•If you have two open rooms side-by-side and want to separate them, try hanging a large, decorative curtain to define the boundaries of each space.

•Kids pattern what they see, not what they're told. It's up to parents to set limits for how many toys can fit in a one room. As they children get older, they'll apply those lessons to other areas of their lives.

•A good way to get your kids to take responsibility for organizing their toys is to assign them bins labeled with their names and to keep those bins in a place they can access. In time, your kids will develop good organizational habits just like you!

•Hanging chairs in a playroom are fun and make cleaning up easier. Just make sure to mount them in ceiling joists so they'll support your weight without crashing to the ground.

•Use paint to highlight architectural details. A soffitt painted in a bold color will pop out and give dimension to an otherwise bland ceiling.