Organizing Tips Requested

Check out www.flylady.com. You might find some really good tips there.

Mud Room ideas. In mine, I have coat hooks for each person in the family. That is where their coats and book bags hang. Then, under the coat rack is a small basket for each member that we put our shoes in. That way all the mud and mess from shoes are in the basket and I just dump it out once in a while.

Kids rooms everything has it's place, but not too complicated. Keep it simple. That way my kids (as young as they are) can still keep it up. I have lots of baskets and each basket has a theme. I have even put labels on the baskets with a picture of the theme, so they can remember.

The younger kids we just sing a pick up toys song before every meal, that way it doesn't get out of hand and overwhelm them.

The older kids also have a rule that anything left out when I clean that room is mine to do what I want with it. I can choose to put it away, give it away, or throw it away. It only took once of them watching me throw away a toy, to learn that they need to keep them put away.

A.
Work at home mom of 3 Blessings

I use baskets and storage ottomans. I received a leather ottoman from Target for Christmas and it has been perfect. I am thinking about purchasing another one for my upstairs. It is large enough for a basket inside for smaller toys and it still allows enough room for larger toys and books. I like to have my sons toys in the rooms where we spend most of our time but I don't want them visible all of the time. When he is done playing we put everything back and close the lid and they are out of sight. The lid is also lightweight and at 17 months he can lift it himself and it stays up well so it doesn't smash his fingers. I also use a wicker laundry hamper in his closet. It is taller and holds a good amount of toys and doesn't take up a lot of space.

Shelves, containers, dressers. I even have some of those dumb things with drawers on wheels. Top drawer is like GI Joe, next drawer is like those dragons with the eggs, third drawer is Star Wars. Toy Box has all the race track and as many of the hot wheels as will fit and we have another car carrier that has over a hundred cars. The remote control cars are on a bookcase shelf. Bionicles and Knight's Kingdom are in separate drawers. Transformers are in a two separate dresser drawers. We have a collapsable net sized hamper type thing where all of the balls are stored. We have an antique wooden wagon that fits under the computer style table where all of the play station games are stored. Life is easier this way!

Other than picking up after them:( the best way is to organize it in a way that makes sense to you. I knew I was making progress on getting rid of clutter when I got rid of some of my clutter control books! Seriously, I like the book "Organizing from the Inside Out" by Julie Morgenstern. I seem to recall that she puts the items into 'zones', like outdoor zone [in the garage for chalk, jump rope, bicycles, etc.], food zone [for play food, play kitchen set], transportation zone [for anything with wheels, such as trains, cars, boats], clothing zone [dress up, mirrors, etc.], art zone [art suplies, containers for paint/water, tablecloth or placemats to work on, playdough*]. That way the kids can at least put it into the right 'zone'. That works well when friends are over too, because they always clean up better than your child.
I have used premade shelving units at kid height, baskets, bins - anything that works for your space. Include hooks for bags/backpacks and coats and a place for shoes to be taken off, so the dirt/mud/snow/rain is not tracked all over the house. Isn't that why it is called a 'mudroom'??
As to the decorating part of it, my mom-owned business can give you plenty of ideas to label the boxes and bins, as well as decorate a laundry area/mudroom. http://MindyN.uppercaselving.net You can order directly or invite friends to help you decide how you want to "express" yourself, and earn free products with specific sales.
* I store playdough in pillowcases, and the kids are allowed to sculpt only on that - great way to cleanup - it dries, peels off and can go into the laundry.