Apartment kids' room storage and furniture

Aletha R Jones
by Aletha R Jones
I live in an apartment with my two boys who share a room. The issue I face is storage and the right beds. Both boys have disabilities one more serious than the other. The eldest has a seizure disorder and the youngest bedwetting. I've tried wooden and metal beds which did not last long. They cracked or bent. As for storage I purchased drawers from Wal-Mart and they broke really easy. I tried Rubbermaid draws did not work either so now I'm lost and trying to get them to keep clothes on hangers is impossible. I need some help with what would work.
  7 answers
  • Kim Kim on Mar 27, 2016
    Maybe try Captains Beds. You’ll get handy extra space & you won’t have to vacuum under the beds. You can get them from several places for an inexpensive price. Or even have someone make them for you.
  • Barbara Peterson Barbara Peterson on Mar 27, 2016
    I believe you can get plastic mattress covers to take care of the bed wetting issue. I would make sure that the one wetting the bed would not be allowed to have anything to drink at least one hour or so before bed. Have you tried using FOOT LOCKERS or some sort of chests? Something that could go at the bottom of their beds. If they have disabilities, there should be a program out there that can help you, like the Children's Institute...hope this helps. Good luck to you
  • Drd4223999 Drd4223999 on Mar 27, 2016
    Rows of hooks on the walls, maybe even double rows, at a height they could reach easily, might help with the clothes. No folding for them, or buttoning, etc. Maybe a reward system for whatever they hang up to encourage them to begin with. Then maybe you could remove the closet doors, put a section of shelves in there with inexpensive, transparent dollar store bins or just cardboard boxes you wouldn't mind throwing out when they wore out. For the bed wetting perhaps you could make a water proof/ resistant bedspread. Then at night spread a small blanket or even a really big beach towel on top for him to lay on, with another cover on top of that. Sort of like using a sleeping bag just not sewn together on the sides. Basically just have him sleep on top of the bed instead of in it with covers cut down to the smallest size necessary to reduce washing. The bed would look made up during the day so the room would appear more orderly. And I'd try to get the beds as close to the floor as possible so that if falls occur less harm would be done. I know a wonderful family who could not afford to buy beds for their many children and they all used sleeping bags at night that they rolled up during the day. After they had enough money to buy beds the kids actually said they would rather stay with the sleeping bags because they had so much more space in their rooms to do things during the day. No rules here. Just make life as simple and easy as possible. Good luck.
  • Nancy Jenkins Nancy Jenkins on Mar 27, 2016
    Combo of Kim and Barbara Peterson might work. Not sure how big the bedroom is and how tall boys are, I don't think bunkbeds would work because of seizures of one of the sons and cannot have bed wetter above. Hope you find the solution. If you have IKEA and /or JYSK where you live they have some good choices in beds . I guess not enough room for a pair of single wallbeds?
  • Carol Tanner Carol Tanner on Mar 28, 2016
    Platform beds with storage underneath, Lots of other good ideas on sites like Pinterest. There are waterproof mattress pads that do not feel at all like plastic. You can also get side rails if needed for the one with seizures so he doesn't fall out of bed. Shelves for toys are definitely better than toy boxes or foot lockers. Put the toys in labeled fabric drawers on the shelves so they are easy to put away,
  • Barbara Valenti Barbara Valenti on Mar 28, 2016
    I really do not know of more than what's said. Considering their disabilities I would think there are certain agencies that could offer you some help. Maybe even acquiring a low hospital bed for each child. Also maybe moving their clothes out to another area. Setting out their daily outfits in their rooms. I am sure it is hard to accommodate your environment being cramped, but check for some help around you. Like county or State agencies. They deal with situations like this more than some of us. I wish I had more help to offer, but this is what I would do if it were me. You are not alone as there are many others with greater issues. I pray you can get this resolved easily and timely. Hang in there you are a special person with some awesome children. Everything has its reasons and is perfect in Gods eyes! Take care and let us know how things progress! I care.
  • Kim Kim on Mar 28, 2016
    Also making a shirt folding board would help & would be fun for the kids to chip in & help. Here is a very good video & instructions made from simple cardboard & duct tape [ everything everyone has around the house]. Set by Sep instructions: http://www.instructables.com/id/Shirt-Folding-Board-from-Cardboard-and-Duct-Tape/step4/Use-the-Folding-Board/ Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtjsBUSiORs