While we love our children dearly, it's a well known fact that closet organization isn't one of their strong suits. So when it comes time to help your children organize their closets, you need to have a plan in place. Even better, you need to have a budget in place. We think these tips will help you with both of those things. Let's get started!
Start with a Clean Slate
The first step in organizing any closet is to start with a clean slate. More than emptying the closet, that means actually setting aside time to clean it. You may not realize it, but a dirty environment can make your child's closet seem even less organized than it is. And considering the fact that even carpet that looks clean can hide over one pound of dirt, it's probably a good idea to give the area a good scrub. You might just find that cleaning and emptying leaves you with more space than you thought you had.
Once you're done with cleaning and emptying the closet, it's time to decide what needs to go. Working with your child to decide what articles of clothing they've outgrown (physically and emotionally) is a great exercise in minimalism and organization. And the sooner you start giving these life lessons, the better!
Double Up on Hanging Space
Doubling up on hanging space is key for organizing kids' closets. Not only will two hanging rods (one higher, one lower) allow smaller children to reach their clothes, it will provide more space to hang clothes. That saves you from buying an extra dresser to clutter up your child's room, too. In addition, make sure you're investing in matching, non-slip hangers. They're typically thinner than traditional hangers and the non-slip material will make it easier for children to hang their own clothes. If you're unsure where to find these, consider that the home organization market is worth almost $17 million. A quick Google search should provide plenty of options for you to choose from, especially if you're looking for fun colors.
Bins Are Your Best Friends
Not only are bins excellent organizational tools, they're extremely cost-effective. A few plastic or fabric bins and a small cubicle shelving unit can tie your closet design together with fun colors and eliminate the cost typically associated with a chest of drawers. In addition, bins keep items like shoes and accessories out of sight while making sure they're still grouped together.
If you're looking to teach some organizational skills to your child, work together to label or decorate your bins with images of the items that go inside of them. This will help ensure that, come clean-up time, your child will be able to organize their closet without much assistance. This is also an excellent opportunity to let your child customize their closet space.
Designate a Dirty Clothing Area
Part of organization is making sure your child knows where everything goes. Pants get hung up on the bottom hanger rod, shirts go on the top hanger rod, and dirty clothes don't go on the bedroom floor. Keeping a bin or basket for dirty clothes is incredibly important for making sure your child's closet stays organized. And as an added bonus, a large basket or bin won't cost you an arm and a leg.
Whether you're tidying up because you're selling your home and you don't want 86 people to see a messy children's room or you need a strategy for maintaining a clean home and peace of mind, these tips can help you keep your child's closet an organized paradise. Are you ready to start teaching your children life lessons in home organization?
