10 Absolutely Expert Tips For Organizing Kids Room

1. Start with Less—Purge First, Organize Later

When I first tried organizing my kids’ room, I made the mistake of jumping right into storage bins and cute labels without doing a solid declutter. Big mistake. Now, before I touch a single bin, we do a serious sort-through. I sit with my kids and help them decide what they actually use and love. If it’s broken, missing pieces, or forgotten, we donate, recycle, or toss it. We keep a “maybe” box and revisit it in a few weeks. What stays? Only what fits easily in the space and brings joy (or at least gets played with). This step alone makes the rest of the organizing process 10x easier and stops the cycle of constant re-cluttering.

2. Use Bins Without Lids for Easy Access

I used to think closed bins made a space look tidier, but with kids, lids are just one more thing to remove—and not put back. I switched to open-top bins, and suddenly clean-up was actually happening. We use clear plastic ones for things like building blocks, toy cars, and stuffed animals. The kids can see exactly what’s inside and don’t need help getting things in and out. For books, we use wide baskets where they can toss in titles spine-up, like a mini library. Open storage meets them at their level—literally and developmentally—and makes a big difference in whether they actually keep things semi-organized.

3. Give Every Toy Category a “Home”

One of my biggest wins was teaching my kids that every type of toy has its own “home.” Legos go in the blue bin. Dress-up clothes hang in the little wardrobe. Puzzle pieces stay in zip pouches in the bottom drawer. I added picture labels to help them remember (especially when they were younger). It took a little training at first, but now when we do our quick evening tidy, they know exactly where to put things. It reduces the dreaded “toy stew” (you know, where everything ends up in one mixed bin) and makes finding stuff way easier during playtime.

4. Store Like With Like (And Think Small)

It’s tempting to just throw toys into big bins, but I realized smaller groupings are easier for kids to manage. Instead of one huge bin of “random toys,” I now sort everything into smaller categories—train tracks, magnetic tiles, doll accessories, art supplies. We use drawer dividers, smaller boxes inside bigger ones, and even repurposed lunch containers. Keeping things grouped like this not only makes tidying up faster but also helps them actually play with their stuff more creatively. When everything’s not a jumbled mess, they rediscover toys they forgot they had.

5. Create Zones in the Room

I started thinking of the kids’ room like a mini classroom—with zones for different activities. There’s a reading nook with a soft rug and cozy pillows, a “creation station” with art supplies and a little table, and a toy corner with open shelves. Having these defined areas helps them know where things belong and keeps the chaos somewhat contained. Plus, it’s easier for them to focus. If they’re in the reading zone, they read. If they’re at the table, they draw. It brings a sense of calm and routine that we all benefit from.

6. Make Clothes Storage Kid-Friendly

Getting dressed used to be a disaster—drawers pulled open, clothes on the floor, socks gone missing. So I simplified their wardrobe and made the storage more accessible. Lower drawers only hold what they wear regularly. I use drawer organizers to separate shirts, pants, and pajamas. For socks and undies, we use bins they can reach without help. Labels (again, with pictures) help them remember what goes where. Now, they can dress themselves with minimal help—and they’re much more likely to put laundry away too.

7. Use Vertical Space to Maximize Storage

Their floor may be small, but the walls? That’s real estate. I installed wall-mounted shelves for books and baskets for small toys. I also added hooks at kid-height for backpacks, hats, and jackets. It gives them a sense of ownership over their space. Pegboards are another game changer—we use one for art supplies and even hung little cups from it for markers and brushes. It frees up floor space while still being totally accessible to them. And the best part? It looks adorable and organized at the same time.

8. Keep a Donation Box in the Closet

Stuff comes in constantly—birthday gifts, party favors, hand-me-downs—and I needed a system to keep it under control. So now I keep a labeled bin in the closet called “Give Away.” Whenever we come across a toy or book they’ve outgrown, we drop it in. Every month or so, we go through it together and donate the contents. It teaches them to let go of things they don’t need and builds the habit of decluttering regularly. Plus, it prevents the toy collection from growing into something unmanageable.

9. Rotate Toys to Keep Things Fresh

When my kids start saying, “I’m bored,” it’s usually not because they need more stuff—it’s because they’ve seen it all too much. So I keep a small portion of their toys in storage and rotate them monthly. I swap out puzzles, games, figurines, and even books. When the “new” batch comes out, they’re excited all over again. It keeps playtime creative, and it also reduces the amount of stuff they have access to at one time—which means less mess to clean up.

10. Involve the Kids Every Step of the Way

The biggest shift happened when I stopped doing it for them and started doing it with them. I ask for their input when we reorganize. I let them choose labels and bins. I even have them test out whether a system works before committing. It’s their space, after all. When they feel a sense of ownership, they’re so much more likely to take care of it. Organizing their room has become less of a one-woman show and more of a collaborative process—and that’s what makes it stick.

This post is all about tips for organizing kids room!

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