5 Children's Room Storage Ideas That Will Keep Things Looking Clutter-Free But Still Creative

Is there such thing as too much storage for a children's room? I'd hazard the answer is no. I've had a number of close friends vow their home will remain 'on trend' and clutter-free following the birth of their first child, yet each time I return to find it covered in hundreds of unmistakable brightly-colored playthings.

And that's absolutely not a bad thing. In fact, it's good for their development and helps ignite their young imaginations, but it also got me thinking: are there any children's room storage ideas that successfully tiptoe the delicate line between making a space feel clutter-free but still creative?

As it turns out, there are. Plenty of them, actually. It seems kids' rooms are not merely a place for them to be creative, but a chance for you to really flex your imagination when it comes to making interior design decisions — especially when it comes to storage. From making the most of under the bed, to dual-function furniture and using their 'stuff' as decor, below I've shared five of my favorite designer-approved children's room storage ideas.

1. MAKE USE OF UNDER THE BED STORAGE

It turns out it's not just a place for monsters. While it may not be the best according to Feng Shui principles, if you're not using the space under your child's bed for storing things, you're missing out.

'Optimizing the space under a bed is essential when designing a kids' bedroom, especially in smaller spaces,' says interior designer Marina Hanisch, principal at Connecticut-based studio Marina Hanisch Interiors. 'I often incorporate drawers beneath the bed, providing convenient access to additional clothing or toys.'

Baskets and storage tubs work just as well as an under bed storage idea, but that's not all you can tuck under there. 'Trundle beds can be a parent's best friend,' adds Diane Rath of interior design firm The Rath Project. 'They are tucked away when not in use and offer an extra spot for impromptu sleepovers.' (Not to mention somewhere more comfortable for you to sleep for the nights they need you close.)

2. MAKE THEIR 'STUFF' DOUBLE AS DECOR

The sooner you accept the fact that there are going to be toys everywhere, all of the time, the sooner you can start to embrace it in your design. One way is to make their 'stuff' part of your decor scheme.

'While we like for everything to have a 'home', it's always a balance,' says Susana Simonpietri, creative director of Brooklyn-based design studio Chango. 'I actually love to choose a few of their favorite toys, personal art works, and colorful books to display on various surfaces so they become a fun design moment in their room.'

'This also gives kids the autonomy to choose which pieces they want to showcase and fosters a sense of pride in their possessions, while also making their toy collections more visually appealing,' adds Marina.

'Picture ledges can be an awesome way to showcase their every-growing and changing art collection,' notes Diane, who also often styles kids' artwork in shadow-box frames or gallery walls. Deeper floating shelves displaying toys and books could just as easily be used as a similar toy storage idea.

3. OPT FOR MULTIFUNCTIONAL FURNITURE

Every spare inch counts when it comes to children's room storage ideas, and that's where multifunctional furniture can really help make the space work harder. What's more, by hiding storage inside of more aesthetic children's bedroom furniture pieces, you can minimize the clutter and create a space that feels more creative and pleasing to the eye.

'Beds with built-in drawers, window seats or ottomans with hidden compartments, and bookshelves are all excellent choices for a kids' bedroom,' says Marina. 'These multifunctional pieces not only maximize storage, but also help keep the room organized.'

'Bunk beds [and loft beds] can also be great when you are low on floor space,' says Diane. 'They free up areas for play and the top bunk can even be a storage spot for all those stuffed-toys kids seem to acquire so quickly!'

Jamie Bush, who designed the custom bunk bed above, agrees: 'Creating special, personalized spaces and individual storage is key when kids are sharing a room. We’re a huge fan of bunkbeds and create custom ones for our clients children in most of our projects,' he says.

4. MAKE SURE IT'S ALL 'EASY-TO-USE'

If you want your kids to be able to help keep their own room clean — and let's face it, of course you do — then it's important that you ensure the storage options are child-friendly and easy to use.

'This means no intricate labels, no hard-to-reach places, no unobvious ways to tuck stuff away,' says Diane. 'Colorful, patterned bins — with open tops, lids are for adults — are the quickest way for toys to be stashed away by little ones.'

'Wall-mounted shelves or cubbies are also great for displaying and storing smaller items, and make it easy for children to see and retrieve their belongings,' adds Marina.

But most of all, just don't overcomplicate it. Big storage baskets and buckets can be some of the best children's room storage ideas. 'Colorful bins and baskets are something we're always sourcing for kid's rooms to easily hide their toys, books, and other accessories that don't need to be on display,' adds Susana.

5. MAKE USE OF THE VERTICAL SPACE

While the focus in a kids' bedroom is often on keeping things low to the ground so that little ones can easily access them, when it comes to storage, it's important not to forget about the vertical space in the room. This can be particularly helpful for those more delicate or potentially dangerous things you don't want them to be able to reach so easily.

'Tall bookshelves or a stack of storage cubes are a great way to utilize a small wall and vertical space, allowing you to fill it with books and other keepsakes,' says Marina.

Even something as simple as a series of wall hooks or floating shelves can make for a practical children's room storage idea. It's best to include a mix of open and closed storage options, with the closed pieces better suited to higher spots where they can either be stored away long-term or just give a neater, more organized look to the room.

How do you sort out storage in shared kids' rooms?

It can get tricky when it comes to sorting out the storage in sharing kids' rooms. Often space is particularly tight, but you still want them to feel like they have their own independent area and a level of privacy for their possessions.

'The most important thing to remember in a shared bedroom is to have both designated storage pieces for each child, as well as joint areas where they may share the responsibility of putting things away,' explains Diane. 'This is where separate dressers and bins in very specific locations within the room are great, and also where shared shelves, bookcases, cups and containers for things like art supplies can come in handy.'