Kids' Storage Screen
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-106 -- More Projects »
Q: My kids are driving me crazy with their messy rooms. How about some storage ideas? A: (Nancy Golden, Ask DIY Decorating expert) Here's a project that will get some of that stuff off the floor: a screen made from two sets of hollow-core, bifold doors. Here's how to create one for your home: Materials: (figure A) Two sets of hollow-core, bifold doors
Clothing hooks
Decorative drawer pulls
Mirror
Three brass hinges
Two sets of wooden shelf brackets
An awl
Screws and screwdriver
- Fold the doors and lay them next to each other, lengthwise, folds down. Place several nails along the border of the two doors, so they'll stay an even distance apart as you place the hinges.
- Place a hinge where you will need it to connect the doors, using an awl to mark the spaces where you'll want to put screws. Do the same for the other hinges and then attach them with a screw and screwdriver.
- Decorate the doors on either side with well-spaced decorative hooks and drawer pulls, which your child can use to hang all manner of objects (figure B). If a drawer pull doesn't have a long enough stem to serve as a hook, screw an extra-long screw through the door and attach the drawer pull on the other side -- leaving an inch or so of the screw exposed to give the drawer pull the added length.
Smart idea: For an older child's camouflage screen, consider putting wheels on the bottom of the screen so you can easily roll it where it is needed. - Use one set of shelf brackets to stabilize the panels on each end of the screen. Just screw them onto the door at the bottom, facing each other bookend-style, to rest on the floor (figure C).
Have a good time decorating the screen with paint and stamped patterns. More questions for Nancy: Q: What's the best way to store fabric? A: Make sure you store it in cotton or canvas (which is a type of cotton). Don't ever keep any type of clothing, especially suede, in plastic. Fabric sweats and you'll ruin it under plastic.
Q: Do you have any decorative storage ideas?
A: Try one of those old vintage trunks either at the foot of the bed or as a coffee table -- you can store extra bulky blankets in them. Also, it might be fun to use laundry baskets with handles in kids' rooms. That way they can throw things in there to store them.
Q: When storing clothes, which is better, mothballs or cedar?
A: That's your choice, depending on whether you prefer to smell eau de mothballs or eau de cedar. Web site resources for kids' storage: Storage Ideas for Your Child's Toys Practical Playspace Pointers Eight Great Helps to Organize Kids' Rooms From Organized Home.com Creative Storage Projects From Wallflowers.net Books: Kids' Room: Ideas & Projects for Children's Spaces
by Jennifer Levy, Elaine Louie & Dania Day
Chronicle Books
85 Second St., 6th Fl.
San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone: 415-537-3730
Fax: 415-537-4440
E-mail: frontdesk@chronbooks.com
Web site: www.chronbooks.com Kid's Stuff and What to Do With It
by Leigh Mintz
Zondervan Publishing House (2000)
5300 Patterson SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49530
Phone: 616-698-6900
E-mail: zpub@zpub.com
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