7 space-saving solutions for growing families

Living in the city gives you the freedom to walk everywhere, cycle along the Bow on a whim, and pick up your groceries in a market just minutes from your place.

So when your family starts to grow, you might not want to move out of downtown or look for a bigger apartment right away. Instead, there’s a way that you can stay where you are and continue enjoying life in the space you love: by employing space-saving solutions.

It’s essential to plan ahead when you’ve got to make way for cribs, changing tables, and toys. After all, stepping on a piece of Lego when you get out of bed in the morning is no fun. To help combat that, here are seven space-saving solutions for growing families.

Go for bunk beds

Bunk beds/Shutterstock

Simply put, children adore bunk beds. Being able to climb up a ladder to get into bed is fascinating to kids, probably because it reminds them of their favourite play centre. For parents growing a family, bunk beds are the perfect way to save space and give the kids more room on the floor to play with their toys.

Choose furniture with built-in storage

Optimizing storage is key for making your place feel more spacious than it really is, whether you live in a 400 sq. ft. condo or an 800 sq. ft. one. You could choose a desk with side drawers, a bed with drawers built into the base, a living room storage system with units on either side of your TV, or even a footstool that doubles as a storage box. It’s all about getting creative in the little ways you can.

Mount shelving to walls

Shelf/Shutterstock

Here’s the thing: the fewer items you have on the ground, the better. When you start to utilize the vertical space and walls in your home, chances are, you’ll notice a huge difference. Instead of having bookshelves or photo stands taking up space in your living area, opt for smaller shelving units and mount them on the wall. This also means that potentially breakable items are out of the kids’ reach!

Use stackable storage bins for toys

It’s a fact: kids accumulate toys, whether for birthdays, at the holidays, or simply when your friends drop by with their children’s pre-loved playthings. Having toys scattered around your place can make it feel more cramped than it really is, and it’s not a good look if you’re hosting dinner parties. You can avoid toy clutter by investing in some simple stackable toy bins. Choose brighter colours or options that complement your decor.

Organize drawers and everything in between

Drawer organizer/Shutterstock

Of course, it’s wonderful to have cabinets and drawers in your living area, kitchen, and bedroom, but if you don’t organize them neatly, there’s space wasted. Use foldable organizers in your drawers to separate everything from the kids’ socks to their swimwear, and a hanging shoe organizer in the wardrobe to create more room below. Best of all, these organizers can be folded down and packed away.

Invest in a foldable table

The idea of having a long dining table may be something you’d like to have in years to come, but for now, why not save space with a foldable option? Extend the sides out when you sit down for dinner as a family or the kids are doing their homework, and fold them away when you don’t need them. It’s an easy solution for the modern family home.

Take excess items to offsite storage

Self-storage/Maple Leaf Self Storage

Now that you’ve got the kids toys and clothing sorted, where do you put your bikes and summer gear? Let’s face it, there are always going to be extra belongings you don’t need to have in your place from season to season, but you can be smart when it comes to storing them with Maple Leaf Self Storage.

Whether you need short-term or long-term storage, Maple Leaf Self Storage units act as an extension of your home. You’re not restricted when it comes to unit sizing because you can choose an option as small as a closet or as big as a garage, depending on your needs.

To celebrate embracing smart storage outside the home, Maple Leaf Self Storage is giving away a KitchenAid stand mixer worth $700. It’s the kind of space-saving tool that will help make entertaining and kitchen prep even more enjoyable.

KitchenAid stand mixer/Maple Leaf Self Storage

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