We invited Virginia Beach Home and Organization Expert Amy Volk from Simplified Living to help us tackle one of the trickiest things to organize – stuff animals. Today is National Teddy Bear day and its always a tricky subject and issue to deal with all those cute and cuddly creatures that seem to multiply in no time at all. Here are Amy’s tips.
If you have kids, you also have stuffed animals. Some kids love them more than others-my daughter has over 75 “stuffies” in her closet and she isn’t willing to part with any of them! Over time, stuffed animals can take on a life of their own and you feel like they’re everywhere and you can’t contain them.
After doing some research, I have found my 3 favorite ways to store them and display them. All of these are simple to install or use and and very affordable plus they allow easy access to the animals and also make for easy clean-up.
The Toy Hammock
You can find these almost anywhere online and they come in several sizes. I love these because they get all the stuffed animals off the ground and make them easy to see.
Boon Stuffed Animal Storage Bag
This is just ingenious. This plush zipper bag can be stuffed with the stuffies and then zipped up. You can see them through the mesh and use them as stools & bean bag chairs in a bedroom! Just dump them out to use and stuff them back in when you’re done!
Hanging Shoe Organizer
Unlike the classic shoe pocket organizer, this organizer simply has elastic straps. It’s great to display the stuffed animals on a wall or a door and super easy to take out and use and also put them away.
Good Old Fashioned Shelf
Don’t forget that you can always display the stuffies on a shelf, but this is the hardest way to keep them from looking cluttered and messy.
About the author:
Amy Volk started Simplified Living, LLC in 2007 after years of being a Registered Nurse, corporate trainer & Direct Sales Leader. Amy has a passion for teaching you how to maintain a simplified life. Her philosophy is based on the need for simplicity and de-cluttering in our “stuff-driven” culture. Amy and her team at Simplified Living also provide solutions to life’s everyday problems, including work-life balance! You will find Amy on her regular segment of “Organize Your Life” on The Hampton Roads Show, speaking throughout our region, writing on her blog, AmyVolk.com and hanging out with her twins and family.