Pint-Sized Collector

Dear Melissa:

My adolescent has the smallest room in the house and the most stuff. She’s a collector and every surface is covered. Can you suggest something to stop the battles? Frustrated Mom

Dear Frustrated:

I totally sympathize. I have two collectors myself, and we’ve tried everything, including the dreaded “mom cleaning with a garbage bag”.

Consider replacing some pieces of furniture with those that do double duty, such as a captain’s bed, a cabinet with built-in hampers, wall mirrors with an attached shelf/hooks, and a vitrine (glass-topped display table). Trust me, you’ll feel better freeing up some horizontal surfaces just so you can actually see the dust for a change.

There is also untapped space just below the ceiling. Consider running a 4” deep display shelf around the upper part of the walls. Your child probably just wants the comfort of having her favorite things nearby where she can see them. Keep only her actual playthings within easy reach.

You might also try rotating her collections, the way adults do when they have too much clutter. Possessions feel fresh and new again when brought out of storage. And if all else fails, keep the bedroom door shut. M.A.K.

Displaying Barbies

Dear Melissa:

Can you suggest any interesting ways to display a child’s collection of Barbies? These are not the expensive collector dolls, but they are all over her room and new ones keep arriving. She loves to play with them so I can’t toss them or put them up in the attic. P.C., MA  

Dear P.:

Believe me, I’ve been there. Except my daughter’s Barbies were all nude with tangled hair, so displaying them was not really an option. Have you considered placing them in shoe pockets on the back of her door? What if groups of them went to “sleep away camp” in some plastic bins? You might also consider seating them on a shelf around the ceiling of her room. Pretend they’re airline passengers on line at the TSA checkpoint, until it’s their turn to join in the fun. I highly recommend clothes, though. M.A.K.