How to Design Highly Functional Spaces in Your Kids’ Closet

Start With a Comprehensive Purge

The critical first step in any organizational overhaul is removing anything unwanted, outgrown, or unnecessary. For closets, this means going through every single clothing item, accessory, toy, and miscellaneous possession and purging anything too small, out of season, stained, damaged, or no longer used. Don't be afraid to be ruthless during this step! Having too many extraneous items crammed into a closet ensures it will quickly become an overwhelming pit of disorganization again. 

Doing a comprehensive purge first allows you to see exactly what must be stored and designed around. It creates a blank slate so you can accurately assess storage needs before bringing in new organizational tools. This step sets up the entire closet for success from the start.

Invest in Quality, Versatile Storage

With the remaining clothing and essential items identified after the purge, you'll have a clear sense of what types of storage make the most logical sense. For many kids' items like socks, underwear, pajamas, and accessories, closed fabric bins or open woven baskets keep categories separated neatly. A mix of bins in complementary colors and patterns adds visual interest. 

Hang as many clothing items as possible using high-quality velvet hangers to maximize space and visibility. For younger kids, opt for low-hanging double rods that put everything within their reach. Cubbies with removable dividers provide flexible spaces to stash shoes, sporting equipment, or special treasures.

Maximize Wall Storage

Don't overlook walls when adding storage to a small closet space. Well-placed shelving units, cabinets with doors, or open cubbies can provide ample space for stowing folded clothes, books, trophies, special keepsakes, and more. Floating shelves in organic wood tones create a warm visual mix.

Wall-mounted hanging racks offer flexible spots for hanging backpacks, jackets, costumes, and more. Even just adding a few hooks can unlock valuable vertical space for hanging or stashing items off the floor.

Designate Zones for Different Types of Items

To reduce chaos and disorganization, segment the closet into designated zones for different categories of items. Separate hanging clothes from folded clothes, toys, shoes, and miscellaneous storage areas. Using coordinated bins, labels, and color schemes can reinforce these item boundaries.

This visual compartmentalization makes it much easier to instinctively put everything away properly in its designated space. It also streamlines the morning routine by allowing kids to see and grab what they need without rummaging through piles. Clear zoning vastly improves functionality.

Design for Kid Appeal

While adult closets can lean towards sleek minimalism, kids' closets should be engaging, fun, and stimulating! Use your child's input to pick color palettes filled with lively hues like neon brights, cheerful patterns like polka dots, and playful graphics or characters that excite their interests. 

Strategic splashes of color, texture, and imagery can transform mundane tasks like putting away laundry into less of a chore. Involving kids in the design process gets them invested in the organizational systems and more likely to maintain order over time.

Prioritize Accessibility

The number one requirement for any functional kids' closet organization is making everything easily accessible to little hands. Adjustable shelving units and closet rod heights let you customize setups as kids grow taller. Rotating garment racks put hanging clothes within an easy spin.

Open storage bins in eye-catching colors let kids see what's inside each container at a glance. Clear plastic bins maintain visibility to cut down on rummaging. Baskets or shelves placed at kid-level encourage independence and personal responsibility.

Smart Extras

To take organizations to the next level, incorporate a few thoughtful additions that enhance daily use. A small step stool or built-in bench provides a handy spot to sit when changing clothes or searching for shoes. Battery-powered LED closet lights brighten dim corners making it easier to scan spaces.

A full-length mirror mounted on the door helps kids pick out outfits and assess whether items still fit properly. Whiteboards, chalkboards, or dry-erase panels can list hanging categories or double as a fun doodle surface. A lockable compartment or cabinet offers secure storage for valuable belongings.

Modeling Good Habits

Finally, the most functional kids' closet system will be for naught if your child lacks an underlying foundation of organizational values and habits. Have kids participate in maintaining their personal spaces by putting them in charge of putting away clean laundry, recycling used hangers and packaging, and doing routine "edits" to purge outgrown or unloved items.

There are ways to make closet cleaning and organization more accessible and interesting to kids. The Organized Mama suggests adding picture labels to drawers and bins to let kids know what belongs there. Not only will this help them learn to put clothes away correctly, but they’ll also be able to find what they need more easily.

Lead by example by maintaining an organized closet yourself and narrating the reasoning behind your systems. With the right consistent modeling, cultivating positive storage habits becomes second nature. They'll gain skills to manage their spaces and belongings independently.

Conclusion

With these strategies, you can transform even the most chaotic kids' closet into a beautifully organized sanctuary. A well-designed closet retreat provides a structure that makes stressful routines feel calmer. It eliminates wasted morning and evening minutes rummaging and searching.

Source

• https://www.theorganizedmama.com/kids-laundry/