Kids’ Room Organization: Do’s and Don’ts for a Tidy Space

​Parenthood is full of decisions. One of the earliest includes designing a nursery, but not long after you’ve made the space beautiful and stylish, toys begin to take over! Even with the most creative organization solutions, every area of your home can start to look like a daycare!

Keeping a child's room organized can be a real challenge. With busy schedules and endless distractions, it's easy for clutter to accumulate. So whether you are organizing a bedroom or a playroom, we’ve got some kids' room organization ideas to help you. 
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Let’s look at a few do’s and don’ts of keeping a tidy space.

DO’s of Kids’ Room Organization

Declutter the Space Regularly.

Declutter the kid’s room often. As in any project, we recommend these steps:

• Clear out the space
• Categorize their toys and clothes - donate, discard, and keep
• ​Put away any items you plan to keep (more on that below!) 

At the least, you’ll want to declutter yearly, but if your space gets too crowded, clear up the clutter more frequently. We recommend a good purge before Christmas to make space for new toys and again in the summer to clear out broken or unwanted items.  

Encourage your child to let go of toys they no longer play with and donate or sell old clothes they have outgrown. It can be challenging for kids to give up their possessions (kids can be true hoarders!), but donating items to a local charity helps others in need and teaches your child the value of giving.

If you feel your child has too many toys but you aren’t ready to part with them, consider investing in storage tubs and rotating their toys. It will reduce clutter and help stimulate your child's imagination when you reintroduce “new” toys.
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Invest in Storage for Toys.

​You'll want to prioritize toy storage once you get rid of excess toys and clothes.  Use available closet space - it’s not just for clothes. You can store toys in a closet to free up precious floor space for play. Also, optimize cubbies for toy storage, books, and craft supplies. Colorful cubbies will brighten up your kids’ room! ​

Consider using clear bins for toys and items with small parts so your child can easily see what's inside without making a mess. Use labels on storage bins to keep things tidy. If your kids aren’t ready to read, use pictures & symbols for labels.
Are you unsure what to do with all the “stuff” your child accumulates (like kid’s meal toys and Dollar Tree finds)? Create a “stuff” box for miscellaneous items and things that are special to them that they don’t want to keep in a shared space. 

Need more ideas? Get creative with storage solutions like these:

• Add curtains and decorative elements to convert an old bookshelf into a dollhouse or car garage. 
• Try storage without a lid. Utilize open bins and baskets for stuffed animals and bulky toys.
• ​Use hanging shoe organizers to store small toys or art supplies.

With creative and fun storage solutions, your child will likely enjoy using them!

Utilize Wall Space.

You will maximize vertical storage by utilizing wall space. Install shelves to create additional storage and add a decorative element to the room.  To personalize their area, you can display your child's artwork, trophies, or favorite books on these shelves. 
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Command Hooks are the perfect solution to hang dress-up costumes and accessories. Place a  pegboard on the back of the door to hang jackets, backpacks, hats, and bags.​

DON'Ts of Kids’ Room Organization

Don’t Expect Children To Keep Bookshelves Tidy!

Books are one element we always find in kids’ rooms, but it’s a real challenge for children to stack books neatly on the shelf! Remember that books can be stored in many ways when you create a mini-library. Add bins to a bookshelf. Using baskets and boxes as storage for books instead of shelving them reduces frustration for the kids and produces a cleaner look.​

Don’t Forget a Storage Space for Crafts and Art Supplies.

We know you want to foster creativity in your child, and crafts are a fun and inexpensive way to show off those artistic skills. Somehow, those craft supplies always multiply! When you organize your child’s room, remember art supply storage. Depending on the amount of innovation flowing through the room, you’ll want to keep a good supply of plastic containers on hand to corral the crayons, markers, pencils, paints, scissors, glue, and more! Purchase an inexpensive caddy or plastic shoe box with a lid to keep it all together. ​

Don’t Overcomplicate It!

​Simplify your storage system. Organize toys in large general categories so it’s easy to put everything away. Label your bins, but they don’t have to be elegant. If you don’t have a label maker, you can always use masking tape or index cards! Remember, your home doesn’t have to be fancy to be functional.

Don’t Stress!

How often have you perused Pinterest to find perfectly arranged playrooms and bedrooms? It's fun to look at pictures like that for inspiration, but please remember this - those pictures aren’t real! Anyone can stage a designer playroom. However, you are real, your life is busy and meaningful, and your kids are imaginative and carefree. Yes, children should learn the responsibility of caring for their space, but at the end of the day, they are still messy, silly, playful, inventive little humans. We would all do well to give our kids (and ourselves) much more grace. Fortunately, once you can put a few organizing systems in place, it will be much easier for everyone to tidy up after a full day of fun. 

Children change and grow so quickly that their rooms will change along with them! With each transition, keeping up can take a lot of work. That’s why we are here to help! Our team of professional organizers can come alongside and organize your kids’ room. We can also return whenever you need us throughout the year to help you as your child grows. Contact us today!

Frequently Asked Questions for Organizing a Kid’s Room

What should a kids' room include? Storage for toys, clothes, and activities. Games, books, and art supplies are excellent for fostering a child’s creativity. If you choose to limit screen time, store electronics in a separate room (out of sight, out of mind).

How many toys should a child have? Corralling toys can take much work, even when parents prefer a minimalistic approach. Once you’ve decided on the right amount for your family, stick to a one-in, one-out principle - any time you purchase a toy or receive one as a gift, donate or discard a pre-loved toy. 

What should I do with all their art? Children’s art is an excellent decoration but can pile up quickly. Consider displaying seasonal art or special occasion items (like handprint crafts or a “child’s first” project). Replace the item once the season has passed (AKA throw it away), and keep special things in a document box. Be sure to write your child’s name, age, and special notes about the artwork on the back. 
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Should my kids keep their room clean? While it’s good to encourage a sense of responsibility, it is challenging for many children to keep their room clean! Try scheduling a clean-up at certain times of the day (before meal times or right before bed), and have realistic and age-appropriate expectations for them. A parent-assisted cleaning time a few times a month is a good idea.