How I Prevent Kid Clutter
Kid clutter is an all-too-common issue for parents. From an overflow of toys to a mountain of clothes, it can feel like an uphill battle managing your child’s belongings. Adding to this, advertisers often prey on our insecurities as parents, suggesting we’d be better caregivers if we bought this item or that. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. In our world of abundance, children’s items from books, toys, to art supplies do tend to accumulate quickly and can overrun our spaces, but there are effective strategies to help manage and prevent this kid clutter. I’ve found ways that make our home a whole lot more organised and calm, combating the visual clutter that can stress out us parents and our little ones too. The goal here is to create a peaceful and structured home where creativity, learning, and growth can flourish – without all the clutter. So, if you are interested to learn more, let’s dive in!
1. Consider Carefully Before Making a Purchase
When you are considering making a purchase, there are several key factors to bear in mind that can help in preventing the accumulation of clutter, particularly when it comes to children’s items. It’s important to carefully think through each potential addition to your home to ensure it will bring value, rather than just adding to the clutter.
(a) Distinguish Between Essential and Luxury
The first step in preventing kid clutter is to distinguish between essential and luxury items. Often, we are tempted to buy items that seem fun or useful, but are not necessarily needed. The key tip is to refrain from buying anything until it is truly needed. This is particularly applicable when shopping as a parent. Considering the convenience of our modern world, where we have 24-hour access to shops and can receive almost any item within a day, there’s no rush to stock up on items prematurely. By only purchasing what is truly essential, we can significantly reduce the clutter.
(b) Borrow Where Possible
You might be surprised by the number of items you need only temporarily when you have children. Instead of buying these items, consider borrowing them from friends or family. This approach not only saves money but also prevents the accumulation of soon-to-be useless items. Moreover, if it’s something for long-term use, borrowing first allows you to test if you’ll actually use it.
(c) Think Long-Term, Buy Once
When planning an investment in an item, consider its lifespan. Could there be a similar item that lasts longer? This applies specifically to short-term necessities. While it’s important to buy what you’ll benefit from, there might be alternatives that offer longer-term use. For instance, instead of buying children’s furniture, we purchased a regular wardrobe and adjusted a tension rod’s height as our daughter (Ella) grew. We didn’t buy a toddler bed but opted for a regular single bed, only using the mattress (similar to a floor bed) until Ella was old enough for the full bed.
2. Keep it Neutral
Many products marketed for children’s development and parent assistance often feature bright, multi-coloured designs. Some use characters to “encourage” children to use them. If this works for you, that’s great! However, without a designated playroom, these items can make my home feel cluttered. So, we aim for functional items with a neutral palette, for example:
- Play area mats: Our toy shelf is on a hardwood floor, covered with foam interlocking jigsaw mats. We chose a neutral tone over multicoloured alphabet designs.
- Potty chair: We selected a simple white chair.
- Step stools: We opted for wooden stools.
- Bedroom Décor: We chose solid colours over character-themed bedding to grow with the child.
- Clothing: We stick to basic colours and avoid outfits with large logos or characters.
- Toys: We prefer toys made from natural materials like wood, which often look better than plastic ones.
- Storage Solutions: We use neutral-coloured bins and baskets for toy storage to blend with our home décor.
I find that by sticking to natural colours, these items are visually pleasing and last longer as they can be repurposed in other areas of the home in the future.
3. Inform Family and Friends
Consider informing your family and friends about your preference for minimal clutter, especially regarding children’s items. If they want to give gifts, guide them towards options that won’t add to the physical clutter. This can include experiences, such as tickets to a children’s museum or zoo, educational books, or contributions to a savings fund for your child’s future. For those who prefer giving tangible gifts, suggest consumables like bubble bath, their favourite sweets, or art supplies, as these are items you’ll likely purchase in the future anyway.
Before our Ella was born, we spoke with our family and friends. We explained that our living space is quite small, and we preferred to keep it free of unnecessary kid clutter. We wanted to focus on essentials and items that would contribute to our baby’s growth and wellbeing, without taking up too much space. We emphasised the importance of maintaining a peaceful, uncluttered home environment for our child and for us.
We were extremely grateful to find everyone’s support. Our wishes were understood and respected, which we appreciated. When everyone honoured our request not to buy unnecessary baby items, it allowed us to maintain the peaceful, clutter-free environment we desired. We understand that this isn’t always the case, but please remember that gift-giving comes from a place of kindness. Be gracious and kind when receiving unwanted gifts, and then decide how you will handle them.
4. Create a Wishlist
A great way to prevent kid clutter, especially during gift-giving occasions like birthdays and Christmas, create a wishlist for your child. This serves as a guide for gift-givers to understand what your child truly needs, preventing unnecessary items from accumulating. Make sure to communicate your preference for minimal kid clutter to your family and friends. They’ll likely appreciate the guidance and be assured that their gifts will be truly useful and appreciated. Providing a wishlist can help direct the generosity of others towards items that will be genuinely used and appreciated. This strategy can significantly reduce the amount of unused toys and clothes, keeping your home clutter-free. Remember to include a range of price points on your wishlist to accommodate different budgets.
5. Declutter with Children
To maintain a decluttered space, make decluttering a family activity. Teach your children the importance of sorting and letting go of objects they no longer need or use. This not only keeps the house clean but also instils valuable life skills. Conduct decluttering sessions seasonally and around birthdays and Christmas. When Ella was younger, if there were toys on her shelf that never got played with, I would remove them from her library, and pop them in a box for me to sell. Any money made could go to buying a new toy. As she gets older, especially around her birthday and Christmas when more toys might come into our house, we explain that we need to make space for the new toys. We suggest giving some things away to other children to play with, as she doesn’t really play with them anymore. This approach helps keep our home decluttered while teaching valuable lessons about giving and receiving.
6. Set Boundaries
Assign specific areas for your child’s belongings, and declutter when these spaces begin to overflow.
For instance, all Ella’s soft toys reside in a hammock in her room. If no additional stuffed animals fit in, it’s time to let some go. We have a cupboard for the toys we rotate; if it can’t accommodate new toys, we remove some. Bath toys are stored in a small basket in the bathroom. If a new toy doesn’t fit, another one is taken out. Rather than seeking new storage solutions for these items, we prioritise letting go of less-used items. It’s a system of out with the old, and in with the new!
7. Toys
Toys, while fun and educational, can often be the main culprits of kid clutter in a home. They come in all shapes and sizes, and before we know it, they can take over our living spaces. Here are some effective strategies I’ve found to manage and organise toys, preventing them from becoming an overwhelming source of clutter.
(a) Storage
Our home doesn’t have a separate playroom, which means toys are kept in three key areas:
- The living room features a toy shelf for items currently being played with.Ella’s bedroom houses a cube unit for bigger collections like Lego, Magnetic Tiles, animal figurines, and train sets.A designated cupboard holds toys that aren’t currently in use (toy library).
(b) Toy Shelf
We opt for a toy shelf instead of a box. While it may seem cluttered to some, each toy is neatly displayed in its own space on the shelf. This layout not only makes the toys more appealing and accessible but also minimises clutter, as all the toys for the room are located on a single compact shelf.
(c) Quality
When it comes to toys, we prioritise quality over quantity. I’ve found that Ella is more engaged and takes better care of her toys when they’re well-made. Not only are these toys more durable and visually appealing, but they can also be bought second-hand and resold, making them a sustainable choice. We usually steer clear of larger toys as they tend to take up a lot of space, are not used as often, and often don’t align with our aesthetic, contributing to visual clutter.
(d) Rotation
We implement a weekly toy rotation system. This system comprises four boxes, each filled with a unique assortment of toys. Every week, we switch out the box, providing our daughter with a fresh set of toys to play with. This method not only maintains her interest but also prevents the overwhelming presence of numerous toys at once. By keeping a portion of the toys stored away and cycling them in every few weeks, we effectively manage the potential kid clutter.
(e) Toy Library
All toys not currently in use are stored in a dedicated ‘toy library’. If Ella expresses an interest in a particular toy, it’s easily accessible and can be brought out for her to play with. We lean towards educational, some of which are primarily aimed at mastering a specific skill. If Ella isn’t quite ready for a particular toy, it’s placed on a ‘grow into’ shelf within her toy library cupboard, ready for when she is.
Having these areas organised significantly reduces the potential clutter that can build up from kid’s items. This system works well for our home; everything has a designated place. We also reserve space for items that Ella will need as she grows and have a plan for those she has outgrown.
8. Books
Books can significantly contribute to kid clutter, especially for those who value reading and informational resources. However, I’ve found that a rotation system can be highly effective. By keeping only a select number of books accessible in two baskets – one next to the bed and the other by the toy shelf in our living room – we’ve noticed an increase in reading frequency. All other books not in rotation are stored away in the toy library cupboard.
Additionally, we regularly visit our local library to swap out books, ensuring a fresh variety that aligns with shifting interests, without adding to the clutter at home. This strategy keeps the kid clutter under control while still promoting a love for reading.
9. Art Work
It’s important for us to show our children that we value and appreciate their artwork, but as many parents can relate, a multitude of new pieces come home daily. It’s not feasible to display or store them all. To manage this, we have a designated frame for Ella’s latest or favourite piece. The rest of her art goes into an art display book. When she creates a new favourite, we replace the framed piece and move the previous one into the art book. Once the book is full, we remove the less favoured pieces. This approach allows us to celebrate Ella’s creativity while keeping kid clutter at bay.
10. Implement a Seasonal Capsule Wardrobe
Creating a capsule wardrobe has been a successful strategy I’ve used personally for years. It was only natural to apply the same concept for my child’s clothing.
- Limit the wardrobe: I use ten hangers in her wardrobe, each holding one complete outfit. This limitation helps reduce clutter and makes it easier for her to choose her daily outfit.
- Seasonal selection: Only clothes appropriate for the current season remain in the wardrobe. This ensures that any outfit she picks is suitable for the weather. Everything else gets stored away, reducing visual clutter and making wardrobe management more straightforward.
- Backup clothes: A basket is kept for any additional clothes that fit but aren’t needed immediately. These serve as backups for any items that get ruined during the season. If they aren’t used, they are sold or donated.
- Occasional clothes: A separate basket is maintained for less frequently used items, like swimwear or party clothes.
- Future clothes: We keep another basket at the top of her wardrobe for clothes she will grow into. This keeps the main wardrobe clutter-free and ensures older size clothes are organised and easy to access when needed.
We have been fortunate to receive many gifted clothes. We’ve rarely bought outfits for her, only supplementing with necessary items like underwear and shoes. This system not only reduces clutter but also simplifies daily routines, encourages independence in dressing, and saves time on laundry.
11. We All Eat the Same
In our home, everyone consumes the same food; we don’t have a separate category for kids’ food. Since I prepare most of our meals and snacks, and our cupboard space is limited, I chose not to designate a specific area for kids’ food. This approach helps prevent additional kid-related clutter in the kitchen. Plus, it simplifies meal and snack preparation as there’s only one type of meal to consider.
12. Cultivating Responsibility in Children
Involving your children in managing their clutter is an effective strategy to prevent kid clutter. This learning journey can begin at a young age, introducing them to the concept of taking care of their belongings.
Even toddlers can participate in tidying up their toys after playtime. This not only maintains a clean space but also teaches them about their contribution to keeping the home organised.
As they mature, children can gradually assume more responsibilities. For example, pre-schoolers can be taught to clear their own dishes after meals. This not only reduces clutter in the dining area but also nurtures a sense of responsibility and belonging within the household.
Managing and preventing kid clutter involves careful organisation, mindful buying, and regular decluttering. It’s about distinguishing between essential and luxury items, borrowing where possible, thinking long-term, and setting clear boundaries. But it’s not just about maintaining a tidy home; it’s a journey towards teaching children the value of organisation and the importance of making conscious choices. The aim is to create a peaceful and structured environment where creativity and growth can prosper. Remember, the goal isn’t perfection but progress in maintaining a space that suits your family’s needs. It’s an ongoing process of learning, adapting, and finding what works best for your home and your children. So, start implementing these strategies today, take it one step at a time, enjoy the process, and remember that every little effort counts in keeping your home clutter-free and harmonious.
How do you prevent clutter from kids? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments. 🤍
