• Shoe hanger / shoe hanging organiser

If you haven't got one, a shoe hanger is a very useful device. It's a large piece of fabric that you can hang on a door, which comes with lots of large cloth pockets sewn on. Use the pockets to store everything from Barbie dolls, toy trucks, to arts and crafts items, hair clip decorations and outdoor clothes like mittens and hats. These are widely available – £6.99 from Argos, £2 at Wilkinson and a range of prices on eBay, depending on how attractive you want it to look.

• Storage boxes and baskets

It's true – rather than piling stuff up on the floor, in drawers or on shelves, storage boxes are a far more attractive way to clear up all that clutter. And they don't have to cost the earth either. We really like the multi-purpose plastic storage boxes from Homebase, which come in different colours and cost £3.99 per box. Ikea have also got some cute furry fabric storage baskets for £2.29 which you can hang up on the wall or bedpost if you don't want them on the floor. You can also still get traditional toy chests at Argos and Ikea has storage chests that double up as seats, both under £10.

• Toolbox or make-up box

  Buy a cheap toolbox or make-up box which has lots of slots and compartments for storing things. You can use this to store colour pencils, markers, paint brushes, bead kits, barbie shoes and other small odds and ends so that they don't fall victim to the hoover, and this can also be a good ready-to-go compact carry case if your children go on excursions or play dates. Wilkinson has a great range of affordable utility toolboxes under £5.

Fast tidying solutions

• Rotate and immortalise 3-D artwork

Nothing lasts forever, and you can't be blamed for eventually wanting to get rid of some of your child's more space-consuming three dimensional artwork or school projects, particularly if it's made of materials that deteriorate over time. So what do you do? Take photos of each piece of artwork in its prime with your child and make an album of these photos on the computer or in a photo book.

You can also have a monthly rotation of artwork, if you have a few children who make a lot of art. Get your kids to pick their favourite piece, which will be on display in a special place in the house for one month, after which it needs to be stored away or recycled.

• Keep all artwork that can be flattened

This one is easy. Just buy some nice large plastic folders and use them to store your child's artwork that is paper-based and can be flattened and stored easily. Over time, such folders show a progression of your child through the years and can be very nice to look back on and relive the memories.

• Have a garage sale or sell on eBay

While this is difficult with some children (and parents) who like to hold onto toys, once children get a bit older (think 11 or 12), the idea of selling off toys they don't want anymore for monetary gain is a lot more appealing. If you haven't got a lot of money and spent a lot on the toys, it's fair that you should get your money's worth. Plus, everybody likes a bargain.

• Donate to charity shops

If you don't have the time to sell stuff, you could also donate children's clothes, toys and books to charity shops, which are always on the look out for good quality items to resell. Just be sure to resist the temptation to buy things from the charity shop to replace the ones you've just given away, at least for a month or two!

• Trade or give to someone else

How about starting a clothing swap circle with other mothers who have children the same age as yours? You can trade a few outfits with each other so that your children get to have different clothes to wear for a month or two, and everyone's happy with the variety.

Also, do you know someone who has just had a baby? Young parents just starting out would really appreciate the clothes and other items. And of course, if you have unopened toys, puzzles or building sets, wrap them up again and give them as gifts at the next birthday party you're invited to.