As a parent, keeping your kids’ belongings organized can feel like an uphill battle. With toys, books, art supplies, clothes and more scattered across bedrooms and playrooms, maintaining order probably feels impossible some days. However, with a little creativity and the right storage solutions, you can conquer the clutter in any area of your home.
Storage ideas tailored to your kids’ interests, age and space can make tidying up easier for the whole family. There are plenty of kid-friendly options to contain everything from Legos to sports equipment that will keep your home looking neat. By designating spots for your children’s items, they can also develop helpful cleaning habits and take pride in their organized spaces.
This article will share 34 clever and affordable storage techniques for all areas of your house. We’ll cover ideas for bedrooms, playrooms, entryways, living rooms, home offices and even vehicles. With these kid-focused solutions, you can create coordinated spaces that make day-to-day life calmer and more productive.
Bedroom Storage Solutions for Clothes, Toys and More
Bedrooms tend to become disarrayed quickly thanks to cluttered floors, stuffed closets and tops of dressers covered in randomness. However, there are many ways to make bedrooms more organized with storage solutions that fit your kid’s needs and style. Here are some ideas for keeping clothes, toys, books and everything in between neat in the bedroom.
1. Use Bins and Baskets to Corral Small Items
Plastic bins, woven baskets and fabric storage cubes are versatile options for rounding up smaller objects like toys and art materials. Labels allow kids to easily identify where everything belongs. Bins can slide neatly under the bed or stack vertically on shelves. Place baskets on the floor for quick toy cleanup or in the closet to sort pajamas and socks.
2. Install Shelving Close to the Ceiling
Since vertical space tends to get neglected in bedrooms, install shelving high on the walls. This gets toys and books up off the floor and utilizes wasted space. Just place a small stepladder nearby so your child can easily reach everything. Shelves also work great above closet rods for extra storage.
3. Add Drawer Organizers for Socks, Underwear and More
Inside dresser drawers, use dividers, small bins and trays to separate clothing items like socks, underwear and pajamas. This prevents a jumbled mess and makes locating specific items simple. Stackable drawers also double space.
4. Use Hanging Storage for Clothes, Hats and Bags
Maximize closet rod space by using hanging organizers for clothes, hats, purses, backpacks and other accessories. Try canvas cubbies, narrow shelving units and multi-tiered options. Over-the-door hanging racks are another good option for bedrooms with limited closet space.
5. Designate Drawers or Bins for Art Supplies
Corral crayons, markers, scissors and glue sticks in a dedicated drawer so they don’t end up all over. For quick access to supplies while creating projects, store them in a portable bin that can move around the house.
6. Add Toy Hammocks Above the Bed
Hang fabric toy hammocks above the bed to utilize vertical space for plushies and other soft toys. Just place a small stool nearby so your child can easily access everything. This keeps toys off the floor and bed yet close at hand for playtime.
7. Use Tension Rods for Extra Closet Storage
Install tension rods horizontally in closet corners to instantly double hanging space. Then use hanging shoe organizers and other vertical storage solutions. Tension rods also work well in clothes closets for separating and organizing categories.
8. Get Creative with Under-the-Bed Storage
Use the space beneath the bed for large plastic bins of clothing and bedding or even out-of-season toys. It can also accommodate specialized under-the-bed organizers with shelves and compartments customized for everything from art supplies to sports equipment.
9. Designate Space for Backpacks and Lunch Boxes
Right by the bedroom door, designate hooks or a small shelving unit for backpacks, lunch boxes and anything else that comes and goes daily. This creates a handy drop zone that prevents school essentials from becoming strewn about.
10. Add a Bookcase for Reading Material
Bookcases keep beloved books on display and within reach. Floating shelves work well for small collections, while larger bookcases have space for books, magazines and reading nooks. Place the bookcase low enough for kids to easily access materials.
Playroom Organization: Toy Storage Ideas and More
Playrooms packed full of exciting toys and games tend to descend into chaos if there’s not sufficient storage. However, the right organizational solutions can make clean-up after playtime a breeze. Here are some playroom storage ideas for containing everything from building toys to dress-up clothes.
11. Use Bins and Baskets Labeled by Toy Type
Plastic bins and woven baskets corral toys into matching categories, especially helpful for younger kids with short attention spans. For example, have bins for blocks, stuffed animals, action figures, dolls, etc. This allows quick clean-up. Labels with words and pictures help guide children.
12. Add Shelving at Kids’ Height
Low, open shelving lets children see and access toys in an organized way. This encourages them to clean up independently. Shelves can also display books, games and collectibles. Just secure shelves to the wall for safety.
13. Use Wall-Mounted Storage for Large Items
Mount storage solutions like pegboards, slatwall panels and rails on playroom walls to contain bulky items off the floor. Options like large hooks, shelves and bins accommodate things like scooters, hula hoops, skateboards and more.
14. Designate Bins for Dress-Up Clothes
Dress-up clothes and accessories quickly turn into a jumbled heap. Provide bins or baskets to store related items together, like princess dresses and crowns in one, superhero capes and masks in another. This makes imaginative play more organized.
15. Add Specific Toy Boxes and Chests
Rather than one giant toy box, have designated toy storage for specific play categories. For example, use a small chest for doll clothes and accessories, a toy box for action figures and a sturdy trunk for dress-up costumes.
16. Use Wall-Mounted Display Shelves for Collections
Kids tend to amass treasures like rocks, shells, favorite figurines and more. Give collections a home with wall-mounted display shelves. Floating shelves work well for small items, while wider shelves accommodate larger collections.
17. Designate Drawers or Trays for Art Supplies
Stock a set of drawers or stacking trays with crayons, coloring books, paint, stickers and other art gear. Keeping supplies organized prevents creative messes. Portable caddies allow kids to transport art supplies room to room.
18. Add a Reading Nook with Book Storage
Carve out space for a cozy reading spot with room for book storage. Try arranging a soft chair or pillows with accompanying shelving, fabric bins or a small bookcase. Keep favorite titles within reach for reading.
19. Use Toy Rotation to Limit Clutter
The sheer amount of toys can be overwhelming. Implement toy rotation by only keeping out a limited selection at a time. Box up excess toys to rotate back out in the future. Rotating toys helps keep play areas organized.
20. Add Labels to Clear Plastic Bins
See-through bins make it easy for kids to identify contents, especially if you add labels. For example, label clear shoebox-sized bins with words and pictures to organize small loose parts, doll clothes, building toys and more.
21. Mount Storage for Sporting Goods
Use wall mounts to display kids’ sports gear like tennis rackets, skateboards, hockey sticks and baseball bats. Options like racks, hangers and specialized holders keep bulky equipment neatly stowed. Add hooks for helmets, pads and bags.
Entryway Organization: Mudroom & Coat Storage Ideas
No matter the weather outdoors, the entryway inevitably collects shoes, coats, backpacks and other gear that comes and goes each day. An organized mudroom helps maintain order in high-traffic areas prone to clutter. Check out these techniques for tidying up the mudroom, front hall or any space that greets your family each day.
22. Designate Drawers or Cubbies for Each Family Member
Give everyone personalized storage space for coats, shoes and other everyday items. Cubbies, built-in cabinets and coat racks with separate hooks help distinguish individual family spaces in a shared mudroom.
23. Add a Bench for Taking Shoes On and Off
A sturdy bench in the mudroom provides a place to sit while taking off muddy shoes or boots. Under-bench storage like baskets and bins corral gear. Some designs even have lockers built into the bench.
24. Use Wall Hooks for Hats, Pet Leashes and More
Fill wasted vertical space with hooks to hang up hats, pet leashes, umbrellas, bags and anything else by the door. Entryway hooks keep items off the floor and eliminate search times.
25. Install a Rack or Shelf for Shoes
Rather than a jumbled pile, give shoes an organized home with racks and shelving. Cubby shoe organizers, multi-tiered racks and hallway benches with integrated storage keep footwear tidy.
26. Add Mudroom Lockers for Personal Storage
Lockers allow each family member to have a designated cubby with shelving, hooks and space to hang coats and store shoes. Lockers contain personal belongings in a shared family entry.
27. Use Baskets to Corral Small Accessories
Place woven baskets on shelves, benches and ledges to collect wallets, sunglasses, gloves, hats and other small accessories that get tossed in the entryway. Baskets create mini “inboxes.”
28. Mount Key Hooks and Key Storage
Install key holders like wall-mounted hooks, labeled pegs or small shelves near the entry. Always stowing keys in the same spot prevents the daily hunt.
29. Hang Backpacks on Entryway Hooks or Racks
Prevent backpacks from landing haphazardly on the floor by giving them a designated home on hooks, lockers or cubbies. Separate hooks help distinguish individual backpacks.
30. Add a Drop Zone for Incoming Items
Create a designated counter spot or ledge for collecting mail, paperwork and anything else carried in through the door. This drop zone for incoming items helps keep entry clutter at bay.
Kid Storage Solutions Beyond Bed & Play Rooms
In family spaces like living rooms, offices and rec rooms, kids’ items can also quickly congest shared areas. But organizational solutions tailored to children can maintain tidiness in rooms utilized by all family members. Here are some ideas for kid storage in main living zones.
31. Use Baskets to Contain Sidewalk Chalk, Bubbles & Outdoor Toys
Make toy storage mobile by stashing sidewalk chalk, bubbles, frisbees and other outdoor entertainment in handled baskets. Kids can tote everything outside and return toys to their handy containers.
32. Add Kid-Accessible Book Storage
Designate lower shelves, handy bins or small bookcases to store kids’ books within their reach. This encourages young readers to put books away properly and keeps family room libraries organized.
33. Create Decorative Toy Storage for Shared Spaces
In main living areas, utilize attractive storage like baskets and storage ottomans to tuck away toys. This hides kid clutter when not in use. For a personalized touch, monogram containers.
34. Use Wall-Mounted Rails for Artwork & School Papers
Contain art and school work without creating refrigerator clutter. Install rails along walls to neatly display your budding Picasso’s latest creations. Rotate work on rails to periodically refresh.
Clever Kid’s Storage Solutions for Vehicles
The family car, SUV or minivan easily transforms into a warzone of dropped snacks, wayward toys and gear that gets tossed in the back between destinations. But purposeful organization helps maintain order even on the go. Here are ideas for organized storage when traveling with kids.
- Use collapsible fabric bins secured to vehicle seats to contain toys, phones, tablets or handheld gaming devices. Bin contents stay neatly stowed when not in use.
- Attach a hanging organizer to the back of the driver or passenger seat for kids’ books, small toys and other items. Contents stay within reach yet don’t roll around.
- Designate clear plastic shoebox-sized bins for categories like snacks, art supplies, travel games and electronics. Labels help distinguish different containers.
- For older kids, use a divided caddy that attaches to the seat back. It can hold personal items like headphones, books, small toys and electronics.
- Add a trunk organizer or cargo net to corral loose items like shoes, balls, bags and jackets that otherwise slide around in the back.
- Use pouches adhered to seat backs or console organizers to collect small clutter like abandoned straw wrappers and receipts before they litter interior floors.
- Stock door side pockets with wipes and hand sanitizer for on-the-go cleanups and refills.
- Attach a tissue holder to the console to always have a box handy for runny noses. This beats digging under seats for stray tissues.
Creating Organized & Tidy Kids’ Spaces
Incorporating purposeful storage solutions into your home allows you to create organized spaces tailored to your kids’ needs, interests and ages. The key is choosing storage that makes sense for each unique area and your children’s developmental stages.
For example, open shelving works well in playrooms so little ones can identify and access toys independently. In bedrooms, consider under-bed storage for larger items or over-the-door organizers to maximize closet space.
By keeping your kids’ belongings in check, you’ll reclaim time once wasted picking up messes for more valuable interactions and activities together. Organized spaces also reinforce helpful habits that will benefit kids throughout life.
Most importantly, maintaining tidy rooms and public spaces through smart storage reduces day-to-day stress for the whole household. So explore and experiment to find the ideal storage combinations that work best in your home and family dynamic. Over time, you can finesse and adjust storage solutions as children’s interests and needs evolve.
While staying on top of kid clutter may feel endless, establishing organized systems makes tidying up after busy days far more manageable. With designated storage spots for all their belongings, shared family spaces can remain functional and livable even with kids in the mix.