Watch This Haphazard Kids' Closet Get a New Baby Makeover
Dwell Of Decor
The Problem: A New Baby and No Space
Donelson
knew she was going to have to get organized fast if she was going to
fit two young kids in one small bedroom. She had tried to DIY the closet
in her son's room, but she ended up with a half-baked system that
didn't work for her family.
Step #1: Calling in the Pros
Donelson
chose California Closets designer Carolyn Musher to get her kids'
closet in fighting shape. She also called in a professional organizer
to make sure she was getting the most out of the entire space.
Step #2: Planning Long-Term
"Since
this closet is being used for children, their needs are going to
change," Musher said. Donelson added, "I was encouraged to go with a
closet with peg-holes, which means you can change the placement of
shelves and hang-bars in the future, and we picked a simple white color
since we figured the bins would be plenty colorful."
Step #3: Installing Built-In Shelving
Donelson
wanted to maximize the amount of play space in the room, which meant
having as little furniture as possible. Space for drawers and baskets in
the new closet system was a top priority. "Smooth-gliding drawers was
the element I was most excited for," Donelson said. "No freestanding
dresser to clog precious floor space!"
Step #4: Organizing It All
Two pros from NEAT Method,
Ashley Murphy and Marissa Hagmeyer, worked with Donelson and Musher to
tackle storage in the new closet. "We started by taking out and
categorizing every item in the entire room," Murphy said. "This helped
us understand what Sophie and her son already had, then strategize
for what products would keep everything organized."
Step #5: Storing Daily Items Low
Socks,
undies and pajamas are all where Teddy can get to them. "The biggest
things to ask yourself with a kid's closet is what are they wearing now,
what will they be wearing 3 months from now and are the most-used items
the easiest to access? Any items that need to be accessed daily, need
to be reachable," Murphy said.
Step #6: Putting Nicer Things Up High
The team turned to Pottery Barn Kids
for the baskets and drawer organizers." Donelson added: "The
lightweight bins from Pottery Barn Kids means Teddy can tug out the
train set by himself. And, I like the white-washed wicker look that's
up high. Those are just for me to touch, and, I like that they're a bit
elegant."
Step #7: Organizing Nearby Toys
Donelson
had tried labeling Teddy's toys before, but got hung up on specifics.
"There is such a thing as being too organized — keeping categories
broad will help you maintain order," Murphy said. Another perk: It'll be
easier for children to help with cleanup. "Kids are expected to put
items back in their appropriately labeled bin at school, so why not
request the same at home?"
Step #8: Stacking Books by Color
"I
had long written off the art of arranging books by spine color as a
Pinterest phenomenon," Donelson said. "Then I told Teddy to look for his
favorite book in the 'orange section,' and he found it right away."
The Neat Method team backs her up: "Color-coding is aesthetically
pleasing, but also something everyone can remember," Hagmeyer said.
The Final Look
"I
don't think I'd be living as tidily today if the gals from NEAT and
Cal Closets hadn't intervened when they did," Donelson said. Murphy
added, "Keeping an organized home reduces a lot of stress and teaches
your children great habits that they will thank you for one day!"
