How to Organize Kids’ Rooms

I don’t know about in your house, but in ours Christmas came and went in a flurry, and we are now left dealing with “holiday aftermath.”  We have 3 kids, and each year before Christmas I make them organize and purge their rooms, but then the holiday comes and goes and it’s like the stuff in their spaces multiplies exponentially, causing me to go a little batty.  Typically, within the week after Christmas I tackle these spaces with a little (reluctant) help from the kids and put them back together in a newly organized fashion.  Today I am going to show you how to organize kids’ rooms to the best of my ability, using all of the tips and tricks I use in my own children’s spaces.  I’m also joining several other bloggers today to share organization ideas, because we all know that this time of year is all about cleaning, purging, kondo-ing your tail off and reclaiming your home after the holidays. (By the way, all of that purging makes it the best time of year to hit the thrift shops, too! You’re welcome.) This blog uses affiliate links.  Additionally, I am an Amazon associate and earn a small amount from qualifying purchases.  Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

Use Vertical Space

As parents, we have an entire house, and sometimes even a basement and garage within which to store and hide all of our own stuff.  Our kids, on the other hand, typically are confined to their own rooms, and if they’re lucky, playrooms.  It’s important to maximize every square inch of a child’s bedroom, and the best way to do this is by using vertical space.  When you use walls as storage, you don’t take up much of the floor space kids need to play.  I’ve used this trick in Wilder’s room, Sawyer’s room, and will soon be employing it in Emmy’s room as well.

In Sawyer’s bedroom, we used track shelving to give him much needed storage for his books and personal items that are special to him.  He has a queen sized bed and was not willing to sacrifice the bed size when we moved.  A solution was needed for all of his “stuff” and track shelving was the answer. We were able to take these shelves all the way to the ceiling, giving him plenty of space to display his trophies, art, and mementos.

In Wilder’s room, we’ve used his walls to hang book ledges.

I actually DIYed these quite some time ago as photo ledges, but they work well for books, too.  Because they are higher up on the wall, I store the nicer books with paper pages that are a little too delicate for his hands to handle on his own. He has more paper paged books than this but I rotate them out each season, minus a few favorites that he requests nonstop, like Richard Scarry’s Cars & Trucks and Things That Go.

We’ve also maximized wall space in Wilder’s room by adding a vintage accordion rack that holds his jacket, towel, hat, and his backpack.  (I cannot believe has has a backpack, by the way!).

You can see below that his door is right next to his hook rack.  That wall space could not house a dresser or piece of furniture because it would block the entry, but using the wall space allowed us to sneak in some much needed storage.

Of course, you might be wondering why we aren’t using the other side of his room… Well, he received a Nugget and it has been the best thing EVER!  We sit here with him regularly, reading books, playing, snuggling.  It gives us a comfortable place to hang out with him that isn’t the floor, so I am not at all willing to give up the space it takes.

Use Space Under Furniture

As you can see so far, we love to use the space under furniture!  Wilder doesn’t have a playroom because we have older kids as well, and frankly, they use the space that would be a playroom.  Thus, his bedroom is where he plays, and I want him to be able to access everything he can to help cultivate his mind and imagination.  Under his bookcase (which I painted last summer), I store his wooden puzzles, as well as his toy tool box, soft blocks, and wooden tool bench.

Under his changing table, we’ve corralled his toys into baskets to help keep them organized and give them a place to live.  I’ve thought about replacing this vintage buffet we use as a changing table because it’s huge, but honestly, it offers so much storage, and I love that we can easily utilize the space underneath it.

These baskets are perfect because the handles make it really easy for him to pull them out and play.

Emmy is my maximalist child, so finding space in her room always proves to be the most challenging, but we were able to utilize the space under her bed by filling it with crates that fit the vibe of her space, and give her lots of storage.

Use Storage Furniture

There is a reason that storage furniture was created… people have stuff, and we need places to put our stuff!  In Wilder’s bedroom, as you saw, his vintage bookcase is the only piece that is really a dedicated storage piece.  It’s filled with board books and toys that he plays with regularly.  The small size is perfect in his bedroom, and he can reach everything on it.

Having it right next to the crib may not be ideal aesthetically speaking, but it is 100% functional and that’s more important to me.

In Sawyer’s bedroom, we made the decision to get him a storage bed, and that has been amazing!  We went with this bed from the Futon Shop and it offers loads of storage space plus fits the look of his room well. The drawers allow us lots of room for his extra blankets. 

Finally, in Emmy’s room, we’ve used the trusted Ikea Kallax that I think everyone in America might have. Obviously this photo is from Christmas, but unlike me, Emmy hasn’t yet taken down her decorations because they make her happy.

We’ve used the Kallax in so many spaces in our old house as well.  It just fits, stores a ton, and has a nice clean modern look.  The bins are also super helpful in storing all of Emmy’s smaller items.  We found these gray cloth bins at Target.

Use Large Storage Baskets to Fill Corners

Finally, the last tip that I have for you is to fill those awkward corners with large storage baskets.  If you know it’s a weird corner or wall space no one will ever sit or play in, a huge tall basket can fill the void while offering great storage for stuffed animals or blankets.

In Emmy’s room, we have a huge basket that holds all of her stuffed animals.

And in Wilder’s room, we used to have a tall basket that held lots of his blankets.  Now he has so many toys that we’ve rearranged, but this is where it was.  When it was there, he took each blanket out and made piles to jump in, but now he’s got real toys to play with. 😉

Our house is not large, nor are the bedrooms as you may have gathered from our photos.  However, in the words of one of my favorite people, Marie Forleo, Everything is Figureoutable.  Walking into a kids’ bedroom after the holidays can easily cause that old friend anxiety to come creeping into your chest, but with these tips, I know you can make sense of your children’s bedrooms so that you and they are both happy!

Now be sure to head on over to check out all of the fantastic ideas on organization that everyone else is sharing today.

9 Tips For Kitchen Organization – Happy Happy Nester || Bathroom Organization Ideas – Lolly Jane // Textured Polka Dot Utensil Holder – Craftberry Bush // Turn a Closet into a Pantry – Tatertots & Jello

Organizing Your Party Planning – My 100 Year Old Home // Organizing Laundry Supplies – Zevy Joy // Spice Drawer Organization – Finding Lovely // How to Declutter and Decorate a Beautiful Home – So Much Better With Age

How To Organize Kitchen Drawers – Modern Glam // How I Keep My Home Organized – My Sweet Savannah // Whole Home Organization Ideas to Declutter Your Life – Grace In My Space // Medicine Cabinet Organization Ideas and Tips – Twelve On Main

10 Week Organizing Challenge – The Happy House // Fridge Organization and Storage – Inspiration for Moms // How to Organize Your Pantry – The Handmade Home // A Budget Friendly Linen Closet Makeover – The Tattered Pew 

Mudroom Lockers Organization – Two Twenty One // Small Pantry Organization Ideas – The DIY Mommy // How to Organize Kids’ Rooms – Cassie Bustamante // 5 Easy Steps To Create An Organized Junk Drawer – She Gave It A Go // Organizing Tips for Traveling with Kids – Pink Peppermint Designs

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