From Coral Nafie,
Your Guide to Interior Decorating.
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I don't know a single child who doesn't come with lots of baggage. If this little one lives in your house, you'll have to find places to store all these treasures.

As you're preparing a room for a newborn or redecorating for a growing child, finding storage space is just as important as choosing the right color paint or bedding.

It's amazing how much can be accumulated to provide a child with clothes, toys, books, hobbies, and other necessities of life.

If you have an infant, you'll need space to put away tiny clothes, blankets, diapers, changing items, and gifts that they'll use later.

As a child grows to be a toddler, the clothes get bigger, their toys multiply in number, and books get bigger.

And an older child acquires more and more. More clothes, more toys, more books, more things related to hobbies or school.

Discovering space for storage or using just the right items to organize the things of a child's life will make the life of your child and your life as a parent more peaceful and orderly.

Read about places and ways to find great storage space for your child's loot.

• Out in the Open

  Lots of things that a child uses can go on shelves, book shelves, hang on hooks, or rest in containers on a desk or tabletop. To keep things looking neat and orderly, keep books neatly arranged, games in boxes, or toys hanging on pegs on the wall. You can also place smaller items into coordinated baskets or plastic boxes for a neat look on open shelves.

• Out of Sight but Close at Hand

  For things that just cannot be made to look neat, use shelves or a chest of drawers in a closet, arrange boxes in an armoire, or slide things in shallow boxes under the bed. Stacks of clothes, hobby supplies, school bags can easily be hidden behind doors, but remain convenient and ready at any time. For the ultimate organization, use boxes, files, or storage baskets to keep things organized.

• In-Room Organization

  Probably the most useful and convenient storage space in a child's room is the closet. This is where things go that the child (or parent) uses every day, including clothes, books, school supplies, or toys. Place seldom-used items near the back of the closet, with items used frequently up front and accessible.

  If closets are small or inconvenient, look to furniture pieces for storage space. A toy box can hold toys, a cradle is a great home for a collection of dolls, or an armoire offers both hanging space for clothes, shelves for organization, and drawers for smaller things.

• Out-of-Sight Storage

  Find areas away from the bedroom for storing outgrown toys or clothes that you can't part with, seasonal sports equipment, or treasured school work or art works.

  The areas that come to mind in a home that work well for out-of-sight storage are the attic, under the stairs, in a garage, or in a dry basement. Use weather-tight storage containers to protect items from moths, mildew, or dust.

Read some great Tips for Storing Kids' Stuff.