TL;DR: sort by fit and season, zone the space by how often items are used, add child-friendly storage, label with words and icons, keep a small capsule, then review every 90 days.
Quick start: a 15-minute reset
Put a laundry basket by the children's wardrobe.
Pull out anything obviously too small or damaged.
Group what remains into five piles: school, daily wear, sleep, sport, outerwear.
Give each pile a shelf, drawer, or bin.
Add temporary paper labels so your child can help put things back tonight.
Before you begin
Measure and photograph the inside of the wardrobe, drawers, and any shelves.
Gather supplies: child-size hangers, two or three shelf bins, drawer dividers, a label maker or printable labels, one “grow into” box, and one donation bag.
Decide a palette: two base colours and two accent colours so outfits mix easily.
Step 1: Declutter with 5 simple filters
Check each item for:
Fit: outgrown pieces go to the donation bag or the “younger sibling” tub.
Season: store winter coats in summer, and vice versa.
Condition: mend pile or recycle.
Favourite factor: keep what your child actually wears.
Requirement: uniforms and activity kits take priority.
Tip: keep one “growth box” on the top shelf for items one size up; review it monthly.
Step 2: Categorise by use
Create clear categories that work for any child:
Daily wear: tees, leggings, jeans, jumpers, dresses.
School or nursery: uniforms, spare socks, hat.
Sport and activities: PE kit, boots, leotard, shin pads.
Sleepwear and underwear: pyjamas, vests, pants, socks, tights.
Outerwear and swim: coats, rainwear, hats, gloves, swim bag.
Shoes: school, trainers, sandals or boots, wellies.
Occasionwear: party outfits kept higher up.
Keep category names consistent on labels and in your routine so children learn the system quickly.
Step 3: Design the space with “daily–weekly–occasional” zones
Daily zone at child height: everyday tops and bottoms, underwear, socks.
Weekly zone at mid height: school kit, sports kit, sleepwear.
Occasional zone higher up: outerwear, occasionwear, growth box, keepsakes.
Age fit:
0–3 years: more drawers and shelf bins; fewer hangers.
4–7 years: add low hanging rail for uniforms and dresses; picture labels help.
8–12 years: double hanging if possible; add an accessories tray or peg rail.
Safety: fix furniture to the wall; use light bins with rounded edges; avoid heavy boxes above head height.
A hanging organiser bag on the wardrobe door will be very useful to organise socks.
Step 4: Smart storage that kids can use
Hangers: slim, non-slip, child-size. Keep one item per hanger.
Drawer dividers: split into underwear, socks, pyjamas. Roll items to see them at a glance.
Shelf bins: one bin per category; front label visible.
Over-door organiser: hats, gloves, hair bands, small toys.
Shoe rack or low basket: pairs stay together near the door.
Laundry flow: basket beside the wardrobe so return-to-home is one step.
Step 5: Labels that teach independence
Use words + icons so pre-readers can help:
Daily wear
School
Sport
Sleep
Socks
Underwear
Colour code if helpful: blue for school, green for sport, yellow for daily. Keep fonts large and clear.
Step 6: Build a simple kid’s capsule
This is a practical starting point you can adjust to your climate and laundry rhythm:
Tops: 7 everyday tops
Bottoms: 5 bottoms
Layers: 2 jumpers or cardigans
Outerwear: 1 coat or rain jacket
Sleep: 2 sets of pyjamas
Underwear: 7 pants, 7 socks or tights
School: 2 full uniform sets if required
Sport: 1 activity kit
Shoes: school, trainers, season shoe
Extras: 1 hat, 1 swim set
Keep to the agreed colour palette so outfits mix easily. If something new comes in, try to send one old piece out.
Step 7: Routines that keep it tidy
Sunday outfit set-up: place five outfits on a low shelf for the school week.
90-day review: check fit and season at the start of each term.
One-minute nightly reset: child returns items to labelled homes before bedtime story.
Laundry rule: folded items go straight into the correct bin or drawer, not onto a chair.
Memory tub: one small box per year for special tees or uniforms.
Small wardrobes, shared rooms, and rentals
Small space: use vacuum bags for off-season, add a stand-alone rail, and maximise the back of doors.
Shared wardrobe: give each child a colour and a label column; split the rail left–right by child.
Rentals: choose freestanding cube units and over-door storage that need no drilling.
See more: How to choose the perfect wardrobe for your children?