How to organize board games, artwork, and art supplies

If you have kids, you probably have an absurd amount of their art work scattered in piles throughout your house, and you aren't totally sure how to organize their creations. And how else can they create their masterpieces without actual art supplies? YOU BETTER BELIEVE THE SUPPLIES CAN BECOME A DISORGANIZED MESS IF THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR OWN SYSTEM! And finally, what about all of those fun family board games? Where and how do you store them?

As a professional organizer, I’ve seen firsthand how clutter from art projects and games can quickly take over your home. Don’t worry! With a few simple tips and strategies, you can create a system that both keeps these items organized and ensures that creativity is always flowing. Let’s dive into the world of organizing board games, artwork, and art supplies!

1. ORGANIZING BOARD GAMES

Board games are a staple in family life, but keeping them organized can be tricky when pieces and boxes are scattered across the house. Let’s get them in tip-top shape!

Declutter and Sort: Start by going through your collection and getting rid of games your family no longer plays. If there are missing pieces, decide if it’s worth keeping. By reducing the number of games, you’ll have more space to store them properly.
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Use Storage containers: For board games that might not have the most sturdy boxes, place them in zipper bags. Label each bag with the game name and marvel at how much space you just saved.
we get our bags on Amazon: the 9x13” size comes in a 12 pack for $20 but there are a ton of sizes I like to use for game storage. The 11 x 16” size is also wonderful for some of the larger board games. 

2. Organizing kids' Art work

Ah, the masterpieces your kids create! From finger-painting to sketches and collages, their artwork holds sentimental value, but it can quickly take over your home if you don't have a plan in place. Here’s how to get it organized:
Start with a Display Area: Designate a wall or space in your home where your child can display their favorite pieces. This could be a corkboard, framed gallery, or a wire with clips for easy swapping. By having a dedicated space, you honor their creativity and avoid cluttering every surface in your home.
Use Portfolios or Folders: For artwork that you want to keep but can’t display, we love using zipper bags (yes, again!). We use a large ‘portfolio bag’ for the largest masterpieces which is 19 x 25” and $10 from Amazon.​ Label each bag by year or age and store your child’s artwork neatly inside. This allows you to preserve memories while keeping the art safe and organized.
Digitize the Art: If you’re short on space, take photos of the artwork before it gets tucked away. You can create digital albums or even print out photo books of their creations. This way, you’ll always have a keepsake without needing to store every single piece physically.

3. Organizing art supplies

Art supplies can quickly become a jumbled mess, especially when kids are involved. But with the right organization, your little artists can have easy access to everything they need to create without the chaos.
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Categorize Supplies: Group art supplies by type—markers, crayons, paints, brushes, paper, etc. Use clear bins or containers with labels so your kids can easily find what they need. Labeling will also help teach them how to clean up after themselves!

Drawer Organizers and Storage Carts: Invest in drawer organizers or rolling carts to keep everything in its place. A rolling cart with multiple compartments can be a game-changer for storing smaller supplies like glue, scissors, and pencils. You can even dedicate a cart to a particular type of art (e.g., one for painting, another for drawing) so your child can easily access what they want. we absolutely love art carts!! 

Go Vertical: If you’re short on space, use wall-mounted shelves or pegboards to store supplies off the floor. Hooks, baskets, and jars mounted on the wall are great for holding brushes, markers, and paints.

the Cart itself and organizational extras are all from The Container Store. Everything I have here (not including art supplies themselves) is $194
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-3 Tier Rolling Cart $39.99
-SmartStore Tall Insert $5.99 each
-Large Peg-Board attachment $21.99
-Tiny and X-Small Organizer Tray Multicolor package of 6 $13.99-$17.99
-Bello Pen Cup for Peg Board $13.99
-Connecting book bin $4.99

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to see this blog post in action on real milwaukee, check out the full video here!