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- Nursery Articles -

15 Kids’ Closet Organization
Ideas + 3 Tips for Staying Tidy

Whether you are planning your nursery closet organization before your baby arrives or you’re tackling the ever-growing shoe and purse collection of your preteen, an organized closet can help keep room chaos to a minimum.

There is no shortage of ideas when it comes to kid-friendly storage, so we’ve compiled a list of the 15 best fun and functional closet organization ideas to organize any type of space. Plus, we offer three tips for how to keep your kid’s closet clean and tidy once you implement some of these ideas.

1. Label Bins and Baskets

Organize clothes by season, type or age milestone by adding appropriate labels to your favorite bins and baskets. Or consider separating outfits by days of the week to make getting ready in the mornings more streamlined—a fun and productive Sunday night activity to involve kids in deciding what they will wear for the week.

2. Color-Code Everything

If you prefer not to label, try color-coding storage options like baskets, bins and even shelves. Not only do these help keep things organized, but color also adds a fun pop of personality to a closet and keeps a room’s design aesthetic cohesive throughout the space.

3. Make It Clear

Similar to color-coding and labeling, clear storage options help adults and kids alike know exactly where to find what they are looking for. As an added bonus, clear plastic storage bins are sturdy and easy to clean. Beyond the closet, they make great options for storing changing table necessities for nurseries and can transition to organizing bathtime toiletries as children grow.

4. Personalize in Shared Spaces

Using any extra closet space for easily accessible toy storage is a must, and personalizing toy storage with your child’s name is a great way to keep things organized in shared bedrooms.

5. Remember the Little Details

A place for everything means everything will stay in its place—or at least one can hope. Remember the little details and give delicate trinkets and precious jewelry an appropriate storage box to avoid it getting lost or damaged.

6. Don’t Forget About Laundry

A hamper within reach of little hands means dirty clothes are less likely to end up in a pile on the floor. Add some fun flair to your kid’s closet organization with laundry hampers that echo the aesthetic of your child’s room, like whimsical animals or coordinating colors.

7. Find Extra Room Under the Bed

In smaller spaces especially, consider looking beyond the closet for storage solutions. Under the bed is valuable real estate for tucking away bulkier items like extra bedding, pillows and blankets. It’s also an ideal location to store hand-me-downs that your child isn’t quite ready to use.

8. Make the Most of Walk-In Closets

Adding wall-mounted solutions with open shelves, cabinets and drawers add a variety of storage options for your kid’s closet organization that go beyond the standard closet rod and will help make the best use of a walk-in closet’s square footage.

9. Tuck in a Dresser

In smaller spaces, consider moving your child’s dresser inside the closet. You’ll still be able to utilize the space around it, like hanging their smaller clothes on standard rods above the dresser. The dresser drawers help promote early organization skills by showing kids that everything has a proper storage place. As an added bonus, storing dressers in closets adds extra free space for playtime in your child’s room.

10. Add an Armoire

If the closet doesn’t provide enough space or your child’s room doesn’t have an attached closet, consider adding an armoire. With a mix of drawers and hanging space, armoires are the perfect size for storing baby and toddler clothing and necessities, and can transition to other storage as children grow. Even better: Conceal everything behind a pair of stylish doors.

11. Go Vertical

While little ones are unable to access items on higher shelves without help, don’t miss the opportunity to make the most of closet space with taller or stackable shelving options. Rotate and stow away out-of-season items, like swimsuits in the winter or jackets in the summer. Or add protected storage space at the top of their closet for precious mementos and keepsakes as they grow. 

12. Make It Accessible

Tall dressers and higher shelves can be difficult to reach for little ones, so consider providing a step stool when age appropriate to help give kids a boost and make storage accessible.

13. Use Every Bit of Wall Space

Use wall space to its full potential when it comes to storage. Hooks are a handy way to fully utilize every inch of free wall space. Hang school bags, coats, hats and other grab-and-go items you can rotate through the seasons. An added bonus: hooks on a shelf for extra storage space.

14. Conceal Clutter

Beyond storing clothes and other essentials in drawers, lidded bins and baskets help conceal clutter and ensure containers aren’t overflowing with clothes or toys. Toy chests are especially helpful for keeping toys stored away when not in play.

15. Separate by Activity

Spaces separated by activity, like craft tables and reading nooks, are a great way to promote kids’ favorite hobbies and showcase their personalities. While we may think all clothes belong in the closet or dresser, consider adding a separate area just for dress-up to spark their imagination.

3 Tips for How to Organize Kids’ Closets

Feeling inspired and ready to tackle closet clutter? Read on for our expert tips on how to help keep your kid’s closet spaces neat and organized as they—and their closet—grow.

1. Reuse and Repurpose Storage

Customizable storage solutions that can shift as kids grow help families reuse and repurpose furniture and storage, meaning your initial investment goes further and reduces environmental impact.

Babies and Toddlers

For babies and toddlers, baskets and bins are ideal for storing smaller essentials to keep nurseries organized. For early months, grouping clothes by size makes it much easier to transition to the next size up as babies quickly grow. As they approach their first year and their growth spurts taper down, parents can switch to grouping clothes in those baskets and bins by season and type of item.

Older Kids

As toddlers transition into preschoolers, those baskets and bins transition into storage for a growing assortment of shoes and clothes. Wall storage units and shelving help organize an ever-expanding collection of books and toys instead of nursery essentials, while closet rods and dresser drawers will serve as more functional clothes storage. 

By the time little ones enter elementary school, their attire also experiences a growth spurt. Closets and dressers transition from storing toddler clothes to big-kid attire like school outfits and sports uniforms. Stackable and customizable storage solutions can shift to accommodate fewer toys and more school books.

2. Cut Down on Clutter

Spring cleaning is the perfect time to transition closets of all ages from cold weather gear to warmer attire. Age milestones like back-to-school season or birthdays are also a great time to sort through what to keep as they grow versus what to part ways with. For seasonal and milestone closet cleanses alike, sort items into four main categories: wearing, storing, donating and tossing.

Wearing

The wearing pile should be for seasonally appropriate items that currently fit your child and are usable for the next few months. You’ll want to keep these handy in easily accessible drawers, baskets or bins or hanging in the closet.

Storing

The storing pile can be a mix of out-of-season clothing, items that are currently too big for your child that they’ll eventually grow into and even items that are too small but you plan to keep as hand-me-downs for siblings. These items are best stored in less accessible places like the top shelf or under the bed.

Donating

The donating pile should be gently loved items that your child will no longer be using but are in good condition for their next owner. Whether it’s gifted to a family member or given away to a local organization, involving your child in deciding what to give away helps teach them sharing and charity.

Tossing

The tossing pile is reserved for items that your child no longer uses and are beyond repair. While they may not be salvageable for their intended use, there are often local recycling programs for textiles and other common household items that will give them new life.

3. Get the Kids Involved

Consider the space from a child’s perspective when crafting the perfect closet or room storage. If they are only 4 feet tall, can they reach their winter coat hanging from the hook 5 feet high? They can grab their sneakers, but can they open their sock drawer? What about the shelf with their favorite toy—can they safely reach for it?

Toddler and Preschoolers

For toddlers and preschoolers, remember little hands aren’t going to reach very high without help. Install the shelves meant for their books and stuffed animals within reach, and keep the baskets or shelves that house their favorite toys and games at eye level. Having storage that fits their height helps encourage little ones to put everything back in their proper place after playtime.

Older Kids

For kids entering their school years, make seasonally appropriate outfit choices accessible in the lower dresser drawers and lowest closet rods. Involving kids with not just putting away the clean laundry in the appropriate spot but also choosing their own outfits helps encourage organizational and decision-making skills.

No matter what type of storage solution you choose, help kids participate in the organization of their closet by making the storage accessible to their age and abilities. Further, parents can promote important skills and development for kids by involving them in age-appropriate tasks, like putting away toys, folding laundry and choosing outfits.

Ultimately, the best kid-friendly closet organization plan is a plan your child can stick to. It’s important to both literally and figuratively get on their level to understand what storage solutions will work best for them at different ages, sizes and abilities.

With that in mind, invest in sturdy storage systems and functional kid closet organization decor that is adaptable and customizable to not just change as your child grows, but also stand the test of time.