21 Ways to Organize Your Kid's Closet

Kids' toys and clothes can fill their closets with clutter. Take control with these easy organizing ideas.

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June 10, 2021

By: Toni Hammersley and Chelsey Bowen

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Photo By: ClosetMaid

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Make It Accessible

The best way to guarantee your kid's closet stays organized is by creating a system that they can help maintain. This kid-friendly closet has double rods for parents to hang clothes, but the bottom of the space is transformed with open shelving and bins. The within-reach baskets allow the child to get to socks, shoes and other essentials.

Switch to Space-Saving Hangers

Make the most of closet space by using the right hangers. Slimline hangers use less room than typical ones so that you can store more clothes without having to pack them in tightly. Plus, the non-slip design ensures your kids aren't constantly leaving half-hung shirts in their closet.

Buy It: Amazon, $13.99

Double Up

Closet doubler rods work well in kids' closets because they increase hanging space while allowing small children to reach their own clothes without help. Kids can also put their clothes away on laundry day, keeping closets tidy and teaching them organization skills at an early age.

Buy It: Amazon, $17.40

Come Up With a Hanging System

Hang similar items together so kids can pick out their clothes and put them away quickly. Color-coordinate them and hang by category, such as short sleeve, long sleeve, tank tops, dresses, pants and dress shirts.

Always Have a Bin Handy

Adding bins and baskets to kids' closets helps control clutter buildup. Incorporate a mix of different containers to accommodate the variety of items your child's closet needs to contain, from toys and shoes to stuffed animals and the little things they love to collect. These adorable baskets not only feature fun graphics, but they are also collapsible so that they can be stored easily when not needed.

Buy It: Amazon, $14.99

Coordinate by Color

Coordinating baskets by color is a fun and easy way for your kids to stay organized. Store all like toys in the same color baskets, and store books in a different color.

Buy It: Amazon, $27.99

Label Everything

Labeling helps keep the abundance of clothing, toys and accessories your child accumulates at bay. These birch labels clip on to any bin for easy labeling with a dry erase marker.

Buy It: The Container Store, $9.99

Create a Spot for Shoes

Kids' shoes often end up in a pile on the floor. Avoid the mountain of sneakers by designating a specific place to neatly store their footwear. Open shelving with multiple tiers is an easy and functional solution.

Buy It: Amazon, $19.99

Utilize the Door

Make use of all the space in your kid's closet, including the door. While over-the-door organizers work well for shoes, don't be limited by their original purpose. They're also ideal for storing toys, stuffed animals or other clothing items.

Buy It: The Container Store, $17.99

Say Yes to Hooks

Hooks make it simple for kids to hang jackets, bags, scarves or jewelry, keeping the closet floor clutter-free. We love these pretty and colorful options; hang their monogram or spell out a lovely word to add functionality and charm to their closets.

Buy It: Anthropologie, $20

Add an Outfit-Planning Zone

Use a hanging organizer to plan the week’s outfits and avoid morning drama. Label each compartment with a day of the week, then separate each day’s ensemble in its own spot. Include socks and undies so getting dressed, even for little ones, is super simple.

Install a Pegboard

For a tween or teen with a growing collection of accessories, consider installing a pegboard on an empty closet wall. Hooks can easily be added and rearranged to accommodate more jewelry, scarves, hats and purses.

Make Room for Laundry

If you have enough space, stick a laundry basket in the corner of the closet to control the piles of dirty clothes. Ones with handles make it easier for you or your older kid to carry to the laundry room.

Buy It: Target, $23.99

Sort Extra Sizes

Kids quickly outgrow their clothing; if you have room in your child's closet, you may want to have a few next-size-up pieces on deck. Use simple paper dividers or different colored hangers to separate the sizes.

From: Emily Fazio

Corral Outgrown Items

Keep a basket in your kid's closet where you can toss too-small clothing items as you come across them. When the basket fills up, you’ll know it’s time to donate the clothes or hand them down to friends or family.

From: Emily Fazio

Invest in a Closet System

A good closet system can make all the difference. Create a custom one that has the right number of shelves, drawers and cubbies you need to keep your kiddo's closet in tip-top shape.

Buy It: The Container Store, $1,271

Rearrange as Needed

Wire closet systems are affordable, durable and easy to adjust as children grow. Most kits are designed with expanding shelves and telescoping rods to fit practically any space.

Opt for Easy-to-See Storage

Out of sight, out of mind – if an item of clothing is buried at the bottom of a drawer, your child is unlikely to wear it. Pull-out wire baskets or clear plastic bins make it easier for your kiddo to see all their clothing options.

Conceal the Clutter

On the other hand, drawers that can be closed to contain the chaos (even if it's neatly folded chaos) bring a streamlined aesthetic to the closet. Add a dresser, like this chic one with easy-to-pull-out fabric drawers, under clothing racks to double the amount of storage in your kid's closet.

Buy It: Amazon, $74.99

Think Vertically

In a narrow closet, it's especially important to make smart use of space. Save lower shelves for favorite clothes and toys, and use higher shelves to store out-of-season clothes and other infrequently used items.

Designate Specific Areas

If you have the luxury of a walk-in closet, take advantage of the space with an organized closet system. Allocate a place for a laundry hamper, drawers for shoes and accessories, and open shelving for toys.