Kids' closet organization

[boatrat]

Hi all, we are expecting our second boy in a few months. He will be sharing a room with his DS1 (well, actually only his clothes and toys will be sharing a room with DS1 since we co-sleep).

We currently have one slim 5 drawer dresser and a normal size closet. I'm hoping to make the clothes storage work without having to get a new dresser (or another used dresser). In order to do this, I need to make the closet more functional.

I'm considering hanging all of DS1's shirts to free room in the dresser for DS2s onesies and things. Any other tips?

I know a lot of people rave about the Elfa closet system, but that seems a bit pricey. We are going to an Ikea this weekend, and I wanted to know if anyone had experience with the Antonius line from there.

Please feel free to share any tips, favorite products, etc.

[BCFD]

Ikea ::swoon:: Love it.

We have 3 girls, ages 5, 4, and 3. We have all of their clothes stored in one room (for now) and we made it work. Here's what we do:

* all shirts and dresses are hung in the closet (I'm totally OCD so I organize them by long sleeve/short sleeve/dress. My 4 and 5 year old are wearing the same size, so I also have them sorted in the closet - 3 year old's stuff on one side; 4/5 year old stuff on other.

* We bought the Malm dresser because we wanted something cheap, white, and small enough to fit into a certain size space in the room. 4/5 year old jeans/skirts in top drawer, 3 year old jeans/skirts in 2nd drawer, all pj's in 3rd drawer, all socks/unders/tights/slippers in the bottom drawer.

We have WAYYYY too many clothes (just purged a ton), but I switch out the seasons and store the rest in Rubbermaid tubs in the guest room closet.

Hope that helps!

[boatrat]

Thanks, I'm glad to hear that storing shirts in the closet, pants/socks and undies in the drawers can work!

Do you have any special drawer dividers to help keep things tidy?

[catscharm74]

Triple or double rods..you can buy the type that just fits over what you already have. Also, sweater organizers...you can put shoes, socks, diapers...whatever in each section. You can get quite a few in a closet. It also helps with getting the kiddos involved in putting away the laundry.

[floss&ferd]

I use empty shoe boxes as dividers in their drawers. My 6yo's underwear/socks/tights are all lined up in kid-size shoe boxes.

She has an adult size shoe box that holds all her dance clothes in a bigger drawer that holds all her pants/shorts.

[Ellien C]

I have hanging sweater storage and a stack of bins in the closet for my baby's things. We don't have a dresser (or really even a room for him) right now. The hanging sweater storage and the bins are working great. That might work instead of moving your other kid out of his dresser.

The sweater organizer is by size - smallest at the top, larger sizes at the bottom. The bins hold the toys and misc baby things- towels, shampoo, bibs, socks. Best part was that I had all the bins and the sweater thing lying around.

[OkiMom]

My girls share a room and a closet. All their clothes (including whats folded) fits comfortably into one small closet. We have two(small) bookshelves I use for all the folding clothes. I got cloth bins to separate and organize everything. All their dresses are hung up on the rod. I would have room for one more child's clothing if we had another baby, all I would have to add is another bookshelf. Its easy and convenient. The closet they use is actually in the Master bedroom (our apartment has two closets in the Master Bedroom- we use the other for our clothing). The closet in their bedroom houses all toys/art supplies/dress up clothes etc.
All outgrown clothes are kept in containers in our storage closet.

[mx187]

I only have on little boy however him and I share a closet. Its not a walk in closet either. Just a very very small closet. What I do to make this work is I buy those stackable plastic drawer systems from target/walmart. His clothes go folded in there and they are very compact and more importantly cheap! Its not the designer closet that I dream about but no one ever looks in my closet and hes almost 7 now, so these drawers are closer to the floor. They are right at his height so that he can dress himself. It makes him feel like a man

Hope this helps.

[BCFD]

Originally Posted by boatrat

Thanks, I'm glad to hear that storing shirts in the closet, pants/socks and undies in the drawers can work!

Do you have any special drawer dividers to help keep things tidy?

Ikea sells some really great drawer dividers for super cheap!!! We use those for socks, undies, and tights! Ohhh...but I like the idea of empty shoes boxes! What a GREAT idea!!