Does the thought of working on an art project fill you with dread? Are the art supplies scattered all over the house, making it tough to gather everything you need? If you’re longing for an organized solution, you’re in the right place.
Having some art supplies readily accessible can keep your toddler entertained, help a budding artist to grow, or aid an experienced artist in perfecting their skills. In this article, I’ll share the art station system that our family loves. Feel free to share your ideas in the comments!
After trying countless methods over the years, I found this one really helps prevent my kids from spreading art supplies all over the house. We keep this art station near the kitchen table for easy access during creative projects or art time in our homeschool routine.
Family organization is always evolving, but this system suits a wide range of ages in our household. Give it a try and share your thoughts on what works or what you’d tweak.
The main investment for this project is a high-quality 10-drawer rolling cart. It’s a crucial component that gets used often, so don’t cut corners here. We’ve had a Recollections Cart from Michael’s Craft Stores for years, and it’s holding up well. You can even find similar options on Amazon.
The cart serves as an ideal filing system for art supplies, but a few other items help complete the setup. I used clear divided containers to add a splash of color and keep things organized. You’ll want two of these containers to maximize the small space. They can hold over 100 markers, colored pencils, crayons, or gel pens, organized by color for visual appeal. Plus, they have handles that are perfect for little hands.
Smaller bins are also useful for organizing a multimedia drawer, ensuring each item has its own spot. By assigning a specific place for each supply, kids are more likely to put things back properly.
Tip: Make sure you have your cart before ordering these bins to ensure a good fit.
Now, let’s gather all the art supplies! If your kids enjoy DIY crafts for holidays, you probably already have a lot. We had our kids gather every art supply they could find around the house—all the markers, crayons, colored pencils, paints, pom poms, pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, erasers, rulers, and more.
We used the dining room table to sort them into piles and sub-piles. Key step: Throw away anything unusable, like lidless markers or broken crayons.
We’re building a creativity station where each item has a specific place, making it easy for kids to use and store away. Hooray!
Start by placing all writing utensils in the divided containers, organizing them by color to make it straightforward for younger kids to recognize their place.
Place these vibrant containers on top of the rolling cart, then start organizing the rest of the supplies into the drawers.
Tip: If you have excess supplies, consider creating a backstock bin to store extras. Periodically check your art station to refill from this bin. It’s a great way to make use of sales throughout the year without needing immediate space.
Label the drawers as follows:
1. Tools: Scissors, punches, stencils, large erasers, rulers, glue sticks.
2. Paper: Bulk multimedia paper or inexpensive cardstock for various art projects.
3. Ideas: Activities to spark creativity like drawing prompts or paint-by-numbers. Rotate these every 6-8 weeks to keep things fresh.
4. Tapes/Stickers/Self Adhesive: Washi tapes, stickers, adhesive shapes, and googly eyes, organized with small bins to prevent clutter.
5. Mixed Media: Sort and store craft supplies like beads, popsicle sticks, and pipe cleaners in small bins. Advanced artists might need different materials.
6. Paints and Brushes: Organize paints in uniform containers and use small bins for brushes.
7. Masterpiece Storage: Store finished and in-progress art. Review periodically to decide on mailing or displaying them.
8. Ask First: For messier items like glitter or slime supplies, where kids need adult supervision.
You’ll have two extra drawers for overflow or other needs. Adjust the system as your kids’ interests and needs change.
And there you have it—a fabulous art cart for your creative family adventures! Do you have an art station at home? How do you keep your art supplies organized?
