This week Maja is dishing about how to create a fun and organized space for your children in their bedroom. Make their rooms a space that is all their own, and use these handy tips for creating a childhood haven:

1. Toys are Outta there!
2. Find the magic - do some magazine research and discover the special touches that will make it all theirs
3. Age appropriate - this means adding drawer latches for things that are hands-off to them
4. Keep in mind the height of your children - make things accessible that they will need and want
5. Picture their ability for keeping things organized. What will work for them? Give them duties to keep their room tidy and instill a sense of pride and contribution in them.
6. Have them make their own beds - they are capable (come back later and tighten it up if needed, but allow them to do it and feel good)
7. Get Your stuff OUT of their closet! (Kids stuff only and extra bedding for their beds.)

Make your child’s room a safe, relaxing haven for rest, reading and cuddle time.

A dream of mine would be to inspire each of you to keep the bulk of your children’s toys out of their bedroom. To a few of our readers this may sound a bit backwards, and of course I understand it may not work if you don’t have a family room or basement, however for the rest of us the idea has a lot of merit for a number of reasons:

1. The first reason is that it keeps your little ones bedroom as a good place for a time-out. If there are tempting toys in there, your child’s room doesn’t make a time-out effective, it’s just way too fun in there!
2. It designates their room a place to sleep, calm, and read (isn’t that what bedrooms are for?)
3. Can’t help but keep the bedroom tidy and uncluttered.
4. Helps to encourage your children to play together outside of their bedroom – they then have to be in the same room together, and I believe that this helps foster little relationships.
5. (This is the most important one) It helps you keep an eye on your kids so that they don’t get into trouble!

Some children need a few comfort toys in their rooms and that is definitely ok, but try to keep the toy clutter it to a minimum. It will save your sanity. Your life of keeping things organized, and your children’s space staying tidy will get a lot easier.

Under the bed is a perfect and often used storage space for extra things in your bedroom. The trick is to use the space wisely by storing the right things in proper containers. The best stuff to store under your bed are things that have to DO with the bedroom; think seasonal clothes, duvet covers and blankets. You don’t want anything under there that you need to access on a regular basis nor do you want things that don’t belong to the bedroom - those stray items should likely find a home somewhere else. As for the containers, you need to find something that rolls, can be cleaned and has a lid!! You know how dust bunnies congregate under the bed - it would suck to have them party on your clean sweaters! I have been looking for a great bin for under our bed and I have found a couple that I think will appeal to you.

The first is a CUTE basket called the “DEGERNES” (pictured above) with a canvas tie on lid - perfect for those who don’t have a bedskirt and want something that will look good under the bed. You can still clean it by giving it a quick vacuum or wiping down the sides and the cover can just be thrown in the wash. It could be a bit tiresome untying it - so for this I recommend storing stuff that you would need to access a couple times a year. Find it here>

The next two are pure function. They are both plastic, and have plastic lids that can be easily put on and wiped off. I would recommend this only if you have a bedskirt hiding it - plastic containers/storage bins/ drawers are great, but look cheap sticking out in a bedroom! They are completely functional and great, but please hide them! Here are a couple that I found on line and liked - note the Ikea one is almost 1 1/2″ taller than The Container Store one - so measure your bed before you buy!

Ikea underbed storage>
The Container Store under bed storage>

Our tip today may seem obvious, but when we decided we were going to do a bedroom week, this HAD to be the tip. Drum roll please…. make your bed every day!!

This is honestly, one of the most important things you can do to ensure that your bedroom looks good. Have you ever heard of the “broken window syndrome”? It is a sociological theory that pretty much says, if one window in a neighbourhood is broken and is not fixed, it is only a matter of time before the rest of the neighbourhood falls into disrepair. This happens if you start letting things slide, just a little and it becomes contagious. This rule applies to every room in your house. Have you ever noticed that if you leave one dish on the counter, it soon becomes 20? Same thing for your bedroom. If you don’t make your bed, soon clothes will litter the floor and every available surface, empty cups will sit on your bedside table and paperwork will pile up on your dresser.

Best way to avoid bedroom chaos: always make your bed in the morning, tidy it before leaving the room and then SHUT THE DOOR!!! That way kids, pets, and stray mail will never find their way into your heavenly sanctuary.

If you find yourself in a chaotic state in your bedroom right now, never fear. Take a deep breath and use our Mantra “Top to Bottom, Left to Right, Focus, Focus, Focus”. You’ll be basking in a tranquil space in no time. Good luck!

This week (Valentine’s week) is all about the bedroom. Creating a sanctuary of peace and romance isn’t always an easy task, but with Maja’s tips you’ll be Valentine ready.

In this episode Maja shares how to Create A Lovely Love Nest:

Step #1 - De-Clutter!
Step #2 - Freshen it Up (perhaps with a fresh coat of paint, new pillows, fresh flowers, and a new Duvet cover)
Step #3 - Make sure your sheets are clean and crisp (buy the best sheets you can afford and perhaps iron them when you’re able for the ultimate in luxury)
Step #4 - Focus on making it the best Valentine’s Day ever, think about your loved ones and how you can show them you care

*If you’d like to share your own personal havens, blog about them and then come back and post a link for us to visit. We’d love to see how you feather your valentine’s nest.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and comments for creating a beautiful bedroom escape for Valentine’s Day and beyond. Our theme for the next week is “The Bedroom” and we’ll have some great practical advice on the way for organizing and keeping it clutter free.