It’s no secret that children can make a mess—and tackling a kid’s cluttered bedroom can be daunting. However, decluttering and organizing a kid’s room can keep things tidy, free up space for play, and create a peaceful atmosphere for your child to thrive in. Take a look at our best decluttering tips and creative storage solutions for your child’s bedroom organization!
Get Your Kids Involved
Your child’s room is a safe space for them, and it’s common for little ones to develop an emotional attachment to their belongings. Invite your child to participate as you declutter their space, and give them some control over what stays and what goes to show that you respect and trust them. Involving your kid in the decluttering process can also be a great opportunity for you to teach them how to be organized and how to let go of things they no longer use.
Make Decluttering Fun
If getting kids to be enthusiastic about tidying up their rooms sounds difficult, try turning decluttering into a fun game! Set a timer, and see how many items they can sort into labeled boxes until time runs out. Create a decluttering bingo card with tasks on it like “pick ten toys to donate” or “pick up all the books on the floor,” and end with a reward. There are all sorts of ways to make decluttering fun for kids—just remember to take breaks so no one gets overwhelmed.
Categorize Your Child’s Belongings
In order to effectively declutter, you need to know where to put all the items you’re sorting through—decluttering methods like the four-box technique can be super helpful! Once you’ve cleared out the things you’re not going to keep, you’ll have a much easier time sorting through the remaining items. Categorize what’s left into more specific groups based on their purpose, such as toys, books, clothes, school and craft supplies, and more. This will provide a clearer idea of what needs to be organized, which items have duplicates, and what’s no longer being used.
Work Your Way Up
The floor of your child’s bedroom can become a catch-all for all kinds of items. Since looking at messy floors can be overwhelming, it’s best to begin decluttering there. Be sure to check under beds and behind furniture for hidden caches of toys, clothes, and other miscellaneous items. Then, move onto surfaces like tables, dressers, and shelves to free up even more space. Keep in mind that you don’t have to do everything at once, either. In fact, it’s best to tackle one area at a time to avoid burning yourself out!
Tidy Up Closets & Dressers
Clothes can be a huge source of clutter—one way to revamp your child’s bedroom is to focus on clothing organization. Optimize dresser organization by file-folding clothes, which makes garments more visible while also saving space. Figure out which clothes no longer fit so they can be stored as hand-me-downs or donated. You can further reduce clutter by using clear plastic bins or garment bags to store winter clothes during warmer weather, and vice versa. Boost your kid’s closet organization and add a second rod to maximize hanging space. Use over-the-door organizers for shoes and other accessories. Need more floor space? Move your child’s dresser into the closet if it’s large enough.
Organize Toys & Games
Unlike clothes, decluttering toys and games can be a bit more difficult for kids, as they might have developed strong attachments—even to those they don’t play with anymore. As you decide which items to keep, donate, or toss, talk with your kids to gain an understanding of just how important each toy is to them. One of the best tips for decluttering, introduce a rotation system for toys and games to provide time and prepare kids to say goodbye to outdated or outgrown toys. Or place the toy in home or self storage for a few months, and see if your child asks for it—otherwise, it can be donated. For the toys you do end up keeping, try out creative kids toys storage ideas like labeled bins, crates, toy swings, and stackable storage cubes to keep these items neat, tidy, and accessible for your kids.
Create Zones
Setting up zones in a kid’s bedroom can create an effective balance between functionality and fun. Zones help you arrange your child’s room based on how they’ll use the space—which, in turn, provides “homes” for their clothes, toys, and books. The best part? You can easily use these zones when prompting your child to tidy up in the future. The simplest method is to set up three zones:
- Zone #1: Leisure (sleeping, reading books, and dressing)
- Zone #2: Play (toys, games, puzzles, etc.)
- Zone #3: Learning (crafts and school supplies)
To help make the zones clear, try defining them with decor. Place a rug beneath their desk, or create an imaginary boundary using wall decorations. These zones will teach your child which activities are appropriate for each zone, making it less likely that they’ll leave items outside their homes. When kids know where things are supposed to go, they’re more likely to put their belongings away on their own, which can make the decluttering process less of a hassle in the future!
Incorporate Kid’s Storage Ideas Into Decor
There are many kids room storage ideas that blend in seamlessly with the decor of their space. Using multipurpose furniture like—under-bed storage drawers, bed frames with built-in drawers, headboards with shelving, and bench ottomans that double as toy boxes—are all fantastic hidden storage ideas. These can maximize a room’s storage potential without having to take up additional floor space.
Take Advantage of Vertical Storage Solutions
Whether you’re converting nursery shelves or installing new ones, vertical storage is a helpful organization tool that can keep your child’s room decluttered. Install floor-to-ceiling shelving for kids toy storage, books, and decor, leaving the items your kids will grab most frequently within their reach. Utilize labeled bins, tubs, cubbies, and baskets to further organize the shelves and make it easy for kids to put items back where they belong. And keep wall hooks available for items like coats, hats, and bags.
Create & Stick to a Kid-Friendly Cleaning Routine
As your child continues to develop their organizational skills, you’ll probably need to continue cleaning it with them periodically. In order to keep your kid’s room tidy and reinforce good organizational skills, set up a time each day to clean up small messes or perform small maintenance tasks for each zone. A great tip to help kids learn organization is to create a consistent cleaning schedule or to make “clean-up time” a part of their bedtime routine. In addition, consider setting aside time every three months for a larger declutter. Children grow quickly, so the changing seasons are a great opportunity to cycle out ill-fitting clothes and other items they won’t need or use come the next season.
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This post was originally published 07/18/2023, and last revised on 01/29/2024 with updated information.
