I’m linking up with Tina Gray [dot] Me today for Ooh, that’s Pinteresting!
I posted this photo on Facebook the other day.
I am at my wits end with keeping the kids books tidy. I’m basically at the stage where I either leave them on the floor or just fling them back in the bookshelf. And I mean fling, they are not put away tidily with spines facing outwards.
Before CrashBoy was mobile I was able to keep on top of CrashGirl’s books, and I would even put them back on the shelf in order of size. (Ha ha, the things I had time for then!). Now that CrashBoy’s switch has been flipped from cute baby to destructive toddler, I can’t keep up. He is like a force of nature tearing through the house!
Their beautiful books are losing their covers, getting dirty and in some cases ripped to shreds :(
So it was Crash Test Mummies to the rescue!
Suggestions from the Crash Test Community
“A book shelf with the basket caddies are way tidier” Cherry
“Too early to start a reward system for doing a few helpful tasks? I also used to play a game around putting things away.” Hilary
“Go with the baskets idea Laney. Try stickers or dots on spines and tell them they’ve got to make sure the stickers/ dots are showing.” Mai
I also did some Googling and pinning on Pinterest to come up with the following.
Inspiration for kids book storage
I like this fabric holder, but I’m not sure how likely it will be that I get around to it!
Source: gallery.apartmenttherapy.com via Laney on Pinterest
Books facing outwards seems to be the way to go
Source: cadenlane.com via Laney on Pinterest
These are made from Ikea spice racks!
Source: domesticsimplicity.com via Laney on Pinterest
Would you believe this is made from plastic rain guttering?
Source: raisingolives.com via Laney on Pinterest
Another Ikea hack
Source: ikeahackers.net via Laney on Pinterest
A very simple solution for the top of a dresser
Source: bigbooklittlebookcardboardbox.co.uk via Laney on Pinterest
Time to Crash Test!
I’m going to go with a combination of:
- Using baskets in the bookcase we have
- Installing something like the rain gutter book holders in the 4th picture
- Using the Ikea spice racks next to the kids’ beds
What do you think? Do you have any more ideas?
I’m also linking up with 5 minutes just for me, so there is plenty of Pinterest inspiration to check out today!
Laney
I love the Ikea spice racks idea but we are in a rental :(
Amy’s last post..Casetagram- Love It!
Removable 3M strips/hooks! They are great, and should be enough to hold the rack if you don’t load it up too much. The spice rack itself isn’t that heavy.
Awesome ideas! I like the rain guttering one (I recently found a site that suggested rain guttering fixed to the outer wall of the house at an accessible height and filled with dirt for herb gardens).
Callie’s last post..One Large Park, Dozens of Children, One Muddy Puddle.
I’ve seen hydroponic systems set up like that. Looks a bit complicated though!
Love all the shelf ideas. We have a similar problem at our house, so you have definitely given me some inspiration. I’m going to try spice racks next to the kids beds (especially the top bunk)
Jo @Countrylifeexperiment’s last post..How I Would Decorate My House For Christmas, If I Could…
Yay – I love it when someone else finds the ideas useful! The spice racks are only $3 at Ikea.
I really love the book shelving ideas. My girls have a bookshelf that we’ve turned on its side, but sometimes I wish the weren’t able to get to some shelves…
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I know what you mean Bec. Ours are accessible too which is good . . . and bad!
Love the rain guttering and spice rack ideas! Thanks for linking up :)
Tina ~ Tina Gray {dot} Me’s last post..{Ooh, that’s Pinteresting!} The hugs edition
Those are the two I really hope to put in place!
I am so with you. Books everywhere drive me crazy! If only we had more space… if we move to more space I’ll be coming back here for ideas!
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The spice racks on the walls might work for you if you don’t have much floor space. Good luck!
I have wanted to make the fabric one for ages – love the idea of it next to their beds. we just have bookcases that are now filled + one separate box for library books.
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The separate box for library book is an excellent idea. I’m always searching for them!
Despite our destructive toddler, the books aren’t such a big issue. I never bother to really organise them anymore, because I know that when I do, it will be the day she decides she wants to see what the room would look like with empty bookshelves. But the rest of the time it isn’t too bad, but I always have problems finding library books. I also think that we have WAY too many childrens books, but I always find myself incapable of letting any of them go, and highly capable of buying plenty more! I love the idea of the spice racks though – need a trip to ikea soon I think :)
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LOVE the Ikea spice rack idea I am currently using an old wine rack to store the Worm’s books in, but I can see this being a problem as I continually buy more books!
How many books does a 16 week old need? :)
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We don’t have a problem yet, but I like being organised so I feel keen to already create more work for myself where I don’t need to, thanks to your pins today! Seriously, I like the spice racks and guttering best. I like the order of the floor to ceiling corner shelving with books facing outwards but the kiddies won’t be able to reach most of them so it’s not that practical.
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Spines facing out just doesn’t work with kids! I have to let go my OC tendancies to order them by size too! Time to find some baskets and guttering ;)
Great ideas. I bought a book storage shelf on wheels from Vertbaudet. I’ve got the picture on my Pinterest page but there seems to be an issue with Pinterest and I can’t get the link for you http://pinterest.com/glasgowmummy/. It’s great though and is similar to the ones you see at children’s libraries. It’s at their level so my toddler can pick books himself and I just rotate the books a little so he’s not always picking the same ones.
Hi! I remember buying things via Vertbaudet when we lived in Edinburgh! I couldn’t open the board, but I think I saw the bookshelf you are talking about. Books at their level are important – but, oh the mess!
What great Ideas! Im off to ikea on the weekend so think I will have to add some of the spice racks to my list. My son has books everywhere. Such a simple and cheap way to fix the issue.
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Thanks so very much for joining in with my Pinning and Singing Pinterest Party. I really love your pins and ideas so thanks for sharing them. Thank goodness my kids are a little older so I don’t have as many books to be clearing up each day. I sure do wish I had see these great ideas when my kids were younger though!
I know there are a lot of linky parties out there in blogland so I just wanted to let you know that I am really grateful for your support and bloggy friendship!
Best wishes,Natasha.
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Hi Natasha, thanks for dropping by. Linking up was fun. I have yet to put the book shelves in action, but hope to do so this week. No pinning post from me this week, maybe next week ;)