable and machine-washable. Best for newborns to 7 months. 

Available at en.smallable.com, $252.

Macramé Toy Hanging Basket from Finn & Emma

Finn Emma

A new twist on organizational tools. This beautiful macramé hanging basket adds the perfect boho flair to your baby's room. Now you can show off your little one's favorite toys and keep the space clutter-free. Bonus: It grows along with your child. Wouldn't this make a beautiful plant holder for a teen's room? 

Available at finnandemma.com, $49.

Bubbly Washable Rug by Lorena Canals from Maisonette

Maisonette

A rug that can be thrown into a washing machine? Yes, please. Lorena Canals offers a huge range of machine-washable rugs that are chic and cozy, but most importantly functional. The most precious part of your nursery is your baby! Everything else needs to make life with that precious baby a little easier and a lot more fun. These fluffy, safe and practical floor coverings fit the bill. 

Available at maisonette.com $119.

Sparrow Crib from Oeuf NYC

Ouef Website

With a range of finish options, this stylish and versatile crib will coordinate with any nursery decor. Slim side rails and spindles give this crib a light, airy feel and make it a favorite of interior designers. Its high-quality and sturdy construction mean it will last for generations.

Available at oeufnyc.com, $860.

Whale Storage Basket from Crate & Kids

Crate & Kids

Everything whale be alright! This animal-shaped woven basket from Crate & Kids has playful details like a smiling face and a handle shaped like a stream of water. Keep this guy on land rather than sea and he'll be a catch-all for blankets, diapers, or whatever suits your needs. If whales aren't your thing, try the swan or fox.

Available at crateandbarrel.com, $79.

Collapsible Play Tent from West Elm

West Elm

Put the glam in glamping with this collapsible play tent from West Elm. Your baby will love the change of scenery, and the fact that it's collapsible means you can move it around to different rooms as needed. 

Available at westelm.com, $99.

Modern Open Changing Table from West Elm

West Elm

The Modern Nursery Collection from West Elm sure is easy on the eyes. Clean lines and durable craftmanship never go out of style. The open shelving makes it easy to store and grab diapers, wipes and other essentials.

Available at westelm.com, $449.

—Aimee Della Bitta

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Sarah Degrim

I am a wife and Mom of 2 boys, living in NYC trying to make it work. Not a minimalist but a realist. I run Stylish Spaces, a full service luxury home organizing company.

I love that I get to work with all types of people to really help them reclaim their homes. Families are my favorite to work with because I understand the struggle of everyday life as a Mom and think it’s important to help people’s home support their life so they can spend time doing the things they love with the people they love. I am also here to let everyone know there is no such thing as perfect but there is such thing as simple and easy when it comes to organizing.

1) Keep a designated donation bin in your house, so as you find things you are ready to let go of, you can easily toss it in the bin and donate that bin once a month. – Works great for parents, as children are always growing out of clothes and toys.

2) I hate to say it but tidy up your apartment every night before bed. You will be amazed at the difference just 10 – 15 minutes makes.

3) Please don’t roll your eyes but kids really do like organization. Empower your kids by getting them involved. Have them help you clean up. When you have designated spaces for toys and their belongings, they can help clean up and will know where to find the things they want.

4) File folding. Anyone who has worked with me knows…. I love file folding. It’s easy to see all your clothes, great use of space and easy to maintain ( even for kids! )


1

i Design Linus Turntable Kitchen Organizer

A modern update to a lazy susan.

$29

Perfect for your kitchen table, pantry, shelf, outdoor dining table, or countertop. Also great for your bathroom, office, cabinet, or vanity

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2

White Elfa Door & Wall Rack

Maximize and customize your space

$98.25

Perfect for on the back door of a closet to help build out more space. Attaching is easy and it's so nice to be able to customize these.

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3

Threshold Decorative Rope Basket

Kids can help put toys away with these.

$16

These clean modern baskets help keep the mess at bay with kids running around. Encourage habits like picking up their toys into these easy to carry baskets.

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4

The Container Store Chrome Metal Purse Hangers

Easily hand your bags on these

$9.99

The twisted design maximizes the bottom half of the S-hook's space, allowing your totes to hang perpendicular to the hook, rather than hidden along the side.

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5

Made by Design 3-Tier Metal Utility Cart

Great for remote learning for kids or baby essentials

$35

These carts work great for kids learning to baby products next to a changing table. Easy to put together and sturdy it's a organizational dream on wheels.

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6

iDesign Linus Adjustable Drawer Dividers

Never get your socks lost in a drawer agin.

$19.99

Drawer dividers are the ultimate organizational tool. Separate your drawers from socks to undies to different kids clothes. Maximize the space you have while keeping it organized.

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Sarah DeGrim

I am a wife, a Mom of 2 boys, and founder of NYC home organizing company, Stylish Spaces.Not a minimalist but a realist. Passionate about helping fit big lives in city sized homes.

Parenting is hard. Even in the best of times, it can seem overwhelming to manage all the responsibilities that come with having children. Then a global pandemic hits and well… we’re now in charge of navigating the “new normal” and everything that entails, including virtual learning.

The struggle is real for both parents and kids alike; social interactions have been replaced by hours of Zoom calls, and digital homework needs to be completed despite the distractions of home.

We could all use a little help these days. So I’m sharing my top tips for organizing your home to set up your kids (and you) up for success:

Tip 1: Eliminate distractions:
It seems simple but let’s face it, little kids make big messes and the mess is distracting. Clear surfaces = clear minds. If you don’t already have a system in place, I would suggest drawers. This is a simple, inexpensive, freestanding solution that toys and other distractions can be placed into and closed until the class is dismissed.

Tip 2: Get a Calendar:
This new schedule is hard and having a calendar in your kids’ room is a great way for them to understand their schedule. Whether that means managing their time throughout the day or keep track of “in-school” vs “virtual” days. Kids have an incredible ability to adapt, but children thrive when they’re given structure and know what’s expected of them.

Tip 3: Designate a space to learn:
Whether it’s a desk or a seat at the kitchen counter, designate a spot for learning to occur. Clear surfaces of everything that isn’t school related. I love using a desk mat for kids because not only are they easy to clean, in case of a spill or marker slip, but they also define the workspace.

Tip 4: Organize school materials
There is value in organizing your kids’ school materials. Supplies should be easy to reach and easy to put away. For example: a cup for pencils. It’s easy to grab what you need and easy to throw it back in the cup! A file sorter is another easy way for kids to organize what they need. Whether it’s a shelf for each subject or one for paper, one for homework – everyone knows where to find what they need.

Will these tips magically transform virtual learning, maybe not, but you might be surprised at the big impact of small changes.


1

Rolling Drawer Storage

Clean it up and roll it away

$39.99

Bonus: you have some control over this storage! If you can’t trust your kids to stay out of those drawers, simply wheel it next to your WFH station to keep it under control. This could also allow for your kids to choose one drawer to access during break and it makes clean up easy when it’s time to get back to work.

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2

Calendar

Let's manage expectations

$21.99

This particular calendar set gives you the option to use 1 or all 3 calendars and break down the week, and/ or the month. The dry erase is easy to use and it is a peel and stick calendar meaning no need to hang it or worry about kids knocking it off the wall when writing on it.

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3

Desk Mat

Define work area

$11.95

You can get desk mat's in all different colors and I suggest having fun with this one. This desk mat is waterproof and will protect your desks/ countertops but the occasional slip of a marker or glue stick. Easy to pick up, clean and move. This mat even comes with a wrap for when you're traveling or need to store it.

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4

File Sorter

Organize it all

$80

This is an easy place to organize all paper/ folders/ homework etc. Not only will this cut down on kids constantly asking for help because they can't find something but it makes it super easy to grab what you in for in-school days.

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5

Magnetic Wall Organizer

Put it on the wall

$38.49

I love these magnetic storage solutions because it allows kids (and adults) to take the whole containers right off the wall, use them and replace them back on the wall when they are done. For everyone who is trying to keep their homes tidy and preserve space, this is a fantastic solution.

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6

Rotating 4-Section Acrylic Pencil Cup

Spinners have more fun

$13.99

Let's face it, we're talking about getting kids to be successful at virtual learning... we've got to remember to have some fun with it. This spinning pencil/ pen holder is just that.

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7

3-Tier Rolling Cart

Storage for the kitchen countertop learners

$39.99 BUY NOW

This product is great for kids who might be at a kitchen counter or table somewhere that isn't a designated desk because it can be rolled over and moved so easily. Everything you need to store can be placed on this cart which ultimately becomes a traveling desk caddy.

Photo: Adele Beiny via Life’s Looking Good

For many kids across the country (including mine), their school season won’t be business as usual. Some students might be thrilled, while some may be extremely bummed out and really miss normal life. I think we can all agree though, that no matter what, it’s a lot of change for our little guys.

One way we can help ease their transition into home learning is to create an environment that feels special and warm for them. One that is designated for their school work but full of creative and unique self-expression.

I’ve compiled a few ideas and items that parents may find helpful when setting up their new learning spaces this fall.

1. Organize it. I always start with organization, because a clean and de-cluttered area fosters a clean mind. Just like adults, children find it hard to think in chaos. Their surface or desktop spaces should be as clear as possible. I love to use makeup caddies as school supply holders. They can house markers, pencils, highlighters, scissors, and rulers. They can also be kept out for easy access while still maintaining a tidy feel. These can be found with a handle, drawers, or be turn-st‌yle like a lazy Suzan. I love these as they provide easy access for little hands.

Another way to store their necessary art supplies and workbooks can be with woven baskets, collapsible cubes, or clear Lucite bins. Depending on your child’s st‌yle and age, they double as room decor too!

Rolling carts are a great option to keep surface areas clean while having supplies, books, and crafts handy and nearby. They also come in really cute colors or can be spray painted to your child’s favorite color! Another bonus is they can move easily from room to room if your child’s learning does too.

2. Personalize it. Let their personalities shine! Use their favorite colors, characters or sports heroes and find some wall decals in that theme to put up near their learning area.

You can also gather several fun photo memories from the summer, print them online, and have them hung in a fun way. Let them choose the photos and how they want to hang them. You can change them seasonally too, as weather changes and as you capture new moments for them like their classroom bulletin board.

A personalized water bottle can be set nearby so they don’t need to leave during calls. The more things reflect them, the more they’ll like being in the space designated for them. Ideally, each kid has their own space to learn, but if they don’t, labeling or having some of their organizational supplies personalized can give them some pride of ownership. If it clearly belongs to them, they may take more care to be mindful of their space and things.

I feel passionate that just because school isn’t in session, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have a cute backpack and fun accessories. Your child may need to tote school items and their tablet or laptop to another co-parent’s home, a neighbor, or a tutor. So let them choose a fun backpack to have. Add a cool keychain on it. Colorful or interesting folders will still be appreciated. Let them be a part of the choosing process for school supplies, much like if it were non-COVID times.

3. Offer (small) distractions. Lastly, incorporate items that may be needed to help with distraction. A fun but comfortable headphone set to block out household noise while on calls for example and for kids who have trouble concentrating keeping handy, put some thinking putty, stress balls, or rubber bands across the bottom of their chair to bounce their feet on.

All of these thoughtful preparations will also start positively reinforcing that summer is winding down and a new season is starting. You can talk to them through the process of how they feel about the changes. Ask them what items (within reason) they think will make this transition easier?

Taking the time to order the supplies and cultivate a designated and child-specific learning zone will show them that although schooling will look different this year, it matters greatly.

Good luck this year and happy at-home learning.

Hi! I’m Adele - not the singer. I am the proud mother of two amazing humans, Jacob and Lyla. I find beauty in the simplicity of the world around me. I love bringing humans together with good food and creating a mood that fosters meaningful connection.

On stage, JoJo Siwa sings about being a kid in a candy store, but when she is at home, she literally is surrounded by candy. In her YouTube vlog, the 16-year-old brought fans on a tour of her newly redecorated bedroom. The sugary sweet room looks like something out of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

This rainbow space is just one of many over-the-top rooms in the California mansion she and her family moved into at the end of 2019. In the video, Siwa dressed up like Wonka himself for the tour, donning a purple suit, white gloves and goggles alongside her signature bow. 

JoJo Siwa Bedroom

 

“This house is literally our dream house,” Siwa said, “I wanted to redo my bedroom but I was like, ‘Hmm, what do I want to do?’ Then I got the idea to turn my bedroom into a complete candy room … Oh my gosh, I’m so excited!” 

JoJo Siwa Bedroom

 

The room is now filled with  4,000 pounds of candy. Each of her doors dsiplays her signature logo. The walls are a swirl of colors and motion. Her dresser is covered in a gumball print and the drawers are even filled with a layer of actual sprinkles alongside the bows she wears every day. 

JoJo Siwa Bedroom

Her bed’s headboard is made from clear tubes (like you’d find in a candy store) filled with all types of colorful candies from Skittles, to gumballs, to Starburst. Plus, there is a gear on the wall that when turned, releases the candy. 

JoJo Siwa Bedroom

WIlly Wonka would be jealous of this spread!   

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Photos: JoJo Siwa via YouTube 

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