15 Kids’ Closet Organization
Ideas + 3 Tips for Staying Tidy

Organize clothes by season, type or age milestone by adding appropriate labels to your favorite bins and baskets. Or consider separating outfits by days of the week to make getting ready in the mornings more streamlined—a fun and productive Sunday night activity to involve kids in deciding what they will wear for the week.

If you prefer not to label, try color-coding storage options like baskets, bins and even shelves. Not only do these help keep things organized, but color also adds a fun pop of personality to a closet and keeps a room’s design aesthetic cohesive throughout the space.

Similar to color-coding and labeling, clear storage options help adults and kids alike know exactly where to find what they are looking for. As an added bonus, clear plastic storage bins are sturdy and easy to clean. Beyond the closet, they make great options for storing changing table necessities for nurseries and can transition to organizing bathtime toiletries as children grow.

Using any extra closet space for easily accessible toy storage is a must, and personalizing toy storage with your child’s name is a great way to keep things organized in shared bedrooms.

A place for everything means everything will stay in its place—or at least one can hope. Remember the little details and give delicate trinkets and precious jewelry an appropriate storage box to avoid it getting lost or damaged.

A hamper within reach of little hands means dirty clothes are less likely to end up in a pile on the floor. Add some fun flair to your kid’s closet organization with laundry hampers that echo the aesthetic of your child’s room, like whimsical animals or coordinating colors.

In smaller spaces especially, consider looking beyond the closet for storage solutions. Under the bed is valuable real estate for tucking away bulkier items like extra bedding, pillows and blankets. It’s also an ideal location to store hand-me-downs that your child isn’t quite ready to use.

Adding wall-mounted solutions with open shelves, cabinets and drawers add a variety of storage options for your kid’s closet organization that go beyond the standard closet rod and will help make the best use of a walk-in closet’s square footage.

In smaller spaces, consider moving your child’s dresser inside the closet. You’ll still be able to utilize the space around it, like hanging their smaller clothes on standard rods above the dresser. The dresser drawers help promote early organization skills by showing kids that everything has a proper storage place. As an added bonus, storing dressers in closets adds extra free space for playtime in your child’s room.

If the closet doesn’t provide enough space or your child’s room doesn’t have an attached closet, consider adding an armoire. With a mix of drawers and hanging space, armoires are the perfect size for storing baby and toddler clothing and necessities, and can transition to other storage as children grow. Even better: Conceal everything behind a pair of stylish doors.

While little ones are unable to access items on higher shelves without help, don’t miss the opportunity to make the most of closet space with taller or stackable shelving options. Rotate and stow away out-of-season items, like swimsuits in the winter or jackets in the summer. Or add protected storage space at the top of their closet for precious mementos and keepsakes as they grow. 

Tall dressers and higher shelves can be difficult to reach for little ones, so consider providing a step stool when age appropriate to help give kids a boost and make storage accessible.

Use wall space to its full potential when it comes to storage. Hooks are a handy way to fully utilize every inch of free wall space. Hang school bags, coats, hats and other grab-and-go items you can rotate through the seasons. An added bonus: hooks on a shelf for extra storage space.

Beyond storing clothes and other essentials in drawers, lidded bins and baskets help conceal clutter and ensure containers aren’t overflowing with clothes or toys. Toy chests are especially helpful for keeping toys stored away when not in play.

Spaces separated by activity, like craft tables and reading nooks, are a great way to promote kids’ favorite hobbies and showcase their personalities. While we may think all clothes belong in the closet or dresser, consider adding a separate area just for dress-up to spark their imagination.

As toddlers transition into preschoolers, those baskets and bins transition into storage for a growing assortment of shoes and clothes. Wall storage units and shelving help organize an ever-expanding collection of books and toys instead of nursery essentials, while closet rods and dresser drawers will serve as more functional clothes storage. 

By the time little ones enter elementary school, their attire also experiences a growth spurt. Closets and dressers transition from storing toddler clothes to big-kid attire like school outfits and sports uniforms. Stackable and customizable storage solutions can shift to accommodate fewer toys and more school books.

The tossing pile is reserved for items that your child no longer uses and are beyond repair. While they may not be salvageable for their intended use, there are often local recycling programs for textiles and other common household items that will give them new life.