Adding Storage to a Child's Bedroom

by Jessica Ackerman

Storage for toys, books, clothes, games, and school necessities is essential when it comes to designing a bedroom for a child. When adding storage to a child’s bedroom, always keep safety and accessibility in mind. Avoid sharp corners and flimsy containers. For younger kids, keep items at a low level close to the floor where they can be easily reached.

Closet storage: The closet is an essential storage space in a child’s bedroom. You may want to add a second rail for hanging up clothes, or place a chest of drawers in the space for easy reach. Canvas organizers that hold shoes and folded clothes can be hung from the clothes rod and display clothing choices in open view. Shelving located higher on the wall can be used to store items like sports equipment, clothing or games not used regularly, a first-aid kit, and so on.
Add color and personality: Toy chests or boxes that are bright and colorful, perhaps decorated in a theme that your child is fond of, make clean up time less of a chore. The same goes for other storage pieces. When your child grows older, let him or her pick out a laundry hamper for their room so that dirty clothes will more likely be put in their proper place rather than strewn on the floor.

Storage that transitions: Storage solutions that grow with a child are handy, so that you don’t have to keep changing furniture around in his or her room. Crates that stack vertically and wall space to which you can add higher shelving as the need arises are a couple of examples. A classic armoire can transition from holding baby clothes and supplies, to storage for toys, to a work desk as your child grows.

Bed storage: The space underneath the bed is great for storing a child’s items when the room is small and limited in space. Pull-out drawers can hold anything from toys to clothes and extra blankets. A lot of children’s beds nowadays come with built-in storage, not just underneath the mattress but in the headboard or footboard and side compartments.

Storage with a view: Storage units that house clear plastic bins make it easier for your child to see the contents of the bins and decide on what he or she wants to play with, without emptying all of the toy bins unnecessarily. Bins that are uncovered and stored at an angle, such that the contents can be readily seen, are also good storage solutions for children’s rooms.

Storing smaller items: When your kids grow older, smaller toys, games, and accessories require other storage solutions. Multiple pocket organizers that can be hung over the closet or bedroom door are ideal for keeping small items neatly tucked away. Save small boxes and empty jars that can store other odds and ends. Desks with adequate shelving and file drawers are essential when a child is in school and accumulating papers and school supplies.