You may think that organising a child’s wardrobe is just like organising your own, just miniaturised, but there are some important differences that can help make your little one’s clothing storage work well for them and for you. Here are some favourite tips from this year’s National Organising Week team members, all Professional Organisers from AAPO.
First, check out the video below from Nadine, a member of the Australasian Association of Professional Organisers.
https://youtu.be/hW65Cx62TCw
Nadine Wood, Fresh Focus Design:
Give the kids easy access
For boys or girls, hanging items on suitably-sized coat-hangers at an easily reachable height will allow the fussiest fashionista to easily view and access all their clothing, from school shirts, dresses, jackets and dress-ups. If possible, then dedicate one drawer to each other item “type” such as underwear, shorts and pyjamas.
Give your child control
Allow your child autonomy over how they want to organise and decorate their wardrobe such as clothes hung in colour order, or by whole outfit (I’ve seen this done!). And allow space for creativity with wallpapered doors or colourful coat hangers.
Georgie Rees, Clutterfly Home Organisation
Clear labelling
We all know that there is nothing worse than seeing a recently put away a stack of folded washing end up in a pile on the floor after the kids have rummaged for their favourite top! One solution is to label the shelves using words as well as pictures. This helps the kids to learn as they grow, and easily identify what clothes they are looking for. You can even get them involved by drawing their own pictures on the labels!
Organise clothes at the start of the week
If you would like to take it one step further and encourage the kids to dress themselves in the morning (without the piles on the floor!) try implementing ‘Days Of The Week’ shelves, where the uniform/clothing for each day is placed out at the beginning of the week. You are giving the kids permission to learn to dress themselves, streamlining your daily tasks and hopefully avoiding a messy shelf.
Sally Hart, Clever Closet Company
Create a wardrobe that grows with your child
Adjustable hanging heights enable your wardrobe to convert as you need it. Littlies need a little of everything low down. So have some shelves, some drawers, some low hanging, then flip it the other way around when they’re teens. Likewise having a bit of everything out of reach will save Nana’s vintage smock dress from being a paint smock!
Categorise
Encourage organisation through categorisation – a shelf for this, a basket for that. Only provide hanging space they need and fill the rest with shelves for their junk. An adjustable wardrobe allows you to add hanging later when they need it. Tip: Pillow slips make great breathable, squishable duffel bags to store hand me downs in those inaccessible top shelves where the doors are too low in built in wardrobes.
Kristina Duke, Decluttering Diva
Cut down on clothes
Gauge the quantity of clothes needed in your home by evaluating your laundry schedule. Let’s say you do a load a week per member of the home, which would mean you need 7 days worth of clothes minimum. Of course we need to allow for days with multiple outfits due to spills, or if the laundry doesn’t get done on time, so round it up to 10. Let’s half it again just to be sure (cause I know the idea of only having only 10 of anything may seem unattainable to some). Could you de-clutter down to 15 undies, socks, tops, pants/shorts, dresses or shoes? If you do, I guarantee that keeping the clothes under control will be easier than before.
AAPO is celebrating National Organising Week from March 7-12 and each day will be releasing video tips to help women ‘work your wardrobe’.
Want more organising inspiration? Catch the AAPO Blog for hints and tips from the experts to help you get organised and create the life you want. Subscribe to the AAPO Newsletter for great information on the Professional Organising industry as well as other valuable information. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest where they will be posting the best of organising in tips and hints to help you get started.
