Children’s rooms often require special attention to keep clutter under control. And although size can be an added challenge in this case, even small rooms can end up creating quite a bit of work if we don’t organize them regularly and teach our children to put their things away after using them.
So, in this article, we’ve put together several tips to help you organize a small child’s room without making it complicated or spending too much time on it. Follow them, and you’ll see that nothing will be too hard for you from now on!
Tips for Organizing a Small Children’s Room
Use the Konmari method to store toys
What do we usually find in any child’s room? That’s right: toys—lots of toys! So, one of the keys to mastering the art of organization is to have a clear plan for how to put them away and, while we’re at it, teach our children to do the same every day.
Previously, here at CULMIA, we talked at length about one of the most practical ways to keep toys organized and easily accessible. It’s called the Konmari method, a very useful solution that, among other things, suggests gamifying the activity to make it more fun for kids.
Here you can find all of their recommendations, which can be a good starting point for organizing any small children’s room.
Furniture specially designed for children
On the one hand, we want to organize our child’s small room, but on the other hand, we also want our child to be able to enjoy it to the fullest. This means, of course, that they know where every toy and object is and can reach them whenever they want. So we shouldn’t furnish it with standard furniture that we’d use in any other room; instead, we should choose practical and comfortable solutions for any child.
There are many options: from a low, open bookshelf divided into several compartments to modular furniture that can be adapted to the available space and changing needs. There’s also furniture that can be used for storage on the inside and decorated on the outside to look like, for example, a dollhouse… Or practical trunks with wheels, to add a “fairy-tale” touch to the room and keep their favorite toys within reach.
Make the most of the space under the bed
What kind of bed is in the room? If it’s a fold-down bed, you’re in luck, because this type of furniture is incredibly practical for making the most of the space underneath. It essentially functions as a large drawer where you can store all kinds of things, with the added advantage that, since it’s kept tightly closed most of the time, the items inside will hardly get dirty.
And if that’s not your style, you can also get some handy storage boxes that are the right size to fit under the bed. You’ll find a huge variety of these in stores—not just for storing clothes or shoes, but also for toys and items you don’t use every day.
Save vertical space
One of the key principles when organizing a small children’s room is to think not only in terms of width but also in terms of height. In this case, it’s essential to have shelves and wall-mounted organizers to store books, small toys, decorative items, or anything else you can think of. In fact, there are even baskets and organizers of this type that are both very useful and attractive, allowing your children to store their school supplies—such as pencils, pens, scissors, erasers, and rulers—in them!
For lighting, ceiling or wall lamps are best
Since we’re talking about organizing a small children’s room, it’s best not to waste floor space on a lamp. Instead, we can install lighting on both the ceiling and the walls, always keeping the child’s needs in mind so that they have the light they need to play, study, or read at all times.
For example, to light up the entire room, we can install a ceiling light with warm lighting and a fun design. Meanwhile, for the bed, it might be a good idea to install a wall sconce that provides ample lighting for your sleeping area. As for the study or work area, if the desk is wide enough, you can place a lamp or desk lamp that allows you to direct the light exactly where you need it.
Here are a few tips on choosing the right type of lighting. First, make sure the lamp is safe and can be used by your child. Ideally, the switch should be within easy reach so they can turn it on and off as they please without needing an adult’s help, or it should even have a motion-sensor feature in case they wake up and get out of bed during the night. Also, whenever possible, opt for LED lighting solutions, because they don’t get as hot as traditional bulbs and are more energy-efficient.
Make sure there’s a study area
Even if it’s small, every child’s room should have its own reading, work, or study area. To avoid wasting more space than necessary, place it against one of the walls and choose a functional desk and a comfortable chair. What’s more, when it comes to the desk, it’s a good idea for it to have its own storage space (such as a drawer or chest of drawers) to keep the stationery items (pencils, notebooks, paints, etc.) that the child uses most often.
A laundry basket for holding dirty clothes
Once children learn to get dressed on their own, it’s important for them to get into the habit of not leaving their used clothes lying around their room. There should be a designated spot for them, and what better way than to use a small basket to put them in after taking them off? We can buy an organizer basket with a fun, eye-catching children’s design so they can pick up this habit early on and, at the same time, have fun using it.
Cover the play area with a colorful mat
To make it easier to organize a small children’s room, it might be helpful to lay down a mat or rug that clearly defines the play area. This has many advantages: in addition to defining the available space, it will keep your child from getting dirty or cold, and it will also protect the floor from impacts and wear and tear.
To that end, there are rugs that can be custom-designed like puzzles, because each tile is designed to fit together with the one next to it. This is a very practical option for using only the space needed at any given time and adapting the rug to the room’s dimensions.
One toy in, one toy out
Since this is a small children’s room, we need to be very selective about what we put in it. Children tend to accumulate toys, and it doesn’t take long to realize that they’re taking up a large part of the available space, so at some point we need to set limits and make decisions to prevent the room from turning into a cluttered mess.
At this point, every new toy that comes into the house should replace another of similar size that is no longer used or useful, so that the child gets used from the very beginning to getting rid of anything that doesn’t benefit them and to making the most of their space. In this regard, we can give it away, donate it, throw it out, or recycle it if it’s very worn out —or even store it elsewhere, if we have enough space in the house. Any of these options will do, as long as we can properly organize this room!
A different organization for each stage of a child’s life
Finally, don’t forget that children’s needs change as they grow. Therefore, the way you organize a small children’s room will be different for a baby than for a 3- or 4-year-old, or for a child who is just starting elementary school.
As they get older, they’ll need more space to move around and play, so we’ll have to put in more effort to keep everything organized. And, of course, we’ll need to replace both the furniture and its layout once we realize it’s starting to feel too small or no longer serves its original purpose.
CULMIA helps you keep your home tidy at all times
What did you think of these 10 tips for organizing a small children’s room? They’re just a small sample of all the information you can find in our “Guide to Keeping Your Home Tidy.” Download it below and discover how to make the most of the space in your home.
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