15 Design Tips to Help Your Kids Be More Independent

Install low hooks — ideally removable — in your mudroom or entryway. This allows you to install the hooks at your kid’s height and adjust them as he or she grows. “We’re against mudroom hooks that are high and drilled in the wall above the bench,” says Erin Coren, co-founder and designer at Curated Nest Interiors. “As pretty as they look upon install, kids are unable to reach them. The end result is a pile of jackets and bags.” Coren installed removable hooks inside these mudroom cubbies.

Erin Coren at Curated Nest Interiors suggests using low shelves with easily accessible toy bins to encourage younger kids to play independently. “Use low bookshelves for toys and books with soft bins that are open and easily accessible,” Coren says. “If you have closed bins, it’s out of sight, out of mind, and the toys get forgotten.” Also, keep the toy baskets small to limit the number of toys. Kids are more likely to clean up on their own if the amount of toys is manageable.

Young kids derive great pride from serving themselves food. Enable independence in the kitchen by designating a low drawer and small fridge for parent-approved snacks. “As the trend is oversized built-in refrigerators which are heavy and hard for kids to access, it is really difficult for kids to grab a snack or water without adult assistance,” says Erin Coren at Curated Nest Interiors. “In my own home, I put in a low beverage refrigerator with string cheese, juice boxes and yogurts so they can access it themselves.”

Encourage independent reading by designing a cozy reading nook with easily accessible books. “Having low seating, such as a structured bean bag, and books nearby, will give kids the ability to pick up a book,” says Erin Coren at Curated Nest Interiors. “A hanging canopy can finish off the space nicely.”