10 Tips for Organizing the Kids Closets

It’s amazing how much space kids can manage to take up with all of their belongings, despite their small size. Closet space, especially, always seems to be at a premium in the bedrooms of children. Managing the never-ending cycle of new clothes versus the newly outgrown, and organizing them so that they’re easily accessible, can feel like a full-time job after a while. These 10 organizational tips for kids’ closets can help you turn that insurmountable project into one that’s completed over the weekend and easy to maintain.

1. Discard Outgrown Clothing – Kids seem to outgrow clothing at a staggering pace, making it easy for them to acquire a lot of clothes in no time at all. Sentimental parents, or those who are considering more additions to the family, may be reluctant to donate those items, despite how much space they’re taking up. If you fall into one of those camps, it’s okay to hold on to kids’ outgrown clothes, but you may want to move them into storage in another part of the house, rather than letting them continue to take up space in their closets.
2. Use Bins, Cubbies, and Drawers – One long rod across a closet will only hold so many items, making shelving with bins, cubbies, and drawers a perfect way to maximize on space. Thinking vertically will allow you to store more folded clothing, shoes, and accessories than sticking with the traditional, single rod.
3. Rotate Seasonal Clothes – Your little one isn’t likely to need a heavy coat in June or a pair of capris in January. Rotating allows more space for seasonally-appropriate clothing, making it easier for you and your child to see what’s in the closet. Cramming everything into the space will only make it difficult to sort through and manage.
4. Label Everything – Those cubbies, bins, baskets, and drawer systems that you installed should be labeled clearly so that both you and your child are able to identify the contents without rifling through them. Unlabeled bins are just asking to be hastily scrambled through and emptied. Kids will rarely replace the contents with the same care that they were originally organized, leaving them a cluttered mess in no time.
5. Pair Matching Outfits on One Hanger – Putting matching outfits on a single hanger will allow your child to confidently choose her own clothes, and will reduce clutter within the closet. Reducing the number of hangers will maximize the available space, allowing you more to work with than if each item were hung individually.
6. Days-of-the-Week Hanging Shelves – Hanging shelving units with at least seven shelves is a great way to organize kids’ outfits throughout the week. Label each shelf accordingly, and make a habit of choosing an entire week’s worth of clothing at a time. This will simplify your kids’ morning routine, and keep them from rifling through the closet in a frenzy and disturbing your organizational system.
7. Opt for Specially-Designed Kids’ Hangers – Because kids’ clothing is so much smaller than that of their adult counterparts, smaller hangers designed especially for their clothes are a better choice. Their more compact shape and design allows you to comfortably hang more clothing than you could with larger, clunkier hangers meant for adults’ clothes.
8. Consider Adjustable Systems – Installing adjustable shelving and a closet organizational system will allow your child’s closet to grow with her, potentially eliminating the need for an expensive overhaul when she gets older.
9. Utilize Over-the-Door Storage – Closets with traditional doors offer a great opportunity for additional storage through the use of hooks, hanging shoe bags, or additional shelving. Taking advantage of every available inch of space is the most effective way of maximizing a closet’s storage potential.
10. Remember That Organization is an Ongoing Project – Maintaining an organized and efficient kids’ closet is an ongoing project that requires periodic culling of outgrown clothes, integration of new items, and adjustments for changing sizes and styles. Making a habit of immediately pulling outgrown items will reduce the frequency with which you’ll have to maintain the project, but will not eliminate that need altogether.

Good organization becomes even more important when more than one child shares a single closet, and can also become more of a difficult task. Working out a system of division and storage is the best way to prevent arguments and excessive clutter, along with labeling each child’s personal areas of the space. Designating a bin at the top of the closet or a hamper as a “donation” box is also an effective way of ensuring that outgrown clothes are taken out of rotation.

Taken From Housekeeping