Organizing Closets

There aren’t many places that make neat-freaks scream quite like a Kids Closet. They’re usually jammed packed full of clothes, shoes, games, toys, furniture, pets, old food, little brothers… the list goes on and on, but the point is that a Kids Closet is usually in need of some serious elbow grease in terms of organization.

While we can go on and on discussing the various things you might (and probably will) find in a kids closet, let’s skip over that for the sake of our own sanity – and partly so we don’t gross ourselves out.

That said, you’re hear to learn how to organize a kids closet. So let’s get right to it.

Kids Closet – Storage Space

It’s funny, but for all the things kids have, the typical bedroom closet (at least a non-master bedroom closet) is very small. It’s no wonder these closets get so jammed full of stuff – there simply isn’t enough room for everything most of the time.

That’s why it’s a good idea to consider some kind of storage system. It could be plastic bins, roll-out drawers, drawers, furniture, extra shelving… there really is no right or wrong way to add usable space, so long as you do it. The average closet has one bar and one shelf right above it. Only in the most extreme conditions will that work for a kids closet.

So figure out something, anything, just don’t expect a miracle magazine photo-esque looking closet if you’re piling toys on top of clothes on top of boxes…

Kids Closet Organization

Considering the crazy amount of stuff you’ll likely be organizing, it’s a good idea to keep things separated as best as humanly possible. If you’re using storage containers, make sure they are labeled (“Toy Robots,” “Barbie Dolls,” etc…) or even try color coordinating (Red boxes contain toys for Child A, Blue boxes contain toys for Child B).

Not only does that help you – the person doing the initial organization – but it also helps the kids keep the closet tidy long after you’ve put it together.

Which brings us to:

How To Make Kids Keep Their Closets Clean

Short of military schooling, it’s next to impossible to expect kids to keep their closets spotless all the time. It’s just the nature of the beast. So if you came here for some earth-shaking tips on doing so, I’m sorry to disapoint you.

But what I can offer are some great tips to get the most mileage out of a freshly organized kids closet.

1. Make It Fun. Kids love having fun (playing) and cleaning is the exact opposite of that. Try developing a “game” that involves keeping the closet clean. Maybe they’ll get points every evening that their closet looks nice? Maybe you can all “play” putting the toys/clothes in the right spots when they’re done using them.
2. Reward Them. Chances are your kids love rewards. No, they don’t have to be monetary at all (though they can be, I suppose…). Sometimes just a simple “Wow! You closet looks GREAT! I love you so much” is enough to keep them motivated for the long haul.
3. Explain Your Expectations. Kids can’t be expected to keep their closets organized and clean if they don’t know they are supposed to. Make sure to sit down with them and explain what you expect, otherwise they’ll never know.

Be sure to check out some of the other pages on this site for even more tips about Organizing Closets, specifically a Kids Closet.