I don't know about you, but we live in a *small* space- I'm talking 800(ish) square feet small.
That's right, two adults and two toddlers in a sardine box.
We are temporarily renting while we are in the process of buying a (slightly) less small house. So even though there are a KAJILLION things I would love to buy my kids, we just do not have space for them (or the money...just go with me on this one though).
One of the items I have considered buying is a train table. My boys LOVE trains right now. I have walked every square inch of this apartment trying to find a spot that we could fit it in. I came up with nothing, but as the old adage says...
See that adorable toddler bed covered with our I Spy Quilt? It was a second hand (a.k.a Craigslist) purchase that originally came from Ikea. The transformation really does take less than 5 minutes. Here's the (super) simple steps:
2. Flip the bed over
4. Add the toys. We like our Thomas the Train set.
5. Let the kids play!
And best of all- it cost me EXACTLY ZERO DOLLARS!! :-)
**Chances are you don't have the exact same toddler bed as we do, but I hope this post will inspire you to look at the furniture you do have in a new way. An old ottoman? Two dining room chairs pushed together? An old TV stand? Be creative. Find another way to use those items. Not only is this a great way to save money, but remember your kids are ALWAYS watching you. If you set an example by being a creative problem solver, chances are they will follow in your footsteps :-)
That's right, two adults and two toddlers in a sardine box.
We are temporarily renting while we are in the process of buying a (slightly) less small house. So even though there are a KAJILLION things I would love to buy my kids, we just do not have space for them (or the money...just go with me on this one though).
One of the items I have considered buying is a train table. My boys LOVE trains right now. I have walked every square inch of this apartment trying to find a spot that we could fit it in. I came up with nothing, but as the old adage says...
Necessity is the mother of invention
(and as it so happens, I am the MOTHER of necessity!)
So here you have it- my nifty solution to giving my boys a train table (without spending a dime or sacrificing a single square inch of space!)
1. Remove the mattress
2. Flip the bed over
3. Cover the slats with a city themed rug.
(if you want to make the transformation more permanent, I would recommend adding a piece of plywood over the slats for extra reinforcement :-)
4. Add the toys. We like our Thomas the Train set.
5. Let the kids play!
What did I tell you- less than 5 minutes, right?!?
And it takes ZERO extra space since tonight it will be transformed back into a toddler bed.And best of all- it cost me EXACTLY ZERO DOLLARS!! :-)
**Chances are you don't have the exact same toddler bed as we do, but I hope this post will inspire you to look at the furniture you do have in a new way. An old ottoman? Two dining room chairs pushed together? An old TV stand? Be creative. Find another way to use those items. Not only is this a great way to save money, but remember your kids are ALWAYS watching you. If you set an example by being a creative problem solver, chances are they will follow in your footsteps :-)