Having children is truly a blessing, but there are probably days when you just wish you had stayed single and lived in a tiny apartment in your downtown district forever, working for the boss you actually loved, instead of the one that purposely makes you work overtime so you'll always be late to your son's soccer games.

Regardless of those once in a while flashbacks to supposedly easier days, you probably wouldn't give your kids up for anything but you still have to put up with the mess that comes with them and the disorganization they create in your life and your home.

Never fear, there are ways to get around this problem and stop having those "when I was single" dreams.

• Decorate for organization's sake - Sure you can get those amazing little organizing drawers and put toys in them to your heart's content, but they'll probably always be empty and the toys will forever be strewn about your house. Instead, try something creative and innovative. When I was younger, my mother bought large kids area rugs for each of the bedrooms, the playroom and the living room. The rule was that all of the toys for that room had to stay in the middle of the rug. If any of us kids took those toys out of the rug area we would be responsible for cleaning up all of the toys or we would not be allowed to have dessert. Needless to say, we learned very quickly and my mother's cleanup job was significantly easier on her.

• Decorate for cleanliness' sake - Kids spill everything so carpet is pretty much a bust unless you have a magic cleaning formula. If you can't get rid of your carpet or your kids, the next best thing is an area rug. Much cheaper to replace than carpets (and also great for the toy boundaries above), a good area rug will be easy to maintain, be stain resistant and will protect your carpet from that grape juice disaster. Area rugs can be cleaned with a regular carpet cleaner, or you can take them to a dry cleaner, so your child safe decoration will never stay dirty for long.

• Decorate kid friendly - Aside from being organized and protecting your home from disaster, you should decorate kid friendly. Don't put your valuables or breakables where they can be easily reached or…broken. Avoid low hanging curtains and drapery where possible and make sure you have areas where it's okay to play. Your children will be less likely to destroy your home if they know they have a place, like a playroom, where they can jump around and throw toys as much as they want.

Remember, it's not always easy to have kids and there really may be some days where you wonder what in the world you were thinking. Decorate your home in a way that will serve the best interests of both you and your children and it won't have to be that way anymore.