Decorating
How to Conquer Kids’ Clutter
Feeling overrun by toys, games and books? Try these organising strategies to keep on top of clutter
Toys and other items belonging to our little ones can be cute and colourful. Unfortunately, they can also create clutter. The key is to sort through them frequently and not over-organise any item they own. Keep toys loosely categorised and think about how children would look for an item and what systems would make it fun and easy for them to tidy up. And don’t despair: if all else fails, keep everything in their bedroom and close the door!
Corral and contain
If your kids have a lot of toys, it might not be the size of the room you need to focus on to begin with, but the toys themselves. Is it time to declutter and donate?
In a living room, try to keep the toy area clearly zoned. The items can be pulled out into the room for play, but keep their organisation along a specific wall, in an alcove or behind a sofa.
If you’re considering a playroom, choose a small room in your home. A more compact space will force you to declutter the toys more frequently.
Another idea would be to decide that toys are always kept in your children’s bedrooms. A toy bin can be used to carry the ones they want to play with down to the family space and back up again later.
If your kids have a lot of toys, it might not be the size of the room you need to focus on to begin with, but the toys themselves. Is it time to declutter and donate?
In a living room, try to keep the toy area clearly zoned. The items can be pulled out into the room for play, but keep their organisation along a specific wall, in an alcove or behind a sofa.
If you’re considering a playroom, choose a small room in your home. A more compact space will force you to declutter the toys more frequently.
Another idea would be to decide that toys are always kept in your children’s bedrooms. A toy bin can be used to carry the ones they want to play with down to the family space and back up again later.
Adapt the storage
It might sound obvious, but when selecting storage units and containers for toys, keep your children in mind. Organising toys has to be about how the kids will organise, not you. If you create systems that are adapted for them, it will make it easier for them to tidy up.
Choose shelves that are low down, or opt for benches that integrate storage. Kids love pulling toys out onto the floor to play with, and this type of system allows for that. It makes it easy for them to find their toys, and easy to put them away again.
It might sound obvious, but when selecting storage units and containers for toys, keep your children in mind. Organising toys has to be about how the kids will organise, not you. If you create systems that are adapted for them, it will make it easier for them to tidy up.
Choose shelves that are low down, or opt for benches that integrate storage. Kids love pulling toys out onto the floor to play with, and this type of system allows for that. It makes it easy for them to find their toys, and easy to put them away again.
Create fun labels
There are few places more in need of labels than a playroom. Create fun, custom-made ones by using photos of your children’s own toys on the outside of the containers, so they can clearly recognise which toy goes where. The aim of this organising game is to encourage the kids to tidy up by themselves as much as possible.
Browse kids room photos
There are few places more in need of labels than a playroom. Create fun, custom-made ones by using photos of your children’s own toys on the outside of the containers, so they can clearly recognise which toy goes where. The aim of this organising game is to encourage the kids to tidy up by themselves as much as possible.
Browse kids room photos
Curate works of art
If your child is a Lego fan or enjoys making models, then consider factoring in a display wall when you’re planning the storage in their play area or bedroom.
Shelving is the easiest and quickest solution for these types of toys. It also gets items up off the floor.
Try to get shelves of a shallow depth, so there’s only enough room to display the toys in question and nothing else. Display shelves that are too big for your needs will just become a clutter magnet and a variety of other items will end up on there. This will make the area appear messy instead of a fun, colourful toy exhibition.
See 10 of the best new kids’ rooms on Houzz
If your child is a Lego fan or enjoys making models, then consider factoring in a display wall when you’re planning the storage in their play area or bedroom.
Shelving is the easiest and quickest solution for these types of toys. It also gets items up off the floor.
Try to get shelves of a shallow depth, so there’s only enough room to display the toys in question and nothing else. Display shelves that are too big for your needs will just become a clutter magnet and a variety of other items will end up on there. This will make the area appear messy instead of a fun, colourful toy exhibition.
See 10 of the best new kids’ rooms on Houzz
Plan for the future
When little children grow up, the playroom will probably become a den. The toys will go, and games, DVDs and books will come in.
When you’re planning a play space, bear this in mind and buy storage that will last and be able to store media and technology as well as it stores lego and trains now.
If you don’t have a playroom, you need to keep this in mind with your living room also. Does your current living room storage have sufficient space for game consoles, remote controls, cameras and other technology.
Kids are very tech-savvy from an early age nowadays, and it all requires organisation. To avoid a muddled mess of cables and multi-media items around your TV, plan for these items now. While the kids are small, it gives you time to get solutions in place.
When little children grow up, the playroom will probably become a den. The toys will go, and games, DVDs and books will come in.
When you’re planning a play space, bear this in mind and buy storage that will last and be able to store media and technology as well as it stores lego and trains now.
If you don’t have a playroom, you need to keep this in mind with your living room also. Does your current living room storage have sufficient space for game consoles, remote controls, cameras and other technology.
Kids are very tech-savvy from an early age nowadays, and it all requires organisation. To avoid a muddled mess of cables and multi-media items around your TV, plan for these items now. While the kids are small, it gives you time to get solutions in place.
Sort clothing clutter
Once you’ve decluttered their clothes, it’s time to organise the space. Simple systems that are easy to use are the aim.
The simplest way is to give a shelf or drawer to each item type. For instance, cubbyholes inside the wardrobe could have T-shirts in one, jeans in another, school uniform in a third. This system could be replicated in a chest of drawers. This way, it’s easy to see what the child has, or what he/she is running short on.
If your children don’t wear a uniform to school, you could use different-colour hangers to lay out their clothes the night before. This will save you time and stress the next morning.
Different-coloured hangers are also handy if you have two children sharing one wardrobe. This keeps their clothes separated and easy to find.
Finally, have a donation bag just inside the wardrobe. As soon as you notice they’ve outgrown an item of clothing, simply pop it in the bag. It avoids placing unworn clothes back in the wardrobe.
Once you’ve decluttered their clothes, it’s time to organise the space. Simple systems that are easy to use are the aim.
The simplest way is to give a shelf or drawer to each item type. For instance, cubbyholes inside the wardrobe could have T-shirts in one, jeans in another, school uniform in a third. This system could be replicated in a chest of drawers. This way, it’s easy to see what the child has, or what he/she is running short on.
If your children don’t wear a uniform to school, you could use different-colour hangers to lay out their clothes the night before. This will save you time and stress the next morning.
Different-coloured hangers are also handy if you have two children sharing one wardrobe. This keeps their clothes separated and easy to find.
Finally, have a donation bag just inside the wardrobe. As soon as you notice they’ve outgrown an item of clothing, simply pop it in the bag. It avoids placing unworn clothes back in the wardrobe.
Streamline the hallway
With children in the house, the hallway can quickly become overrun. They’re so active with school, their friends and hobbies, that the hall becomes a prime dumping ground.
Assess the items that regularly land here – shoes, school bags, winter accessories, sports kit and toys are the usual suspects. With an inventory in hand, you can effectively plan some storage.
Hooks for each child are the easiest and quickest solution. They are excellent for the school bag and current coat.
Larger cabinets or under-stairs storage will be required for all other outdoor wear. If you don’t have an under-stairs, can you create a solution in the area nearest the hallway? Alternatively, keep just everyday items in this area, and everything else tidied away upstairs.
With the upstairs in mind, baskets – one per family member – are handy for brining items up and down.
With children in the house, the hallway can quickly become overrun. They’re so active with school, their friends and hobbies, that the hall becomes a prime dumping ground.
Assess the items that regularly land here – shoes, school bags, winter accessories, sports kit and toys are the usual suspects. With an inventory in hand, you can effectively plan some storage.
Hooks for each child are the easiest and quickest solution. They are excellent for the school bag and current coat.
Larger cabinets or under-stairs storage will be required for all other outdoor wear. If you don’t have an under-stairs, can you create a solution in the area nearest the hallway? Alternatively, keep just everyday items in this area, and everything else tidied away upstairs.
With the upstairs in mind, baskets – one per family member – are handy for brining items up and down.
Tackle paper mountains
With school comes so much paperwork. Whether it’s notes to sign, book lists, exam papers or pictures they drew that day, this is the one bit of ‘clutter’ that requires a lot of discipline. Every day, once a week or even once a month, try to whittle down the school paper that has come in and either get rid of it or tidy it away.
To tidy it away effectively, a folder for all the school administration is useful for you as parents. Then a large container or expanding file for each child will catch their craft work, pictures, and other school memorabilia.
Educational paperwork, such as photocopies, notes and tests, should be organised by child and stored in either the home office or their bedroom, so it’s close to hand for homework and revision.
With school comes so much paperwork. Whether it’s notes to sign, book lists, exam papers or pictures they drew that day, this is the one bit of ‘clutter’ that requires a lot of discipline. Every day, once a week or even once a month, try to whittle down the school paper that has come in and either get rid of it or tidy it away.
To tidy it away effectively, a folder for all the school administration is useful for you as parents. Then a large container or expanding file for each child will catch their craft work, pictures, and other school memorabilia.
Educational paperwork, such as photocopies, notes and tests, should be organised by child and stored in either the home office or their bedroom, so it’s close to hand for homework and revision.
Box up precious memories
Finally, remember that a lot of kids don’t like it when you start to declutter and get rid of their stuff. They love it when it’s all tidy and enjoy the routine an organised home can give them, but the process itself can be overwhelming.
Involving them in all the stages can help. It may slow you down a little, but it could have benefits for you long term, as they will know how to maintain any new system you set up.
To encourage them to let go of items, help them focus on what they’re keeping, remind them of Christmas and birthdays that may be coming up, and emphasise the importance of donating.
A memory box can also be very useful, as they can use this storage for all their personal items that are important to them. Precious reminders can be tucked under their bed, or up in a wardrobe. Storage solutions like this can often give some comfort during decluttering. They can take ownership of the storage and decisions around their items, which will help them feel more in control.
Do you have any helpful organisation tips? Please share them in the Comments below.
Finally, remember that a lot of kids don’t like it when you start to declutter and get rid of their stuff. They love it when it’s all tidy and enjoy the routine an organised home can give them, but the process itself can be overwhelming.
Involving them in all the stages can help. It may slow you down a little, but it could have benefits for you long term, as they will know how to maintain any new system you set up.
To encourage them to let go of items, help them focus on what they’re keeping, remind them of Christmas and birthdays that may be coming up, and emphasise the importance of donating.
A memory box can also be very useful, as they can use this storage for all their personal items that are important to them. Precious reminders can be tucked under their bed, or up in a wardrobe. Storage solutions like this can often give some comfort during decluttering. They can take ownership of the storage and decisions around their items, which will help them feel more in control.
Do you have any helpful organisation tips? Please share them in the Comments below.
When conquering clutter in a child’s bedroom, begin each day by opening the curtains and making the bed. This will immediately improve the room and make it look tidier with very little effort.
If the bedroom is very untidy, put everything from the floor up onto the (freshly made) bed. Even though there will still be the same number of items to tidy up, the bed is a smaller visual reference, so the job will seem smaller.
You will have the added benefit of a clear floor, which always helps stress levels and will allow you to move around the room more easily, helping you to clean up faster.