How to Create an Organized Kids Craft Station with Simple Systems that Keep Everything in its Place for Good!

Friends, who loves and despises “crafts” at the same time? Kids Craft Organization can be overwhelming.

As both an organization coach and a homeschooling mom of three, I’ve put together a list of simple, easy-to-follow tips that will not only make crafting an enjoyable experience for your little ones, but also help you create a space that’s easy to maintain. With these tips, you’ll actually look forward to crafting sessions (I promise!), and cleaning up afterward will be a breeze!

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*Updated January 23, 2025

Kids craft organization in a clear bin with painting brushes, paints, painting apron and painting book — Photo @organizedwithkids

5 Simple Tips for Perfecting Kids Craft Organization

Kid’s arts and crafts can provide endless hours of fun and creativity, but the tiny pieces, messes and disorganization can quickly become frustrating! Play-doh, clay, painting materials, felts, crayons, pastels, colouring books, workbooks, sewing materials, stickers, building materials and more (!!!) can all find their way into an arts and craft station. I’m excited to share 5 easy steps with you to get your kids craft organization under control for good!

1. Choose Your Kids Craft Location Wisely

A girl testing if markers work on a piece of paper at the kitchen island — Photo @organizedwithkids

You will want to organize your kids arts and crafts materials in a space in your home that is close to where all of the crafting naturally happens. You may find that your children like to spend time creating at the kitchen island or table or at their desk. Having a location close by to contain everything will ensure that items are easily accessible and also quick and easy to put away. All of our arts and crafts supplies are stored in a kitchen cabinet in the island.

Try to avoid having various crafting materials all over the house as this strategy tends to get out of hand and often results in little messes everywhere!
If you have the space, consider clearing out a low and accessible kitchen cabinet to store arts and crafts
If finding space is a problem, consider using a portable cart on wheels to house crafts and tuck away into a closet or pantry or under or beside a desk when not in use
Heavy Duty 3-Tier Metal Utility Rolling Cart
5-Tier Craft Storage Trolley Cart

2. Sort and Ruthlessly Declutter

Kids craft organization displayed on a kitchen counter with clear bins holding crafting materials such as clay, paint, paint brushes, activity books and crayons — Photo @organizedwithkids

Kids crafts have a way of adding up and getting out of hand quickly. Another birthday or Christmas goes by and most children have a whole new collection of materials and activities! Begin by collecting ALL of your children’s crafting materials and bring them to one central location. Do not skip this step, as this is the only way you will really know how much you have! Then, SORT the items by category: Play-doh, clay, painting materials, felts, crayons, pastels, chalk, paper, colouring books, workbooks, sewing materials, stickers, building materials, etc.

Remember, you can’t “over sort” kids crafting materials!
Now it’s time to DECLUTTER – as you work through each sorted pile, choose to keep the items that are used regularly and/or are the best quality (this strategy works great when deciding on how many crayons or felts to keep)
Discard or recycle bulky containers that are hard to store and items that have served their time (think mostly used colouring books and sticker books)
Repeat after me: “Less is always more when it comes to kids crafting materials!”

3. Contain, Label and Put Everything in its Place

Play-doh and kid paint supplies organized in clear bins on the kitchen counter — Photo @organizedwithkids

In order to teach your kids how to clean up after themselves and set them up for success when it comes to keeping their crafts organized, you need to have a simple system in place that is easy to maintain! Now that you have sorted and simplified, you can “shop your home” for craft organization bins that will work to contain the items by category. Consider using clear plastic bins, magazine folders, or small sturdy reusable containers that once housed another item.

Items that you don’t want unsupervised little hands to touch can be contained, labeled and stored out of reach close by at the top of a closet or pantry
Label everything! Consider using “picture labels” for little ones who can’t read. I love using my PTouch Cube Plus Label Maker to easily create customized labels.
I recommend choosing kids craft organization options that are sturdy, washable and easy to label:
- Craft Supply Organizer for Kids
- Stackable Organizer Caddy (You can easily move this caddy around the house or take it in the car to keep kids creating during road trips)
- 3-Pk Plastic Magazine File Folders
- 4-Pk Clear Vertical Storage (A space saver and perfect for storing paper, colouring/work books and paint canvases on a shelf or in a cabinet)
- Clear BPA Free Plastic Storage Bins (Perfect for when you want to easily see what is inside each container)
- 4-Pk Large Plastic Jute Organizing Baskets (Looks great on display in your home and hides the mess inside!)

4. Simplify Often

Paper, workbooks and coloring books organized in white magazine folders black labels and a caddy holding markers and crayons sitting next to them on the kitchen counter — Photo @organizedwithkids

Get into the habit of taking inventory before bringing something new into your home. With this simple kids craft organization bin system in place it’s easy to see exactly what you have and DON’T need! When a birthday or holiday is approaching and family is asking what to get your little one, be strategic and ask for specific items that are running low or switch it up and ask for an “experience gift” instead!

When looking to simplify, ask yourself, what has not been touched or played with in a long time?
Release items with joy to make room for new! Remember that well used items have “served their time” and provided the joy and entertainment they were bought for. Learn to notice what items were never played with and choose to donate or sell items that still have purpose!

5. Rotate Kids Crafts and Activities Monthly

Kitchen cabinet filled with organized art supplies such as clay, kid paint, paper, work books, coloring books, play-doh, play-doh tools and markers and crayons in clear bins, magazine folders and a caddy — Photo @organizedwithkids

A great way to keep your child’s interest and ensure all crafting materials are actually used is to have a “back pantry” or a few bins where you store some items out of sight for a time and then rotate back in to your child’s arts and craft station every month or two. This kids craft organization method creates excitement, allows the space to feel fresh and new and keeps your child’s attention longer. Also, it allows you to have fewer items out at a time and works great when you are short on space to store items.

After a birthday or holiday, resist the urge to put out all of the new gifts at once. Try implementing this rotation system instead!
Having less choice in a craft station highlights the items that you have thoughtfully chosen to keep accessible for a time.
Chalkboard Labels with Chalk Marker

How do you organize kids’ toys and crafts?

Use the SORT Method, developed by Sarah Renner of Organized with Kids, to organize your kids’ toys and crafts. This approach works for organizing all types of items throughout your home!”

kitchen cabinet filled with kids crafting materials organized in clear bins — Photo @styledhavens

SIMPLIFY first, always!

Sort your toys or crafts into like categories (think blocks, dolls, cars, markers, paint sets, etc). Sorting is a perfect task to get your kids involved in the process!
Then, decide what to keep or release in each category. Do your kids still play with these toys? Are they age appropriate? Are they in good condition? Is there something else they will choose instead?

ORGANIZE

Place your keep items into easy to access bins or baskets by category
Place a label on the bin so you and your kids know where their items belong

REFRESH

Choose bins or baskets that work with the aesthetic of your home but are also functional and durable
Move away from primary colours and choose natural, timeless colours and finishes

TRANSFORM

Maintain your new system by teaching your kids to put away their toys and crafts when they are done playing with them, always be a mentor and do this alongside them until they feel confident cleaning up on their own.
Play a fun song or set a 10-minute timer after a play or crafting session and have the whole family help put the items back into their home

How do you organize a lot of crafts?

Round art caddy holding felts, scissors, glue, popsicle sticks and crayons — Photo @organizedwithkids

Always start with a good declutter. Sort crafts by category and then release any items you haven’t used in a long period of time, especially if you are often bringing new crafting materials into your home. Then, contain crafts you are choosing to keep by category. Label everything so that finding what you need and putting it away is simple and easy. Choose a designated closet, room or cabinet that will offer enough space to contain bins, baskets, shelves, pegboards, and a rolling cart to store all of your supplies.

What to put on a craft trolley?

Black rolling cart holding arts and crafting materials in white and clear bins — Photo @organizedwithkids

A craft trolley for kids and adults is a convenient way to have all items easily accessible to create your next masterpiece. A basic list of go-to crafting items includes plenty of paper, scissors, pencils, eraser, sharpener, felts, crayons, pencil crayons, glue sticks, tape, felt, clay or Play-doh, activity/colouring books, paint brushes, and an assortment of paint.

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