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While getting children to clean up after themselves may remain a dream beyond reach, good storage can at least make it easier for you to help tidy up their play and clothes clutter. When seeking storage solutions for children's rooms, there are a number of key factors to ponder for greatest success:

Safety first
For very small children, be wary of any hidden dangers. Hinges that pinch little fingers, knobs that can be taken off, anything that can tip and fall are all no-nos for toddlers and pre-schoolers. Shelving should be firmly installed and anything within reach, crawling or climbing distance should all be risk-free and/or child-proofed.

Damage assessment
Make a list of everything in the room that needs a storage solution: clothing, toys, electronics, school supplies. For your children their rooms are their own little houses within the house, so plan to divide the room into multiple purpose areas: sleeping, dress, playing, studying, etc.

Diplomatic solutions
You may not be able to achieve total buy-in, but discuss with your child or children what they think they need and what would help to keep the room tidier. Children feel a great deal of ownership in their rooms, and dislike changes forced upon them. If you can, incorporate additions that will thrill them into the necessary improvements, like a blackboard on the closet door that will house the new organizer.

Make it fun
For smaller children especially, storage that reflects themes they enjoy may well have them picking up and putting in or away; whether pirates, dinosaurs, or princesses. Large plastic tubs are great for quick pick-ups and can be moved from room to room for playtime and sharing; and look in all cases for hidden storage ideas, like under-bed roll aways for toys or linens.

Leave room to grow
Wherever you can, try and get the maximum use out of furnishings and built-ins. Instead of buying a Pirate or Barbie bed, buy a generic Captains' bed and dress with theme sheets and bedding. Indulge your child's loves as they grow, but try and avoid buying new furnishings for every changing passion.

Closet inserts are great, even better if they allow for height customization. So a rack can be lowered for little reaches, and raised as the child grows.

A place for everything, and everything in its place
With the room properly outfitted for good organization, try and engage your children in the cleaning up process. Have things picked up and put away before bedtime stories, and help them so they don't feel overwhelmed.

Children playing can make a tremendous mess very quickly and effortlessly (any parent who's picked up Lego knows this), but cleaning up again feels like a Herculian task. Explain to them the value of being able to find something exactly where and when they want it again. Remember that tidiness is something that must be taught, and that being well organized is a valuable skill that will assist them in many other aspects of their future lives.

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