Teaching kids to clean up after themselves and take care of their things is a quest that probably lasts until they leave your home, and I know it can sometimes feel like a losing battle. But I have learned that there are tips and systems that can be put into place- especially in their bedrooms- that can set them up for success.
Helping kids achieve independence in cleaning up after themselves instills confidence and pride in them, makes them feel grown-up and ultimately frees up time and headspace for YOU. Imagine telling your child that it's time to clean their room and knowing that they can do it on their own, without your help. Use these six tips to achieve that kid room organization goal!
Kid Room Organization Tips
1. Bedding
Choose bedding that makes it so that they can make their bed by themselves. It doesn't seem to matter if the rest of the room is clean- if the bed is unmade, the room looks messy. I put Beddy's in all of my kids' rooms, from my teenager to my five-year-old. They can all make their beds with ease now, even if their bed has a side that's not easily accessible because it's pushed up against a wall. These are especially game-changing on bunk beds. Remember to use the code RESETYOURNEST for 15% off!
2. Hooks
Utilize hooks wherever you can. It is much more realistic to ask any age kid (even that tall one you're married to) to hang a towel on a hook instead of hanging it nicely on a towel rack. In fact, one of the first things I did when we moved into our home and were starting our big remodel was to tear down the towel racks and install hooks. The same goes for jackets, hats, purses, robes, jewelry, backpacks, and dress-up clothes. I put hooks wherever I can, especially in closets, on the back of doors, in any hidden nook and cranny, and I put them at a height that my kids can easily reach them.
3. Dressers
Save space in the bedroom and maximize closet space with a small dresser. I love ours from mDesign. It's the perfect size for kids and makes the most out of a small closet and room. It's made from a high-quality canvas, which makes it lightweight enough that my youngest can easily open and shut the drawers.
4. Hanging Organizers
Use a hanging shoe organizer for your kids to plan out their outfits for the week. This helps with so many things; it makes our mornings easier because the decision of what to wear has already been made. But it also keeps kids' rooms so much cleaner. My daughter used to change her clothes at least seven times a day (I'm not exaggerating!), and it left a huge mess in her room every single day. I finally put her clothes up high and out of her reach except for her daily outfits in this shoe organizer, and the mess is gone.
5. Hangers
Streamline your hangers. They don't have to be expensive or fancy, just make sure they match. It clears visual clutter and really does make such a big difference. My favorite hangers are linked from Target.
6. Be Intentional with Toys
Be intentional with what toys, if any, are stored in bedrooms. I know some people have a strict no-toys-in-bedrooms policy, which can really help keep kids' rooms clean and orderly. Others have toys tucked away that only come out during their child's quiet time. And others store all the toys in bedrooms because there's nowhere else in the home to put them. There's no right or wrong way to do this, but there are ways to be intentional and keep things organized.
If you can, try to only keep toys in the bedroom that are used in the bedroom. For my youngest daughter, that means a small table and chairs set to do art on, and her toy kitchen in the corner. Those are the things that she plays with the most and will keep her occupied for the longest amount of time. Everything else is in the toy closet in our basement.
If you need to keep toys in the bedroom, I recommend using cube storage shelves with sturdy bins, clearly labeled. Picture labels are a great idea if your child isn't reading yet. If stuffed animals seem to be taking over the bedroom, corner nets work great (and can be put in a closet if you want to keep them out of sight), and so do stuffed animal storage bean bags.
I'd love to hear if any of you try these tips and if they work for you! What else do you do to keep your kids' rooms clean and organized?
Jen is the founder of Reset Your Nest, a Professional Home Organizing Business in Utah (servicing Salt Lake City, Park City, Ogden, Alpine, Highland, Mapleton, and St. George). She loves creating order and systems out of chaos and is known for bringing a beautiful aesthetic as well as easy to maintain function to any space. She shares her tips and tricks on Instagram @reset_your_nest.
