IKEA storage school

Lesson 1

The ABCs of children's storage

It’s all giggles and games until someone says the dreaded words... tidy up time! But getting the kids involved with organising can be a great way to encourage creativity and boost their independence, all while keeping the house in order. It all comes down to the right storage pieces in the right places.

A small child opens the draw of a TROFAST storage unit.

Pictured: TROFAST storage combination

A is for attached to the wall

Safety first, always. When it comes to curious little ones, ensuring that large, tall or heavy storage furniture can’t tip over is the most important thing you can do. Make use of the wall-securing hardware provided to keep your children out of harm’s way.

B is for bye-bye, tippy toes!

Whether a stool to help them get to higher spaces, or placing storage within their natural reach, thinking about your child’s accessibility is a great starting point when picking storage furniture. The more they can do on their own, the more independent they will feel.

Even the smallest members of this family can add to the weekly chalkboard agenda with help from the BEKVÄM step stool.

A child grabs an item of clothing from the open drawer of a SMÅSTAD storage combination.
A bottom kitchen drawer packed neatly with children's dinnerware and cutlery.
Two children play in a room with green mats on the floor and toys neatly arranged on white shelving on the wall behind.

This bedroom packs in a full wall of different storage pieces, all in white, and all at a low height. The individual items can be puzzled together in new ways as the kids grow up and their needs change.

C is for close to the action

It’s simple: the more convenient it is for kids (and grown-ups too!) to pack up and organise, the more likely it is to happen. Adding dedicated kids’ storage to all the high-activity hubs of your home makes cleaning up quick and easy, and allows your child to feel a sense of inclusion and responsibility beyond their own room.

White living room wall with a mix full height storage solutions for both children and adults.

Kids' stuff goes below and grownups' at the top in this full-wall living room solution.

Bright entrance hall with a pastel orange front door, many different storage units and plenty of colourful toys and and children's clothes.

A generous mix of storage helps this hallway hold an action-packed childhood's worth of toys and paraphernalia: ready to grab and go when the next playground adventure strikes.

A sunny living room corner with a children's arts and crafts zone.
A child reaches to grab something from a white NISSAFORS trolley.

D is for display – and play!

Storage can be as fun as it is functional. No matter your child’s passions or personality, the storage in their room can express that - all while keeping things organised. Think open shelves to display their proudest possessions, picture ledges to hold their latest creations, or containers so fun and colourful that packing up feels like a game on its own.

Children's desk against a plywood wall, with a SPORTSLIG wall shelf for trophies mounted directly above.

Pictured: the SPORTSLIG wall shelf for trophies

Toys and ornaments displayed inside a BAGGEBO cabinet with glass doors.
Playful children's room with a wall full of art and ornaments and two children's beds placed end to end.
A child plays with soft toys inside a TIGERFINK storage unit.

TIGERFINK: storage with compartments or soft-toy hotel?

E is for expert advice

IKEA interior designer Mia Gustafsson has been furnishing spaces with children for years – and has learned more than a thing or two along the way. Take a look at some tips for creating a safe, functional and child-friendly home.

F is for future proof

While their tiny outfits seem to fit for all of five minutes, children’s storage furniture and organisers can – and should – see your child through every growth spurt. It’s not surprising that products like the TROFAST series have been in the IKEA range as long as they have: sturdy, versatile and well-designed to grow up with your child and their ever-changing interests.

Bright and playful children's activity area with a full wall of SKÅDIS pegboards and TROFAST storage units.
Bright, sunny corner of a children's room with a desk and TROFAST storage units.
Grey wall in teen's room propped with wall-mounted storage cabinets and floor-standing TROFAST

See? Kids' storage can be easy peasy!

You made it to the end of the first lesson in our storage school – and with flying colours! You can learn more about our range of storage solutions for children at your local IKEA website.