Time flies so fast, it feels like my son was born yesterday over four years ago and two kids later!
One of the biggest headaches I hear from my clients is how to properly organize the wardrobe of a growing child when he changes size almost every three months… we are barely finishing a season! As a result, things accumulate in the back of the wardrobe: baby girl dresses that are too small mixed with clothes that are still a little too big that they received as a gift, the drawings they made at daycare, the effects of a baby that we keep in case another one arrives or that we want to give away or sell… isn’t that familiar?
So, I invite you to follow these steps to find a storage system that will be adaptable as your child grows and needs change.
But first, we must put things in order!
1. Eliminate intruders
At first glance and without much thought, you can look through your child’s closet and find things there that shouldn’t be there for some reason. kids boutique Remove these elements first in order to purify the space a little and see a little more clearly. You will seek to relocate these items later. Often, these items can be classified into two categories:
Items that are no longer used (other than clothing): For example, a nursing pillow when your child has not breastfed for ten months.
Items that need to go elsewhere: For example, jewelry-making items for your favorite hobby.
2. Empty and categorize everything
You understand… empty the entire wardrobe and categorize items by type: shoes, tops, pants, dresses, shirts, stuffed animals, hats, etc.… in short, EVERYTHING! It may seem overwhelming, but it’s a great way to make sure you’ve gotten through each item.
3. Decide
When you have separated everything into different categories, it is now time to decide on each item if you want to keep, give it away or sell, or throw it away. Prepare well-identified bins or bags for donations. Throw away anything that is broken, punctured, or stained.
4. Add storage systems
This is the move that makes the most thought. It is baby girl dresses important to plan the available space to include what you have decided to keep but also to think about how the space will be used and by whom (your child and/or you).
Here are some suggestions:
Typically, wardrobes usually have a rod and a shelf above. This arrangement may work just fine for you, but personally, in a kid’s wardrobe, I like to include more than one pole. Since their clothes are so small, it’s not ideal to waste the space underneath hanging clothes. You can therefore add a 2nd lower rod or even half-poles which can be added very easily, and it is this last option that you see in the photo below. The half poles are height adjustable so as your kids get older and these clothes or pumpkin pajamas get longer, you can take the pole down with no hassle.
I also like to add a cube storage system because it allows me to store smaller items that don’t necessarily hang on like stockings, hats, or keep like I do diapers and extra wipes.
Also, consider including additional shelves. We do not think often enough to use the vertical space, the space above the very often already existing shelf. Often you have room to add another floor and store items that are not used every day.
5. Replace everything
Having already created categories for the items you have decided to keep in the wardrobe, it will now be much easier to put everything back. You just have to assess the space needed for each category and decide where it will be more convenient. Always keep in mind who should have access to each category: parent or child?
6. Label!
That’s the fun part, at least for an organizer! The best way to ensure that items are put back in the right place is to label them as much as possible. People sometimes hesitate to stick labels everywhere because it’s not necessarily aesthetic but believe me it’s so practical when several people need to access the same items. In addition, let your imagination run wild with the labeling, you can use colored labels or even labels with pictograms to make it easier for children to identify!
There are so many ways to organize a closet, but hopefully, these few tips will help you see things a little clearer.
