space / order -- what do you love / dislike

[Momma Aimee]

We are getting ready to finsh the basement this winter -- most of it will be one big room for the boys. the toys will be down there, but also an area of tile for art tables and a lot of space.

it won't really be a homeschool "room" but it will be dedicated sapce, unlike the kitchen table, for the boys and projects ..

We also have a loft over part of the living room where i want to put a desk / child's table and where we have selving.

the boys are young,a dn we hope to move soon, so before any rea intense school happnes we won't be her ein this space ..

I know there have been other threads about space usage -- but i didn't find much when i searched.

Just wondering what others have loved or hates -- open shelves, bins, cabnets ???

I am trying to get DH to make a reading loft -- i lusted after one as a child. and it is like a fort so DH a boy at heart should go for it.

We may put in a slide at one end (not educational i know)

I also know we will school all over -- but i need a centeral location, storage at least, order is very importnat to me ...

thoughts?

Aimee

[lach]

I love Ikea shelves with baskets that I then label. It all looks so neat and organized, and we can actually find things. Appropriate things can be thrown into baskets in a mess, but it all looks really neat. I find I can concentrate a lot better when there's a lot less visual clutter.

[AAK]

Put the art space over a cleanable flooring! Seriously, we like carpet in the basement because it is cozier, but art needs to have room for oopsies. And, carpet isn't as forgiving.

For art supplies, I have loved a shelving set that was meant for a garages. It has lots of bins in 3 sizes. They are great! At the same time, those are for "ask mom first" supplies.

Amy

[ChinaDoll]

The rug area near our shelf of board games is a popular spot! Mom likes her desk/printer set-up in the corner. Kids' computer nooks if you can swing it (pays to be married to a computer geek). We tried desks, but prefer to work at an old kitchen table. LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of shelves. A hanging shoe organizer is wonderful for sorting odds and ends - markers, scissors, tape, etc.

[Momma Aimee]

thanks