Top 10 Storage Ideas for Families with Kids
Top 10 Storage Ideas for Families with Kids
Families with kids know all too well how quickly stuff multiplies, especially after holidays, birthdays, and school projects. With toys in every room, backpacks by the door, and school papers all around, clutter tends to accumulate faster than you can sort it. However, telling your kids to put away their things only works if there's a clear place to put them.
In this guide, we walk through 10 practical storage ideas for families, including kids' room storage ideas and organizing tips for children's rooms.
And if your home simply doesn’t have enough space for seasonal clothing, sporting gear, artwork, or anything else, Stop & Stor can help you keep your living space manageable year-round. Our flexible storage units and lockers are available month-to-month, so you can adjust your off-site storage as your kids grow.
First, Establish Family Storage Rules
Before you start buying new organizational gear or throwing everything out, decide what "organized" means for your family. For most families, "good enough" is more realistic than magazine-perfect, balancing functionality and easy maintenance.
Start your process by sorting items into four piles: keep, donate, trash, and store off-site. Sticking to the rule “if it doesn't fit, it's got to go” helps prevent overflow when implementing new children’s bedroom organization ideas.
Our Best Kid’s Room Organization Hacks
These tried-and-true kids’ organization hacks might be just what you need to get a handle on stuff overwhelm at home.
1. Designate a Drop Zone
Near the front door, create a drop zone to collect everything you bring inside. Small trays for sunglasses, cubbies for shoes, and kid-height wall hooks for coats and backpacks will make rushed mornings go much smoother.
2. Embrace Hidden Storage Furniture
Multi-purpose furniture is a lifesaver for families. Think ottomans with storage, coffee tables with lift-top lids, and benches with built-in compartments. These high-functioning pieces are ideal for blankets, board games, and books.
3. Think Vertical with Wall Storage
Don't let your home's wall space go underutilized. Wall-mount shelves work well for storing books and puzzles, while hooks work well for costumes, hats, and bags. Place everyday items within your children's reach, but keep anything that requires supervision higher up.
4. Keep Baskets for Quick Cleanup
Kids are much more likely to clean up after themselves if the process is simple. Keep large baskets available for kids to toss toys, stuffed animals, and blocks into after playtime. With time, kids' room organization can become part of the daily routine instead of a constant battle.
5. Keep Certain Bins Out of Reach
However, not every storage item should be easily accessible to kids. Especially for young children, store supplies like paint, scissors, glue guns, and batteries in labeled bins inside high cabinets so they are out of reach of little ones.
6. Repurpose a Spare Dresser
Not every dresser has to be dedicated solely to clothes. One of our favorite organizing tips for children’s rooms is to rethink extra dressers as storage solutions for LEGO sets, puzzles, art supplies, dolls, and board games. Closed dresser drawers reduce visual clutter, while drawer dividers keep small items organized.
7. Organize Small Pieces
It's common for small toy pieces to create big messes, so get proactive with clear hardware-style drawer organizers. These organizers are ideal for beads, souvenir trinkets, matchbox cars, and craft supplies. Label sections so kids can easily find and return them to their proper places.
8. Separate Closets Into Zones
Another of our kids' room storage ideas is to upgrade the bedroom closet with a second hanging rod, shelf dividers, and labeled bins. Kids can learn to manage their own belongings when there is logical separation between everyday wear, fancy clothes, costumes, pajamas, and sports jerseys.
9. Utilize Under-Bed Storage
For items not needed daily, add a couple of low-rolling bins under the bed. Under-bed storage is great for extra bedding, larger toys, costumes, and out-of-season clothes. For anything too big to fit under the bed, like holiday decorations and outdoor recreation equipment, renting a nearby Stop & Stor unit can free up valuable space.
10. Declutter Incoming Paper
Kids often come home with backpacks full of graded homework, study guides, team schedules, and forms to sign. Keep track of all this paperwork with a small command center consisting of a mail sorter with folders, a calendar, and a whiteboard. This way, nothing gets lost, deadlines are met, and papers aren't scattered throughout the house.
Your Room-by-Room Plan
Here’s a snapshot of how a focused room-by-room strategy and kids' room organization can look in practice.
Living Room
Get an ottoman with storage, and designate one toy basket for daily play items to prevent the living room from becoming a full-on playroom.
Kitchen
Set up a low cabinet filled with kid-friendly dishes for children to access independently. Keep snacks and lunch supplies organized in bins to prevent daily frustrations.
Kids’ Bedrooms
Kids' room storage ideas should revolve around simple zones for sleeping, playing, dressing, and reading. Label small items in drawers, and keep toys in open bins for easy access and return.
Garage and Basement
Install wall-mounted bike and other sports equipment racks. Label bins for seasonal items and stack them on racks to use vertical space. If these areas become overcrowded, Stop & Stor's off-site storage options can help.
Keep Good Organization Habits Going
To keep your family's home organized without constantly cleaning, commit to a 10-minute nightly reset that includes gathering toys into baskets and returning backpacks to the drop zone. Each week, choose one small area, such as a single drawer or toy bin, to declutter.
Common Kids' Room Organization Mistakes to Avoid
- Buying lots of new organizational bins before decluttering
- Creating too many complicated categories for kids to sort
- Requiring lids for commonly-used bins with toys
- Failing to establish clear zones for items to live in
FAQ Related to Kids' Room Storage Ideas
What’s the best storage strategy for toys in small spaces?
Vertical shelves, open baskets, and multi-purpose furniture all work wonders for toy storage in small homes. When you run out of space, Stop & Stor’s various sizes of units can keep keepsake items safe, yet out of the way.
How do I get kids to actually put their things away?
A simple storage system that keeps many items within kids' reach can promote tidiness and responsibility. Don't create too many categories, and clearly label items in easy-access bins to improve follow-through. Some families implement simple reward systems with incentives for cleaning up with no fuss.
How often should we declutter kids’ items?
Try to declutter significantly once each season, or at least twice per year. Before holidays and at the end of the school year are excellent times to schedule a decluttering.
Should I use clear or opaque bins?
Clear bins are helpful to find craft supplies and small pieces, especially for children’s bedroom organization. However, opaque bins work well for other living areas because they reduce visual clutter.
What’s the easiest way to organize LEGOs and small toys?
Clear storage towers, small compartment bins, and drawer organizers can corral the chaos of tiny pieces. If you sort items by type or color, kids may find the pieces easier to use and clean up afterward.
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