Tips for Organizing Art Supplies at Home (Kids and Adults)

Art supplies multiply. A few markers become three boxes, a sketchbook becomes a stack, and suddenly half the session is spent hunting for the right brush. A good system does not need to be expensive or Pinterest-perfect. It just needs to make supplies easy to find, easy to put away and easy to keep in good condition.

The tips below work for a family craft corner, a child’s art station or an adult’s painting setup. They are grouped in the order you would actually tackle the job: sort, purge, choose storage, place and maintain.

Step 1: Gather and Sort Everything

You cannot organize what you cannot see. Pull all supplies from drawers, bags and boxes into one place, then sort them into broad categories.

Step 2: Test and Purge

Sorting usually reveals duplicates, dried-out markers and mystery items. Clearing them out frees space and makes the remaining supplies easier to use.

• Test every marker and pen on scrap paper. Toss the dry ones.
• Check paints. Acrylics that have hardened in the tube and tempera that has separated beyond stirring should go.
• Inspect brushes. Brushes with paint dried into the ferrule or splayed beyond repair can become texture or glue brushes, or be discarded.
• Consolidate. Combine half-empty packs of the same item.
• Donate extras. Schools, libraries and community centers often welcome usable supplies.

Measure Before You Buy Storage

It is tempting to buy matching bins first, but containers chosen before sorting rarely fit. Once you know what you are keeping, measure the shelves, drawers or closet where supplies will live. Note the depth as well as width and height; many bins are deeper than standard bookshelves. Then estimate the volume of each category. A family that owns two boxes of markers needs a very different container than one with 300 markers.

Look at what you already have, too. Many supplies, especially kids’ sets, come in cases that are perfectly good storage on their own. When choosing new supplies, picking sets with sturdy tins or zip cases reduces the number of containers you need. Our list of top art supply picks for 8-year-olds notes which kits include their own storage.

A Simple Storage Budget

• Free: Jars, shoeboxes, egg cartons, magazine holders and original packaging.
• Low cost: Clear plastic shoebox bins, pencil cups and a pegboard.
• Moderate: A rolling cart, a cube shelf with fabric bins or a divided craft organizer.
• Higher: Flat files, dedicated art furniture or built-in cabinetry.

Start with what is free and add purchased storage only where a real gap appears.

Step 3: Choose the Right Storage for Each Supply

Different materials need different storage to stay in good condition. The table below matches common supplies to practical containers.

Clear Containers Win

Clear bins and jars let you see contents without opening them. If you prefer solid containers for a tidier look, label the front clearly. Stackable containers of the same brand make better use of shelf space.

Label Everything

Labels turn a tidy shelf into a system people actually follow. Use printed labels, a label maker or masking tape and marker. For children who cannot yet read well, add a picture or color swatch to each label.

Step 4: Place Supplies Where You Use Them

Good organization is about location as much as containers.

• Arm’s reach zone: Daily supplies such as pencils, erasers, a few brushes and paper go closest to the work surface.
• Nearby zone: Weekly supplies like paints, specialty markers and canvases go on nearby shelves.
• Storage zone: Backups, seasonal crafts and rarely used kits go higher up or in a closet.
• Wet and dry separation: Keep paints and water away from paper storage to avoid accidents.
• Light-sensitive items: Store finished artwork and some papers away from direct sunlight to reduce fading.

Smart Storage Ideas That Work in Any Space

Rolling Carts

A three-tier rolling utility cart is one of the most popular art storage solutions. It holds a full kit, rolls to the table during art time and tucks away afterward. Assign one tier per category, such as drawing, painting and crafts.

Pegboards

A wall-mounted pegboard with hooks, cups and small shelves keeps scissors, tape, brushes and rulers visible and off the table. It works well in small rooms because it uses vertical space.

Over-the-Door Organizers

Clear shoe organizers with pockets fit markers, glue sticks, paint bottles and small packs. They turn the back of a door into storage.

Portable Caddies

A caddy with a handle holds a curated set of everyday tools, so the whole kit moves from the kitchen table to the patio without extra trips.

Repurposed Household Items

• Mason jars and clean cans for brushes and pencils
• Muffin tins for sorting small items during projects
• Ice cube trays as palettes or bead sorters
• Magazine holders for sketchbooks and paper pads
• Silverware trays for drawers of pens and tools

Organizing Art Supplies for Kids

Children need systems that are simple enough to use on their own. These tips make a kids’ art station self-sufficient.

• Store at their height. Low shelves and bins mean kids can get supplies and put them back without help.
• Use picture labels. A photo of crayons on the crayon bin works for pre-readers.
• Limit choices. Put out a curated selection and rotate other supplies weekly. Too many choices can overwhelm and lead to mess.
• Keep messy supplies higher up. Paints, glitter and slime ingredients can sit on a higher shelf for supervised use.
• Use washable everything where possible, so occasional spills are not a disaster.
• Create a “finished work” spot. A wall clip line, a folder or a display board gives completed art a home.
• Build a cleanup routine. A five-minute tidy at the end of every art session, with a timer or a song, keeps the system working.

Children around 8 years old are often ready to manage their own small kit: a sketchbook, colored pencils, markers, watercolors and a few craft items. Choosing well-made, age-appropriate supplies also means fewer broken bits to organize. Our guide to the best art supplies for an 8-year-old girl highlights sets that come in their own storage cases, which helps from day one.

Art Ideas for 8 Year Olds That Use What You Have

An organized collection makes it easier to start projects quickly. A few ideas that use common supplies:

• Watercolor resist pictures with white crayon and paint
• Collage portraits from magazine scraps
• Marker mandalas or symmetrical patterns
• Painted rocks with acrylic paint markers
• Comic strips drawn in a sketchbook
• Sand art bottles or sand pictures
• Paper sculptures with cardstock and glue

Organizing an Adult Painting Setup

• Group paints by medium, then by color family. Store tubes upright in bins so labels face out.
• Keep brushes separated by medium. Oil brushes and watercolor brushes behave differently and should not mix.
• Use a taboret or side cart next to the easel for active materials.
• Store canvases vertically in a rack sorted by size.
• Keep solvents and mediums in a dedicated, ventilated area, following label storage instructions.
• Use flat files or portfolios for works on paper.

Storing Finished Artwork

Finished pieces pile up as fast as supplies. Decide what to keep, display or photograph. Flat pieces fit in large portfolios or under-bed boxes, separated with sheets of plain paper so pastels and charcoal do not smudge. Canvases can stand upright in a rack. For kids’ art, a rotating display wall plus a yearly keepsake box keeps things manageable, and photographing pieces before recycling preserves the memories without the bulk.

Organizing in Small Spaces

An apartment or shared room can still hold a functional art setup.

• Use vertical space with wall shelves and pegboards.
• Choose under-bed bins for paper and canvases.
• Keep a single “go box” with everything for one hobby.
• Use a folding table or wall-mounted drop-leaf desk.
• Store kits in labeled boxes on a closet shelf.

Maintaining the System

An organized space only stays that way with small, regular habits.

1. Reset after each session. Return supplies to their homes before leaving the space.
2. Do a monthly check. Test markers, top up low items and remove broken pieces.
3. Keep a shopping list. Note supplies as they run low so you buy only what you need.
4. Reassess every few months. If a category keeps overflowing or is never used, adjust the storage.
5. One in, one out. When new supplies arrive, consider letting go of something you no longer use.

How to Get Art Supplies Online Without Creating Clutter

Online shopping makes it easy to overbuy. A few habits keep the collection manageable.

• Check what you already have before ordering.
• Buy sets that include storage cases or tins.
• Choose quality over quantity; fewer, better supplies last longer.
• Read size details, since some packs are larger or smaller than expected.
• Plan purchases around specific projects rather than impulse buys.

Common Organizing Mistakes

• Buying containers before sorting and measuring.
• Storing everything in one big box.
• Keeping dried-out or broken supplies “just in case.”
• Placing everyday items in hard-to-reach spots.
• Storing paper upright where it can bend and curl.
• Skipping labels, so no one knows where things go.

FAQs

What is the best way to organize art supplies?

Sort supplies by type, discard anything dried out or broken, then store each category in clear, labeled containers close to where you use it.

How do you organize art supplies in a small space?

Use vertical storage such as pegboards and wall shelves, a rolling cart that tucks away, under-bed bins for paper and over-the-door pocket organizers.

How should markers be stored?

Many markers are best stored horizontally to keep ink evenly distributed. Some double-ended markers recommend horizontal storage specifically. Always keep caps on tightly.

How do you store paintbrushes?

Clean and dry them, then store upright with bristles pointing up in a jar, or flat in a brush roll. Never rest brushes on their bristles.

How do I organize art supplies for kids?

Keep supplies on low shelves in labeled bins with pictures, limit choices on display, store messier items higher up and build a short cleanup routine into every art session.

What should be in a basic art supply kit?

Pencils, an eraser, a sharpener, colored pencils, markers, a sketchbook, watercolors, a few brushes, glue and scissors cover most projects for kids and beginners.

Final Thoughts

Organizing art supplies is a one-time sort followed by small daily habits. Sort, purge, choose storage that suits each material, place items by how often you use them and reset after each session. The payoff is more time making art and less time searching.

If you are building a kit for a young artist, starting with well-packaged supplies makes organization easier. Our picks for art supplies that 8-year-olds love include sets with built-in storage.