Teaching Organisation Skills with Divan Beds

Few pieces of furniture are as versatile as the humble divan bed when it comes to helping your kid create an organised, clutter-free bedroom sanctuary. 

With its built-in drawers and storage solutions, this unsung hero can be the key to taming even the wildest piles of stuff. But where to start? Let’s break it down.

Size Matters

Single divan beds usually have one drawer for basic storage, while small doubles have two and double divans offer two to four drawers.

 
Pictured: Silentnight Miracoil Ortho 4FT 6 Double Divan Bed. Priced £449 (Save £150 on RRP) Available from Bedstar.

If you’re looking to maximise your storage space and have a needy teenager, a roomy king with four drawers is the way to go.

Small doubles are best for tweens and teens, while singles are suitable for all children, especially those under 14. 

Doubles are technically adult-sized beds, making them best for children over 16. However, most kid’s rooms don’t call for a double. 

Out With the Old

Before you can even think about organising, you need to do a ruthless decluttering session and throw out all the stuff you don’t need. 

We’re talking clothes you haven’t worn since 2012, old textbooks collecting dust, and that bizarre knick-knack collection from your quirky aunt. 

Anything you don’t need, or love has got to go to make way for what matters – and you don’t necessarily have to bin it; store it in your attic or garage in a sealable plastic tub, and it’ll always be with you, just not in your bedroom. 

Divide and Conquer

 
Pictured: Silentnight Mirapocket 1200 Eminence 4FT 6 Double Divan Bed. Priced £798 (Save £160 o RRP) Available from Bedstar.

After purging your unwanted stuff, it’s time to categorise what’s left into distinct sections for clothes, games, and other items. 

Clothes, books, treasured keepsakes, electronics—you get the drift. Seeing everything sorted will help you understand what you’re working with storage-wise.

Drawer dividers are fantastic for splitting your drawers into manageable sections, while transparent storage bins/baskets are good for smaller things.

Rotate for the Season

You probably don’t need those chunky sweaters and snow boots taking up valuable real estate. Use your divan bed’s drawers to store off-season items, swapping them out as the weather shifts to maximise your day-to-day storage.

You can also go the other way and use your divan’s drawers to store your summer clothes and keep your winter stuff locked away somewhere else.

 
Pictured: Giltedge Beds 4FT 6 Double Divan Base. Priced £239. (Save £110 on RRP) Available Bedstar. 

Don’t forget to throw out old clothes and things you no longer use, either – decluttering is an ongoing task, not something to do once in a blue moon. 

Clean Routine

Even the most meticulous bedroom organisation system will not last if you don’t adhere to it and keep your bedroom clean.  

Take a few minutes each week to tidy up, returning items to their designated spots, and you’ll be amazed at how much more zen and focused you feel.

Take a vacuum cleaner to your floors, dust your walls and carpentry, and open your window to let fresh air whisk away musky smells. 

Divan beds with fabric upholstery should be cleaned with your vacuum’s soft brush attachment to lift dirt away from the fabric. You can treat stains with a wet sponge and soap, using the sponge’s absorbency to lift away the stains. 

Promote Cleanliness

Cleanliness is about more than a weekly clean – it’s about being averse to dust, dirt, and bad smells to maintain a lovely bedroom all the time.

Your kids are unlikely to notice when their bedroom looks like a bomb has hit it, so it’s crucial to point it out when it happens. 

And don’t be afraid of dishing out other household chores like cleaning the kitchen as your child’s punishment for not keeping their bedroom tidy – using other chores to get your kid to tidy and organise their bedroom is a fantastic trick.