Let's focus for a moment on the lifestyle issue in regard to how your whole family will live in the same space together in peace and harmony. It is good to begin your life together with everyone having a personal space to call his or her own and to keep their own belongings. This space needs to be respected as personal and, depending on the age of the "owner," private no matter how large or how small the space or which member of the family. Birth is the time to begin this concept.

There are also shared spaces where the entire family lives together. Determine how much area in that shared space will be devoted to each member's personal needs and belongings. In a shared space, each family member might have one shelf in a bookcase, or 1 drawer in a cabinet to keep personal items, i.e. books, toys, papers etc. Anything that doesn't fit on that shelf or in that drawer would be stored in the individual's personal space. Train the entire family in regard to respecting these boundaries.

Personal toy storage space for a baby can begin with a toy box, although these are outgrown very rapidly. Creative use of closets, with a combination of shelving and hanging clothes space, is easy to design and install. Any of the shelving systems sold in home supply centers are an excellent place to begin. Make sure the toy shelving is at a level that a toddler can reach because it won't be long until your baby reaches that stage.

When designing children's rooms, think of storage and "desk top" area instead of furniture. Consider having book, toy and clothes shelving, cabinets and drawers and desktop area built on an entire wall or in an L shape in the chills room. This can be as elaborate as the budget will allow, or as inexpensive as going to a garage sale or your local unfinished furniture store and purchasing units that can be used together. Stylistically tie the base pieces together with a countertop of wood or laminate, just as you would the base cabinets in a kitchen. The "desk top" area, which should be 30" to 36" deep, can be used as a dressing/changing table for infants and babies, and then will "grow" along with the child's needs through the hobbies, crafts and school project phase of their lives -- up to and including computer monitors later on. Not only can this plan help to solve your "clutter" problems, it can also solve your "furniture" needs for the life of the child in your home. As an added bonus, this approach will provide a large work space for your child' which will encourage the development of his or her creative talents and, ultimately, good self esteem. Truly a win-win situation.