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Once children begin creating, their artwork can easily pile up and become clutter. I heard a mother recently say, "There are only so many rainbows I can hang on my walls" as her daughter loved to paint rainbows. Looking at my own children's artwork, I agree with her, there are only so many green colored stripes and blobs I can hang on my walls.

So how can you reduce the clutter caused by children's artwork? Below are some ideas to store your children's artwork that can still be displayed and admired, yet at the same time reducing clutter within the home.

ART WALL

Designate a wall in your home that is used to hang your children's artwork. You can use sticky tape, blue tack or tacks to attach them to the wall depending on which surface you're placing them on.

You will need to regularly rotate the artwork on the walls as your child brings home more. You can do this once a month or once every three months, depending how much artwork your child does.

Make sure the wall you use can be seen by your child and all visitors who enter so they can admire the artwork.

SCRAPBOOK

To keep all your child's artwork within the same area, glue each piece into a scrapbook. This can be placed on your coffee table for your child, yourself and your visitors to peruse regularly. You can also keep your child's scrapbook on their bookshelf too.

If you have a binding machine you can also gather a "book" together and bind all your child's artwork together. Make sure you date the books so they can become a keepsake for many years to come.

PAPER MACHE FURNITURE PIECES

Using simply carpentry skills, build a bookshelf, table and chairs or clock or picture frame for your child's room. You can then glue the artwork to the surface and glaze it so your child can admire their artwork when in their room.

These will also become creations that celebrate your child's artistic skills while at the same time becoming useful furniture items.

PICTURE/PHOTO FRAMES

Have your child pick out their favorite art pieces and purchase cheap photo or empty picture frames from the store. Mount the favored art within the frames and hang on the wall, or use as a centerpiece on a coffee table or other suitable surface.

COLLAGE

If the art pieces are piling up, have your child use scissors (if they're old enough) to cut out their favorite bits of each piece. You can then glue all these onto some poster paper and cover in contact.

The end result will be a collage of all your child's favorite artwork that you may hang on the wall.

ART SHELF

Install or designate a shelf in your living room, family room or your child's room that is used to display their artwork. A shelf would be better suited to clay creations or baskets your child creates.

Using some of the above ideas will ensure your child's artwork and the clutter it can sometimes create is kept at a minimum. At the same time you'll also have it proudly displayed, or kept in books for future keepsakes.

Learn more about this author, R.L Hanlon.
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