This post is sponsored by Howards Storage World
I am really sad to admit the twins, now 11 are taller than me. They are growing so fast, thankfully have their fathers genes. But in doing so Mr 11’s current wardrobe system is no longer working. The cubed system was great when he was younger but now his pants are getting longer I have to fold them over by 3 rather than 2 times, therefore not many could fit in each cube and they were falling out. I have neglected his wardrobe for far too long and it just become a disaster.
Despite him growing I still had children’s sized hangers in his wardrobe and his clothes were falling off
I wanted to use the same Elfa Solution as my daughters (his twin sisters) wardrobe, she has managed to keep it very tidy and the extra storage space it created is just amazing. I emptied the wardrobe and asked my brother-in-law (who is awesome on the tools) to help me remove the built-in shelf. With a few hits of the hammer it came out and he patched and repainted the walls.
I worked with the team at my local Howards Storage World to create the best solution for this space. I already had an idea of the types of functions I wanted. Mr 11 starts high school next year and at this new school the students need to wear trousers, belt and tie, so having an area for long clothes was important. He had a toy box when he was younger, but he has since outgrown this and it’s gone, I wanted some drawers in his wardrobe that he could pull out and easily just throw (he’s a boy I don’t expect him to have organised drawers) in a few toys. He doesn’t have a dresser in his bedroom so it was essential to have areas for all his clothes.
When designing the plan of the wardrobe the team at Howards Storage World draw my ideas to scale based on the measurements of the Elfa System, this is a great way to view what the finished product would be like. Howards Storage World can install the system for you, or you can do it yourself.
The Elfa Solutions have the option of white or platinum shelves, racks etc. White was lovely and fresh in my daughters room, but I felt the platinum was a masculine feel for Mr 11’s room.
Watch this short clip on how we put the system together
One major feature I love about the Elfa System is that the shelves are adjustable. As he gets older if the wardrobe isn’t functioning how he wants to it’s really easy to lift a shelf up a notch or two or remove altogether.
This space turned out better than I could have ever imagined. The extra storage is amazing.
In the tops of the kids cupboards I like to store their out of season clothes, special keepsake like items and extra blankets. I used the Kis C-Box Bubbles, they come in a variety of sizes and colours, however I chose this size as they fit easily into the top of the wardrobe and stack perfectly with two on top of each other.
In his keepsake box he has all his karate belts, his first gi and pair of glasses
Mr 11 has dust mite allergies so he can’t have too many cuddly toys in his room, we have put these ones away as he is not ready to part with them.
When the seasons change we always go through his current clothes and purge any that no longer fit him. All his summer clothes fit in this one box, think I need to do some shopping for him soon.
I have never folded my kids underwear or paired socks, just saves me so much time when folding all the washing. They have always had a basket which stores each of these items along with PJ’s and boxer shorts. The baskets keep them separated and organised.
These Rattique Shelf Chocolate Tote Baskets are the perfect long depth and shallow height to fit into the Elfa shelves. With the handle on the front makes it easy for Mr 11 to pull in and out.
I upgraded his coat hangers to the adult size and chose the flocked hangers so his clothes won’t slip off, will help to keep his wardrobe tidy.
I wanted to incorporate the long hanging space into his wardrobe, this wardrobe has two sliding doors which makes the middle of the wardrobe hard to access. Putting shelves in this area wasn’t a functional option, rather it was perfect for long hanging clothes like trousers, dressing gowns, sports clothes etc.
This bracket easily lifts on and off the shelves, he will use this to store bags, belts etc
The drawers are really quite deep, here he can keep his sleeping bag, some toys, nerf guns etc
This used to sit on the floor in his bedroom as he used to lack storage space. Now it’s off the floor, easier for me to vacuum and look so much tidier in the shelf.
Mr 11 loves his lego and has many all set up displayed in his bedroom, but there are some that he has pulled apart, they are stored in large ziplock bags in this Kis Square Box- 28L sitting alongside his collection of caps.
Kids often have so many little bits and pieces and typically if placed in a toy box it ends up at the bottom of the pile. I’ve used these clear store shoe drawers in small to hold his matchbox cars, bionical pieces and the and medium clear store shoe drawer for his technology items such as iPad, DS, headphones and all electrical cords.
I’ve placed the Elfa Plastic Shelf Liner on some of the shelfs to make it a solid shelf.
And then I used the flexi tubs 12L along the bottom shelf to store his sporting gear, swimmers etc. There is a space below this shelf which would be great to store shoes, but we keep all shoes in the garage.
For full list of items used in this wardrobe visit Howards Storage World here
What area of your boys bedroom do you struggle to keep organised?
Tween Wardrobe Webinar
If you would like to know more about the tween wardrobe makeover I am doing with Howards, there is a Howards “member only” webinar on the 16th Sept at 7.30pm and 18th Sept at 10.30am.
The event is by invitation only so if you are a Howards inspirations member – you’ll automatically receive an email invitation.
If you are not a member, visit https://howardsinspirations.com.au/register.asp to join (its free!). You’ll receive a Webinar invitation via email a few days later.
Non-members need to join and fully register by 10th September, to be invited.
Howards Storage World are currently running a competition. Simply post on Howards Storage Worlds Facebook App your before photo + a short description of what you want to achieve and you could win prizes. Enter here.
Please note this competition is run by Howards Storage World. This post was coordinated by The Remarkables Group and run in accordance with my disclosure policy
28 comments
Looks great. Lots of inspiration. I have just changed to the flocked hangers myself and am wondering why I didn’t do it sooner!
Good timing for us, we’ve just moved our 11 turning 12 in a weeks boy to another room and needed ideas for the wardrobe!
Thanks for the detailed post. Great to see your many good ideas!
Thanks for the detailed post. Great to see your many good ideas!
Any tips re getting children to keep their rooms tidy? I’ve tried a few different things the last few years but I’m the only one who seems interested in keeping anything tidy!
Looks fantastic! Love the elfa system.
It’s a great system to mix and change how you want. If we ever move the next people could change it all up to suit them.
what a fantastic idea for the socks and underwear not folding them. Why have I not found this idea sooner would of saved me so much effort. Brilliant.
Yes Marion, stop folding them will save yourself so much time. I have started putting all my kids socks and undies in a pile and get them to sort them, so much easier.
I have been looking at the Elfa system for a while now, with this and your daughters wardrobe it has given me some great ideas. Is it easy to move the shelves?
Yes you simply lift the shelf up take the brackets off the back panels and then place at another height, clip brackets back in put shelf back on then your right to do, all within seconds. Very easy to do.
We are about to move Mr almost 12 into his own room, so this is quite useful! My two boys share a room and it’s tight, always messy and a step away from complete chaos. I normally go through it once a year and toss all the packaging they feel the need to keep for eternity, but I haven’t had a chance to do it for a while, so it’s pretty trashed at the moment.
As an aside, I have the Elfa drawers in my laundry as sorting baskets. Brilliant! And I have two in the bottom of my pantry – one has lunch box snacks in it, and the other has drink bottles.
Miss Maudy, Love your idea of the Elfa baskets in the laundry! Good luck with organising your boys room.:)
Looks so functional – fantastic. 🙂
Just wondering if you can share the overall dimensions (HxWxD) of the robe space? We’re currently looking to renovate to create a 3rd bedroom so all kids can have their own rooms, and am trying to gauge what a usable BIR space would be – this looks great, but I think it’s probably smaller than what I’m currently allowing. And space I save in the BIR will go to the new bathroom, so keen to maximise use of all spaces!!
Thanks,
Kate
Hi Kate, Sure the dimensions are H: 2.4 W: 1.66 D: 500mm
Good luck and would love to see photos when its completed.:)
I have that space for two boys which I am just about to tackle. I have just put in bunk beds that has lots of shelf space but nothing underneath as a trundle. We do have a tall boy. I would need all across for hanging for both and all the Lego storage and you boxes under the bed now need to go in there. Would love some suggestions 🙂
Kellie, i would try looking at Howards Storage World or even Ikea. I get a lot of great organising ideas from there.
I love this Kat. We are about to build a new house – I definitely got some great ideas for wardrobe storage for the kids rooms from this post, especially for Mr 15.
Thank you, Claire x
http://www.mumscloset.com.au/
loving this idea – perfect timing for us too – we need to do this now ! thanks !!
Hi there, fantastic idea and looks great but could you tell us how much the entire new fit out cost?
Even a shopping list quote with itemised prices for each part so we can pick and choose what we can afford if we cannot afford to fit out the entire thing?
Thanks!
Hi Elizabeth, Sure i will attach a link for you. Everything came from Howards Storage World. Here id the link for you https://howardsinspirations.com.au/register.asp
Everything you need will be listed in there for you.
loving this idea – perfect timing for us too – we need to do this now ! thanks !!
Thanks Katrina this is very helpful. I would like to revamp my 12 yo boy’s wardrobe. It has built-in wooden shelves to one side and then a hanging rail across the rest. Can you retro-fit the sliding baskets onto existing wooden shelving? Otherwise I guess I will just use unfixed boxes/baskets from HSW or ikea etc to stash T-shirts etc
Thank you
Bron, I would suggest taking your measurements into Howard’s Storage World and the team their will be able to suggest the best shelving or you.:)
Hey Kat
For a new season do you have a minimum number of new clothes you buy – say 10 tees?
Hi Leesa, No not really. If i see something i like thats pretty i buy it. I don’t really have a one in one out rule.
We have actually just moved to cube storage for our 14yo boy but he has autism and I felt the big boxes would be easier for him to manage. Where do your boys keep their long pants (jeans, track pants etc) in the cooler months I’d now when they’re not stored away in the box?
Cube storage is great – I love it too! When the season changes to cooler weather, I pack away my son’s shorts and pull out the pants and jeans. These are stored in the baskets that used to house the shorts. I’ve just written a new blog on changing the wardrobe over to winter clothes, you can read it here.