Kids and crafts seem to come with a lot of stuff.

Pens, pencils, crayons, stickers, glue sticks, colouring books, paper, paints… and then there are all the beautiful creations that come home from kindy and school.

Before you know it, you have a drawer that barely closes, a dining table covered in supplies and a growing pile of masterpieces you’re not quite sure what to do with.

The good news is that kids’ craft storage doesn’t need to be complicated. A few simple systems can make it much easier for children to find what they need, pack it away afterwards and keep those special creations without having to keep everything.

Create a dedicated craft zone

If your children love crafting, giving their supplies a designated home is one of the easiest ways to keep things under control.

You don’t necessarily need an entire craft room or even a dedicated cupboard. A few drawers, a section of a shelving unit, a trolley or a cupboard near the dining table can work perfectly.

Ideally, choose somewhere close to where the kids actually do their crafting. The easier it is to get supplies out — and put them away again — the more likely your system is to work.

Use clear containers for smaller supplies

Clear containers are brilliant for craft supplies because kids can immediately see what is inside.

Instead of one big tub filled with everything, separate supplies into simple categories such as:

• Pens and pencils

• Crayons/Felt Pens

• Paints and brushes

• Glue and tape

• Stickers

• Beads/Jewellery
  

• Scissors/Rulers/Tools
  

You don't need dozens of tiny categories. Keep them broad enough that children can easily work out where something belongs.

Use baskets and tubs for larger categories

Not everything needs to be divided into small containers.

Open baskets or handled tubs are great for things like colouring books, craft kits, paper, Play-Doh accessories and larger supplies.

They're particularly useful for younger children because they can simply pull out the whole basket, take it to the table and return it when they're finished.

This is one of those areas where easy to put away is often more important than making everything look perfect.

Try a craft trolley

A tiered trolley can be a great solution if you don't have much cupboard space.

You could dedicate one level to drawing and colouring, another to painting and another to general craft supplies.

The best part is that the trolley can be wheeled to the dining table or wherever the kids are creating, then moved away again when they're finished.

Give paper its own home

Paper is one of the quickest things to become messy.

Use document trays or a magazine/file holder to separate different types of paper — white paper, coloured paper, cardboard, colouring pages and scrap paper.

Keeping a small tray for reusable scraps is also a great way to stop perfectly good paper being thrown away.

Keep everyday supplies accessible

Think about which craft supplies your children are allowed to use independently and keep these within easy reach.

Pens, pencils, crayons, paper, stickers and colouring books might live lower down, while paints, permanent markers, glitter or anything requiring supervision can be stored higher up or even better - away from childrens reach in a high cupboard like the ones above the oven, fridge etc.

This makes the space easier for children to use while still giving you some control over the potentially messier craft supplies!

Label everything

Labels aren't just about making a cupboard look pretty.

They give everything a clear home and make it much easier for children to help with packing up.

For younger children who aren't reading yet, you could even combine words with simple pictures so they can recognise where things belong.

But What About Everything They Make?

This can be the harder part.

Every painting, drawing and toilet-roll creation can feel incredibly important when it first comes home — but keeping every single piece for years isn't always realistic.

Rather than having artwork scattered around the house, create a simple system for deciding what stays.

Create an artwork drop zone

Have one basket, tray or folder where new artwork goes when it comes home.

Instead of immediately deciding whether to keep it forever, pop it into the designated spot.

Once the basket starts getting full, go through it together and decide what will be displayed, what will be kept and what can go.

This prevents artwork from slowly accumulating on the kitchen bench, dining table, fridge and every other available surface.

Give each child a keepsake box

Give each child their own memory box for the genuinely special pieces.

This might include favourite drawings, handwritten stories, school projects, certificates, cards or little creations that capture a particular stage of childhood.

The important part is that the container creates a natural limit.

When it becomes full, you can look through it together and decide which pieces are still worth keeping.

Create a school-year folder

For flat artwork and schoolwork, consider an expanding file or document box with a section for each year.

You could have:

Kindy | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4…

At the end of each school year, choose a selection of favourite pieces to represent that year rather than trying to keep every worksheet and drawing.

You'll end up with a lovely collection that is actually enjoyable to look back through.

Photograph the things you can't keep

Some creations are wonderful…but not particularly easy to store.

Think giant cardboard constructions, painted boxes, sculptures and anything involving approximately 400 paddle-pop sticks.

Take a photo of your child holding their creation before letting it go.

You still have the memory without needing to find somewhere to store a papier-mâché volcano for the next 15 years.

You could even create a digital album for each child and add photos of their creations throughout the year.

Display favourites — but rotate them

Rather than covering the fridge indefinitely, create a dedicated place for current artwork.

A few frames that are easy to open, clipboards mounted to a wall, magnetic strips or wire with clips all work well.

Let the kids choose their favourites to display and swap them out regularly.

When a new masterpiece goes up, an older one comes down and can either move into the keepsake box or be photographed before being recycled.

Don't feel like you have to keep everything

Possibly the most important tip of all.

You don't need to keep every piece of paper your child has ever drawn on to preserve their childhood.

Keep the things that make you smile, show their personality, capture a milestone or represent a particular stage.

A smaller collection of meaningful pieces is much more likely to be looked at and enjoyed in years to come than boxes and boxes of artwork nobody wants to sort through.

Keep the System Simple

The best kids' craft storage isn't necessarily the prettiest or most Pinterest-worthy.

It's the system your family can actually maintain.

Keep categories simple, make everyday supplies easy to reach, give everything a clear home and regularly clear out dried-up pens, empty glue sticks, completed activity books and supplies that are no longer being used.

And when it comes to their creations, remember: you can keep the memory without keeping every single thing.

A little organisation now can mean more time for creating — and a lot less time searching for the scissors.