When it comes to designing a closet for your baby, young child, or teen, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Each age group and child has unique needs, interests, and hobbies that require different storage needs.
Designing a closet so it can grow with your child can be challenging, but it’s definitely possible. Here are some closet design ideas for different age groups.
Babies
The Changing Table
Baby clothes and shoes don’t take up a lot of room. In fact, some nursery closets have a bottom quarter section dedicated to a built-in dresser and/or changing table. This consists of a set of drawers with a counter on top of the drawers.
A changing table top and pad are placed on top of the deep-set countertop. Once the baby outgrows the changing table needs, that section can be re-dedicated to storing other items like favorite toys, small accessories, or shoes.
Organized Storage & Labels
Outside of a pantry, a nursery closet will get the most foot traffic from friends and family. By labeling bins and drawers, you can easily lean on other people a bit more. Whether that’s a co-parent, grandparent, nanny, or friend, they will be able to easily come in and help with childcare or cleaning up if everything has a designated labeled place.
Additionally, consider buying closet rod clothing divider labels for hanging clothes, sized NB to 2T, and using bins, clear plexi units, and other organizational components to store items and supplies needed for baby care. This can help you save time and energy restocking and getting Baby’s clothes put away since other people can pitch in easily.
At the end of the day (well, in the mornings, too) Baby’s closet should be stocked in a way that is easy to maintain and keeps your stress low. Parents have enough to worry about; take one thing off that list with a nursery closet that brings you peace.
Key ideas:
- Triple hang sections: Babies have short clothes, so hanging space is usually very vertical. This frees up more shelving space for baby blankets, diapers, and other items.
- Labeled bins and drawers: This makes it easy for friends and family to put away Baby’s clothes and accessories.
- Organizational units: Use bins, baskets, and clear plexi units to corral smaller baby items and supplies.
Toddlers
Low Storage
Toddlers need a closet that is easy to access and organize. Lower shelves and cubbies along with double and triple hanging rods are a must, as they allow your child to reach their clothes and accessories without assistance. A short, stable stool may be a good idea for a toddler once they find their balance and become sure footed.
Bright Colors
You can also incorporate fun and colorful storage bins and baskets to make it easier for your toddler to put away their toys and other items. Most toddlers do not know how to fold clothes, but if you want to start good habits and have them help put away their clothes, you can make it easy for them by using bins for shirts, shorts, jammies, etc.
If you have clear bins that are a decent size and labeled, a toddler can figure out which bin to put clothing items in and learn to sort. Drawers, for this age group, are not very practical because they usually overstuff them and then the drawers do not close.
Key ideas:
- Lower shelves and cubbies: This allows toddlers to reach their clothes and accessories without assistance.
- Double and triple hanging rods: This accommodates toddlers’ growing wardrobes.
- Fun and colorful storage bins and baskets: This makes it easier for toddlers to put away their toys and other items.
Elementary School Kids
As your child enters elementary school, their storage needs will likely increase. You can add more shelves and possibly a shoe rack or cubbies to keep their shoes organized.
Additionally, you can double-hang items on hanging rods in their closet. This is a great way to accommodate their growing wardrobe and make the most of horizontal space.
You can also add a designated space for their backpack and school supplies so everything is in one place. Perhaps this is on the counter that once served as a baby changing table!
A child of this age may have many toys, games, books, crafts, legos, and dolls that need to be stored. If your closet is large enough and well-designed, you may be able to do just that! If you find yourself struggling to make the most of your child’s room, a custom closet could help you maximize your storage space.
Key Ideas:
- More shelves and hanging rods: Elementary school kids have more clothes and accessories than toddlers, so you’ll need more storage space.
- Shoe rack or cubbies: This will help keep kids’ shoes organized.
- Designated space for backpacks and school supplies: This will keep everything in one place and make it easier for kids to get ready for school in the morning.
Tweens and Teens
Tweens and teens need a closet that can accommodate their increasingly diverse wardrobe. These closets need to be designed for your kid’s habits. Ask yourself a few questions to get started:
- Do they do better hanging clothing or do they prefer putting them on shelves?
- Are they neat and tidy in that they would appreciate built-in drawers?
- Are they kind of messy in that the toddler “bin method” mentioned above may work better?
Determining what preferences they have can help you keep clothing piles from building up on the floor.
Additionally, vertical and long horizontal bars are ideal for longer clothing items such as dresses and jackets. Adjustable shelving can be useful for storing shoes and other accessories.
Lastly, incorporating a vanity or dressing table can help create a dedicated space for hair and makeup. Having a dedicated section of their closet for clothing, shoes, or other items needed for a hobby or activity can also help keep things organized.
Key ideas:
- Vertical and long horizontal bars: This is essential for longer clothing items such as dresses and jackets.
- Adjustable shelving: This is useful for storing shoes, accessories, or items your tween or teen may need for a hobby, sport, or after-school activity.
- Vanity or dressing table: This can be a dedicated space for hair and makeup and other items that have routine use.
My Custom Closet offers a variety of materials and features that allow you to design a kid’s closet that can grow with your child. For example, our custom closets can include:
- Adjustable shelves and rods: This allows you to easily change the configuration of the closet as your child’s needs change.
- Drawers: Drawers are a great way to store clothes, accessories, and other items.
- Designated space for accessories: Organizational units such as bins, baskets, and dividers can help you keep the closet tidy and organized.
- Custom closet components: My Custom Closet offers a variety of custom closet components, that can help you create a space that is tailored to your child’s specific needs.
By following these tips, you can design a kid’s closet that will be functional and stylish for years to come. Contact our team today if you’re interested in designing a custom closet for your child.
