It’s easy for kids’ rooms to get cluttered and messy. But with a few simple steps, you can keep things neat and organized – and get some help cleaning up too!
The Basics
- Always keep child accessibility in mind so that it’s easy for kids to find items and put them away. This way, you’re not always on clean-up duty!
- When designing a closet system, rods and shelving should be low enough to reach. Even better: install an adjustable system (like California Closets) that can change along with the child’s needs.
- Group similar items together, such as short-sleeved shirts or dress pants.
- Use containers (clear, labeled, or colored) to contain small items. Keep items that are used often in baskets and bins for easy access.
- Set a good example: Give your child a "tour" of the closet and storage systems, so they understand how everything is organized. Model how to find items and when and where to put them away.
Clothing Storage
- Utilize storage bins and/or extra shelves to store clothes that your baby or child has not yet grown into. You can label a bin with the next size, and then switch out as they grow out of sizes. When utilizing shelves in a closet, you can rotate sizes downward to where they are more easily accessible.
- As a custom solution, clothing for babies and toddlers can utilize a ‘triple hang’ for their clothes to maximize small spaces. In a 24” section you can hang six feet of clothing!
- In general, though, folding clothing takes up less space then hanging them. Consider stacks instead of hanging sets of clothes.
- Purchase or install smaller drawers for organizing small items such as socks, hair clips, hats, and gloves. Custom closets can incorporate drawers with built-in dividers for these items. As the child grows, the dividers can be moved to accommodate the varying needs for a growing child.
Toy Storage
- Utilize pull-out baskets in a closet or shelving unit for small toys. These make it fun and easy to clean up. Make sure these are situated at a low level so that the child can easily reach them and learn how to be responsible for keeping their room organized and clean.
- Purchase small boxes and label them with printed photos (or get clear storage containers) for smaller items such as dolls' clothing, action figures, and building blocks.