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SarahA
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| Posted: Feb 04 2009 at 6:25am | IP Logged
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I have a question about the implementing the family closet--what do you do with the empty closets in the kids' rooms?
We have 4 of our kids in 1 room (our dorm--the kids are 7,5,4 and 2, so still getting into things...  ), and only books and clothes are "supposed" to be in there (although toys still sneak in now and then...) Toys are relegated to another room. If we remove the clothes, that would greatly help the room stay tidy, but what would we do with the empty closet? I'm looking for ideas that wouldn't substitute one mess for another (i.e. no toys or anything else the kids would get into) It's not a walk-in, just a normal side-wall closet, currently holding their dresser.
We're also deciding on where to implement it--we have a large closet in the master bedroom, but we're not sure we want the kids traipsing in and out of it (through our bedroom and bathroom first.) However, that would likely limit access, and therefore the mess. We've thought about turning the closet in the nursery (yes, baby gets a peaceful room to himself) into the kids' closet. However, clothes are the main sources of mess upstairs, and the nursery is currently the only bedroom without that problem. It's so nice to have that one constantly clean room. 
The laundry room is unfortunately only big enough to hold the washer and dryer, but at least it's upstairs, in between the nursery and our room.
We've never seen the Duggars. How do they and you do the family closet?
I really want to do this--it's a brilliant idea!
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Sarah
Army wife, Mama to (so far...) 2 boys, 1 girl, then 2 more boys
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Lisbet
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| Posted: Feb 04 2009 at 6:58am | IP Logged
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nak...we have one but our setup is condusive to it .... i can share more later
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Lisa, wife to Tony,
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: Feb 04 2009 at 7:30am | IP Logged
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As for the closet, if you needed the storage, you could always put whatever in there and lock the door.
Or, you could take the door off, paint the inside, and maybe hang a curtain and put in some big pillows, beanbags, a good light and make a reading nook. Kids (and adults) love small, cozy, designated spaces.
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Lindsay
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Elizabeth
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| Posted: Feb 04 2009 at 8:53am | IP Logged
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I think I'd take the door off and build a simple desk and bookshelf system in the space...
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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teachingmyown
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My husband is planning on building us a family closet by putting up a wall in our bedroom, sectioning off the "sitting room" area. I struggle with the constant movement of clothing and can't wait to have it all contained in one area! I am sure it will still be somewhat chaotic, but at least I will be able to close the door on it! 
I have four girls in one room and it is a constant struggle to keep some order. I like Elizabeth's idea for the empty closet. Another idea might be to make it a reading nook, with maybe a beanbag chair and books in a basket. Then again, my girls have a nice long closet, so a regular closet would be too small.
Good luck!
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SarahA
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| Posted: Feb 04 2009 at 7:18pm | IP Logged
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Thanks for the ideas so far. Lisa, congrats on your newest blessing--just a few days old, I see!
We have a desk in the room as part of the bunk beds (and shelves), but that's just one and as there are 4 kids, another one could work. There would be room left for some more bookshelves, too, and their bean bag. I could still use the shelf across the top for storage.
I'll have to think about what to do with the doors...they're French doors with no real way of locking (can't just use for storage.) Chances are we'll be moving within a couple years, so I don't want to do something drastic--which taking off could be. My oldest son would jump at the chance to try his carpentry skills with doors just lying around! 
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Sarah
Army wife, Mama to (so far...) 2 boys, 1 girl, then 2 more boys
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KackyK
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My father has a "guest room" in their home that is really "his" room. He does exactly what Elizabeth suggested. He is a ham operator and the radios are kind of ugly (my opinion ) so it's nice that he can tuck his desk with those radios and such in the closet. He actually still has the doors on so he can close it up (a nice way to clean up!).
As far as where/how to do the family closet...I have a friend who has the opposite family of yours, meaning she has all girls and one boy. They have a small room in the basement dedicated to their family closet Their son "kept" his closet as he was the only one with a room to himself anyways. But now her girls have more room in their rooms without dressers in there and they just scoot down the stairs to run and get dressed.
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KackyK
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4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: family closet revisited
