My clients inspire me all the time!
Beth has a beautiful home and a beloved young granddaughter. Her daughter appreciates Beth’s keeping toddler toys around so it isn’t necessary to pack entertainment to go to grandma’s house. Beth also finds keeping toys convenient for grandma-granddaughter visits.
Beth doesn’t have closet space for toys, but she also enjoys finally having an ‘adult’ living room without the visible, kid-related clutter she remembers from when her children were living at home. So she brought decorative, lidded boxes that match her décor, and stores the toys there. Her granddaughter knows where the toys are, and goes right over to find something to play with when she visits. When Beth isn’t babysitting, the boxes look like art in the living room, and the guests never realize that playthings are stored there.
When Alexandra and I were working on her living room and she mentioned how hard it was getting to run down to her basement for toys every time her grandchildren arrived, I remembered Beth’s strategy. Alexandra has a beautiful wooden, wheeled storage trunk that she likes to keep in the living room. She considered it a decorative piece, so there was nothing in it. I suggested moving a few toys in there, so she wouldn’t have to climb stairs for every grandchild visit. She loved the idea.
Please feel free to share other cool solutions you’ve witness, or do in your home, when little children/grandchildren visit a house that is mostly set up for adults.
Side note: These blog stories feature real clients and their organizing solutions. To maintain client privacy, all names have been changed.