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My kid wants a locker for his room. A real metal locker like he sees school kids using on TV shows like iCarly. I’ve got it on his Christmas wish list already, and I’m looking into some other bedroom ideas recommended by Real Simple, like chalkboard paint for the walls — let your kids scribble at will, no punishment or major clean-up necessary. I also like the thought of a cozy sitting place for reading, complete with a bright light with a bendable neck. If you’ve got girls, or babies, Real Simple has some great tips for you too — tie ribbons on dresser drawer knobs for an instant and inexpensive room upgrade, for example. In all, there are 20 crafty creations you can sink your teeth into. Check them out, then implement.

Photo: Donna & Andrew, Flickr

Every capable adult knows how to do a load of laundry — right? And anyone with kids has got to be a pro at sorting, washing, drying and folding. It’s like a full-time job, managing all the soiled socks and such. Ah, but maybe you could be doing a more effective job, and Real Simple magazine has the stuff on how to do laundry — the simple way. Well, it might not seem simple at first, but once you buy into their tricks, you’ll surely save time and frustration in the end. For example, did you know you should unfasten all buttons on clothing before tossing them into the washer? Yep. And you should pre-treat collars every time you wash them. Hmmm. More on all that here.

Photo: thadman, Flickr