Children's Closet Organization Tips

Jessica Parsons • July 13, 2022

If the default state in your child’s closet is “messy,” you should know you’re not alone. Kids often have trouble sticking to cleaning and organizing schedules, so it helps to break the whole process down into smaller, easy-to-digest steps for them.

From clearing out the entire space to categorizing by type, getting creative with storage options, and more, here are the tips you need to keep your tyke’s closet tidy.

The next time you organize your child’s closet, try following these simple steps:

Start by clearing out the closet.
Categorize everything by type.
Get clever with storage options.
Try different containers and bins.
Sort through all of their toys.
Stick to a regular cleaning schedule.

Now let’s take a look at each of these steps in detail.

Start by Clearing Out the Closet

The first and most important step in closet organization is to start with a clean slate. It might save you some time in the short term to just try to optimize what you already have, but this won’t last in the long term. More often than not, messiness stems from an inefficient organizational system, so it’s best to remove everything so you can start over from scratch.

Categorize Everything by Type

How many times have you heard your child say that they can’t find their favorite toy, only for you to find it hiding somewhere in the back of their closet? The best way to prevent things like this from happening is to group everything up by type.

Put dolls and action figures in one pile, video games in another, clothes in a third, and so on. This is also a perfect opportunity to screen out anything in your child’s closet that doesn’t actually belong there.

Get Clever with Storage Options

Once you have all of your little one’s items separated out by type, it’s time to make a plan of attack on getting them back into their closet.

As Better Homes & Gardens points out, it’s best to keep your child’s stature in mind while planning out storage options. You should opt for smaller bins that your child can reach with ease. Another thing that might help would be to install a second, lower hanging rod for ease of access.

Try Different Containers and Bins

Clear bins and color-coded containers will be your best friend while organizing your child’s closet. You can even add labels to the bins you choose to make it even easier for your little one to stick to the organization plan you’ve agreed on.

You could get really creative with it and even take pictures of specific items to use as labels. Be sure to have an open discussion with your child at this stage to make sure that whatever you choose will work for them and be easy to stick to.

Sort Through All of Their Toys

Out of all the items in your child’s closet, their toys will likely take up the most space by far. It’s for that reason that you should sort out all of their toys and look for as many ways to conserve storage space as possible.

Large toys should be put in a large bin together, and smaller items can be grouped together in small, labeled containers so they know where they go. Whenever possible, try to avoid stacking containers on top of each other. This will make it harder for your child to access their items. Instead, look into sliding horizontal racks and trays.

Stick to a Regular Cleaning Schedule

Once you’ve taken all the necessary steps toward complete closet organization, it’s time to make sure that the new changes stick. If dirty clothes are a problem for your child and frequently pile up, invest in a nice, easy-to-access clothes hamper.

Set a calendar reminder to regularly clean out the closet with your child, and set up bins for items (both clothes and toys) that your little one outgrows. That way, you can easily pivot and always keep ahead of the next mess.

Conclusion

While organizing your child’s closet can oftentimes feel like an effort in futility, it doesn’t have to be that way. By following these simple steps and setting up a schedule for regular upkeep, you and your child should have no problem at all keeping things tidy!