Why?
Because I'm tired of going through broken dressers like they were meant to be disposable. I'm tired of finding wadded up shirts shoved under the dresser (That's where that went! lol). I'm also tired of hauling laundry piles upstairs and down. Also, sorting out too small clothes, or out of season clothes would be a LOT easier if they were all in one area. More organized too.
Here is the idea behind the concept:
http://raisingolives.com/2009/03/laundry-help-the-family-closet/
A picture of another family closet:
http://www.lotsofkids.com/LOK-Household/Laundry/familycloset/familycloset3.php
The problem is that I don't have room in my house for an entire laundry room...as much as I love that idea. We use our space very creatively. We do have a school room that is only used for school, but I'm not willing to give that up as a laundry room.
Since we don't have a ton of kids (yet ;) haha!) we really don't need a laundry room I don't think. Rather I'm thinking of converting the master bedroom closet into the family closet.
Here is what it looks like now:
Currently the master bedroom is being used as the three oldest boys' room. However we'll be switching them back downstairs probably this summer, and taking our master bedroom back.
This closet is 11ft across and has installed in it a custom closet organization system as you can see. There are seven spots for rods to hang shirts. Only four of them are being used though, because the boys have taken the other rods to use as swords over time. ;) It will be easy to replace those rods though and have seven spots to hang shirts from once again.
However I don't know if it'd be easier to just take that whole thing out and put in wardrobe rack things. I really like this idea: http://cockrumfamily.blogspot.com/2008/12/new-family-closet-totally-embarrassing.html
Each wardrobe rack has a spot for shoes even! Shoes are another never ending battle in this house!
So I'm not sure quite how to go about this...but I'd love to hear some ideas!
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3 comments:
What a great idea! If I had one more girl between my girls, or another boy on the way, I would totally do this. Probably not the most practical for my kids though. We are thinking of making the downstairs living room into a large bunk room for all the kids to sleep. Then maybe we'd convert one whole wall into a laundry wall. Interesting idea!
We tried a family closet for a while, but it didn't work out well for us. I still had moments where I would walk into the closet and find clothes all over the floor, things put away in the wrong place, wadded up shirts (LOL). I think it still required much more of my maintenance than I wanted to accept or give. My best friend Kristin (http://kjllovemylife.blogspot.com) has a family closet beside her laundry room. She very creatively organized her space in order to be able to do so (baby #7 due any day and they live in less than 1500 sq ft of space). She manages it very well and it works for her just like you would expect it to work. I think it has as much to do with the person as it does with the space you are using. It's always easy to convert back if you find out it's not working for you...or to modify it to meet your needs specifically. The important thing is to get started!! :)
My brother and his wife have 3 boys and they do a family closet for them. Everything is hung and stored by size, which makes it easy for the youngest and middle boy to move up through the sizes as they get bigger, new clothes to be added, and the smaller sizes getting donated. Folded clothes are stored the same way. The kids love the idea, though, at first they were concerned there would be fighting, but 2 years later, everyone is still happy! >>Marla
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