10 Step Guide To An Organized Closet For Your Child

When you open your child’s closet does it look more like a horror movie then a fairy tale? The floor hasn’t been seen in months and nothing seems to have a home of its own. Don’t fret with a little effort your child’s closet can be neat and orderly and even kept that way. Here are some easy steps to take to get your child’s closet whipped into shape.

1. Set Aside Enough Time

The number one way for an organizing project of any kind to fail is to underestimate the amount of time it will take to accomplish. When you set out to organize your child’s closet remember that it will most likely take some prep work before the actual organizing begins. Make sure you set aside enough time to complete the entire project before you start so you don’t have to come back to it later.

2. Have A Plan

Take a good look at your child’s closet and decide what is working and what isn’t. Maybe that big plastic organizer sounded like a good idea at the store but now it just seems to be taking up space, or maybe it’s too tall for the little ones to reach the top shelf. Take measurements so you know the amount of space you are working with and then decided if you need to add any additional hardware or shelving.

3. Clean Out The Clutter

Go through everything in the closet before you decide if you are going to create a place for it. Get rid of any broken or aged out of toys. Check all clothing and discard any stained or torn clothing that can’t be repaired and donate any that your child has outgrown. This will give you a better idea of what you really need to be storing in the closet. Now is also a good time to look around your child’s room and see if there is anything else you would like to move into the closet before you get started.

4. Make A Separate Space For Seasonal

We all know that fleece blankets and fuzzy sweaters are great in the winter but we have no need for them when it’s 90 degrees outside. Make a special space in your child’s closet to store seasonal clothing or other seasonal items. Having a designated space for these will help clear up drawers and cubbies for other items that are used year round.

5. Place Less Used Items Up High

Less used items or items that your child doesn’t need to access frequently can be stored at the top of the closet where the child won’t need to reach very often or ever. Perhaps this is where you can store the bin for seasonal items, extra bedding, or off season sporting equipment.

6. Make It Child Accessible

If you want the closet to stay organized the child needs to be able to reach most of the essential items and then be able to put them back when they are done. If the shelves are too high or they can’t reach the bar to hang up their clothing it is unlikely that the closet will stay organized very long. Making the closet more child friendly will go a long way in keeping it organized.

7. Install Hooks And Shelves

Installing low shelving units that can be fitted with totes or bins is a great way to help organize your child closet. Hooks and clips where the child can hang their coats, hats and book bags will also lend to a more organized closet as well as home. When the child can easily reach hooks it is much easier to get them to hang up their own items keeping them up off the floor and put away.

8. Don’t Over Organize

It’s tempting to get too organized when making a home for your child’s play things. Make sure when you are organizing the closet that you keep it simple. Instead of making 3 bins for all the different sized stuffed animals try just making one for all the stuffed toys. This will be less confusing for your child and help when it is time to pick up.

9. Color Coordinate

When choosing organizing solutions try to color coordinate. An example might be to make all the purple bins for doll items, top one clothes, bottom one dolls. This will help your child to remember what items go where.

10. Have Your Child Help

Most importantly have your child help! Ask for suggestions you might be surprised at what insights they have. You might not have realized that the top drawer of the built in dresser is too hard for them to open or that the door to the shelving unit you installed sticks. Letting your child help in the organizing process will also encourage them to keep the closet organized in the future.