Are you drowning in a sea of children's clothes, toys, and mysterious bits and pieces that seem to multiply overnight? You're not alone! Organizing a kid's closet on a tight budget can feel like a big task, but it doesn't have to be. With a little creativity and some planning, you can transform even the messiest closet into something that keeps up with your child's growing needs. Here are 10 clever kids' closet ideas, complete with tips and steps to help you get started today.
10 Clever Kids’ Closet Ideas
1. Install a Kid-Friendly Closet System That Can Grow With Your Child
The Problem It Solves: Kids grow quickly, and as they do, their storage needs evolve. A flexible closet system, one that can easily be adjusted, offers the perfect solution to keep up with your child's changing needs.
What to Do: Look for adjustable shelves and rods that can move as your child grows, keeping items within easy reach. Modular units or wall-mounted tracks offer great options.
Where to Buy: Home improvement stores and online retailers offer a wide range of closet organizers.
Challenges: The initial setup may require time and tools, but the long-term benefits are worth it.
2. Maximize Vertical Storage Space with Tiered Hanging Rods
The Problem It Solves: By effectively using vertical space in your storage areas, such as shelves and stacking systems, you can increase your storage capacity a lot, often doubling or even tripling the amount of items you can store, while also opening up floor space.
What to Do: Install two or three hanging rods at different heights, ensuring lower ones are reachable by your child. Add a kid-friendly foldable step stool that can be tucked away when not needed.
Where to Buy: Most home organization stores sell easy-to-install rods.
Challenges: It might take a few tries to find the right height and fit for your child to increase space.
3. Develop a Color-Coded System for Each Child
The Problem It Solves: In shared closets, using a color-coded system is a great way to keep belongings separate and easily to find. By using a specific color for each child's items, it becomes much simpler to help kids manage.
What to Do: Assign each child a side and a color for hangers, baskets, or labels to mark their items.
Where to Buy: Colored hangers and labels are available at most organization and department stores.
Challenges: Keeping consistent with colors requires discipline but pays off in easy maintenance.
4. Incorporate an Age-Appropriate Labeling System
The Problem It Solves: Labels can be a helpful tool for children, guiding them to easily locate their items and encouraging them to return things to their correct places. This simple ideay not only helps in maintaining a tidy space but also promotes responsibility and independence among kids.
What to Do: Use pictures for younger children and words for those who can read. Place labels at their eye level.
Where to Buy: Printable labels or craft supplies for DIY labels are available online or at craft stores.
Challenges: Encouraging consistent use of the system by your child may take some practice.
5. Utilize Over the Door Storage for Shoes and Accessories
The Problem It Solves: Shoes and accessories often clutter the closet floor and shelves, making it a challenge to keep the space organized and tidy. This clutter not only reduces the visual appeal of the closet but also makes it difficult to find what you're looking for quickly.
What to Do: Hang an over-the-door organizer on the closet door for easy access to shoes and accessories (or other small items).
Where to Buy: These organizers are widely available at home goods and organization stores.
Challenges: Making sure the door can still close easily; opt for slim-profile organizers.
6. Install Hooks for Jackets and Backpacks
The Problem It Solves: Hooks offer a simple and easy way for kids to keep their most used items, such as backpacks, hats, and jackets, organized and off the floor. This not only helps in maintaining a tidier room but also promotes good organizational habits from a young age.
What to Do: Mount hooks at a child-friendly height on the closet wall or door.
Where to Buy: Hooks come in fun shapes and colors from most home decor stores.
Challenges: Teaching your child the habit of using hooks may require some reinforcement.
7. Add Cube Organizers to Keep Books and Toys Tidy
The Problem It Solves: Cube organizers provide a flexible storage solution, allowing for a wide range of items from books and toys to clothes and school supplies. Their modular design allows them to fit any space, making them an ideal choice for decluttering and organizing any room.
What to Do: Choose a size that fits within the closet and use bins to categorize items.
Where to Buy: Cube organizers are available at most furniture and organization stores.
Challenges: Keeping the cubes organized requires regular sorting and decluttering.
8. Utilize Top Shelf Space for Out of Season Items
The Problem It Solves: Seasonal items for kids, like holiday-themed clothes, winter coats, and summer sports gear, often take up precious space that could be used for everyday essentials. This can lead to clutter and disorganization, making it challenging to keep your home or their play areas tidy and functional.
What to Do: Store out-of-season clothes and gear on the top shelf in clear bins or a big basket.
Where to Buy: Clear bins can be found at any home organization store.
Challenges: Remembering to rotate these items as seasons change is needed.
9. Have a Place for the Next Day’s Outfit
The Problem It Solves: Mornings become significantly smoother and less stressful for parents when kids' outfits are chosen ahead of time. This simple act of preparation can save precious minutes during the morning rush, allowing for a more relaxed start to the day for both kids and parents.
What to Do: Designate a spot, like a special hanger or bin, for the next day’s clothes.
Where to Buy: Look for outfit planners or daily clothing organizers online.
Challenges: Making this part of your evening routine takes commitment.
10. Use Clear Storage Bins for Easy Identification of Contents
The Problem It Solves: Clear bins are an innovative solution that lets both you and your child easily see the contents without the need to open them. This not only saves time but also reduces the mess involved in searching for toys or supplies, making organization and clean-up a breeze.
What to Do: Use various sizes of clear bins to store toys, board games, crafts, and seasonal clothing.
Where to Buy: Home organization stores offer the best variety of clear storage options.
Challenges: Keeping the inside of the bins tidy requires regular decluttering and reorganization.
How to Organize a Kids’ Closet
Step 1: Sort and Declutter
Go through everything in the closet and drawers and decide what to keep, donate, or throw away. This is a great opportunity if you have a lot of stuff and want to involve your child and teach them about letting go of items they no longer need. Be sure to look at clothing from last year and determine what still fits or can be donated. Checkout our article on what do do with old clothing for more ideas.
Step 2: Organize Clothes By Type or Season
Grouping similar clothing items together makes it easier for your child to find what they’re looking for and helps maintain an organized closet. For example, keeping all t-shirts together or separating summer clothes from winter wear, simplifies finding specific items and keeps their wardrobe well-organized.
Step 3: Designate a Place for Everything
Once you’ve decluttered and categorized items, assign everything a designated place. This helps maintain an organized closet as time goes on. By knowing exactly where everything goes, things can easily be put back in their perfect place, preventing clutter from building up again.
Organizing your child’s closet doesn’t have to be a difficult project. With these clever kids' closet ideas and action steps, you can create a system that works for your family and helps keep chaos at bay. And remember, the goal isn’t perfection—it’s creating a functional space that supports your child’s independence and your family’s needs all year. Happy organizing!
