Closet Organizing Series, Part 4: Kids Closets
Here it is. The last blog post of our series on organizing your closets. This is part 4, organizing tips for kids closets.
If you missed, the first 3 blogs on closet organizing you can visit read them here.
Closet Organizing Series, Part 1:The Bedroom Closet
Closet Organizing Series, Part 2: Linen Closets
Closet Organizing Series, Part 3: Hall Closets
I am often asked for advice on how to keep kids closets organized and clean. It is one the biggest challenges most of my clients face. The key to managing your kids closets is to have organizational systems that work for both you and your kids. Here are some tips for organizing your kids closets.
Declutter and Sort
As always, the first step is to take everything out of the closet and sort into categories; pants, shoes, jackets, shirts, etc. Once that is done, you can start the decluttering process. Grab some bags or boxes and make 3 categories: Toss, Donate and Keep.
Toss: Anything that is ripped, stained or unrepairable. If you don’t want to fill up the landfill there are a few places you can go to recycle your damaged clothing. Planet Aid and Gem Text Recycling.
Donate: Take anything that is too small or your child(ren) no longer wear and donate to your local thrift store or a family in need. If you plan on having more children and want to save those clothes, put them in plastic storage tubs and store in the garage.
Keep: Anything you are keeping should be put on the bed for now and not back in the closet. You will want to assess your closet situation first.
Consider Closet Shelving Systems
There are many great products on the market for closet storage and organization. I personally, like built in closet systems for keeping everything organized and contained. If you have it in your budget, consider the Elfa Closet system from the Container Store. They will customize your closet anyway you like and can work with any budget.
Ikea also has some great closet systems and storage products to keep a closet well maintained. Like this Pax closet system. It’s a little on the spendy side but well worth the money. If that is too steep for your budget there are many other options from IKEA as well. I personally like the Algot line because it is inexpensive and customizeable.
Use Baskets, Bins and other Organizing Products
An easy way to keep things is organized is by using baskets and bins. You can find all kinds of storage containers and bins pretty much anywhere. Determine your budget and then start looking online for products that suit your needs. Once you find the ones you like, go out and purchase them and some labels. Make sure to label everything. This makes it much easier for your kids to put things away in the appropriate places.
Use Hanging Storage Products
If you don’t have a built in closet system or lack the finances to create a custom closet, consider purchasing hanging storage to utilize all the space in the closet.
One space that most people don’t consider using is the door. There are some really great over the door hanging products that work great for organizing a kids closet. Like these hanging pocket storage products from Amazon.
These work great for any age. For nursery or toddler room, you can use them for storing diapers, wipes, diaper cream, and other overflow baby products.
For preschool and school age children, you can store shoes, socks, hats, winter and summer accessories, stuffed animals and more.
In a teen closet, use them for storing belts, scarves, jewelry, hats, extra school supplies, books, you name it.
They are so versatile and the sky is the limit on what you can store in them. I recommend these to all my clients, especially those that have very small closets with limited storage space.
Storage Ideas When Siblings Share A Room
What do you do when you have 2 kids sharing a room or a closet? This can get a little tricky. The key is to make designated space in the closet for each child. Divide the closet in half and make sure everything is clearly labeled. If there is room put a dresser on each side of the closet. One for each child. Divide the middle of the closet with modular shelving or use hanging bins like these from IKEA.
Make sure to involve the kids in the process. Allow them to choose their own baskets or bins, and storage products. When they are involved in the process, they are more likely to keep their space clean and organized.
Check Out Pinterest For Inspiration
Pinterest has great ideas for organizing kids closets and closet storage solutions. You could easily spend hours and hours on Pinterest looking for ideas. To save you time, head over to my page and check out my board on organizing kid spaces. You can access it here.
When it comes to organizing your kids closets, just remember the one key element. Create organizational systems that will be easy for you and your kids to maintain.
