Sports Lockers for Children

Lockers aren't just for school -- they're handy home storage.

Sports lockers -- either shiny and new from a school furniture supplier or the dinged and painted, vintage variety -- are a whimsical form of storage for a family with children. Stacked in a mudroom, garage or hallway, these lockers provide a handy drop-off point for shoes, backpacks and sports gear. Placed in a child's room or play room, sports lockers offer ample stowage for art supplies, toys, clothing and collections.

Tall Lockers in the Mudroom and Garage

Tall lockers offer abundant storage space for hockey sticks, archery equipment, horseback-riding gear, swim fins, snow shoes, long coats and large duffel bags. Metal lockers placed side by side in the place where kids (muddy shoes and all) come and go provide a place to stow stuff when kids are in a hurry. Metal gym lockers are durable enough to take a beating and can be wiped down with ease.

Short Lockers for the Hallway

From school to dance practice to sports activities, kids accumulate a lot of stuff. Space can feel cluttered when that stuff is scattered all over the house. A small gym locker -- either plastic or metal, labeled with the children's names -- tucked in a hallway by the back door gives children a place to stash their stuff when you're tidying up.

Bedroom Storage

A set of gym lockers is an unusual alternative to a dresser. Lockers come in a variety of sizes; stack small ones for T-shirts, socks and pajamas, and use larger ones for jackets and coats. Some come with hooks, useful for hanging a robe or favorite hooded sweatshirt. Others have a bar for hangars. Go for brightly colored metal lockers or, for a more sophisticated look, use wooden lockers. They come in a variety of finishes ranging from light maple to black.

Play Room Storage

Sports lockers are a space-efficient form of storage in a play room or game room. Some have drawers -- perfect for storing small plastic parts, dolls, blocks and DVDs. Stack board games or puzzles inside, and use a tall sports locker -- some have a bar for hangers -- for costumes and dress-up clothes.

References

• "House Beautiful": Real-Life Makeovers
• "ReadyMade": Heavy Metal Kitchen Storage