Keeping Kids' Supplies in the Kitchen Reader Inspiration

If you have the space for it, keeping school and craft supplies in the kitchen is a great idea, especially if you have younger children whom you'd like to trust with the paints while you're making dinner, but you're not quite there yet. Ohdeedoh reader se7en sent us an email letting us know about the "kitchen dresser" she keeps stocked with everything her children might need to do their schoolwork or special projects.

The kitchen dresser isn't a new fixture in se7en's vibrant, colorful kitchen (which, by the way, was featured on The Kitchn last fall), but it was in need of some serious de-cluttering and re-organizing.

Se7en wrote a detailed post about the process, along with more photos, on her blog. From her post:

"Now before I do a tour of the dresser I just want to say I am a firm believer in having stuff available to kids… markers, paints, whatever!!! My only proviso is that it stays in its spot, which is at the table. Also if you are old enough to get things down then you are old enough to pack things back."

Amen, sister!

Do you keep kid supplies in the kitchen? What kind of storage system do you use?

Comments (11)

I have a very wide breakfast bar that butts up to a large picture window (overlooking my 60 yr/old French lilac!). Along the back I have a Pottery Barn metal wall basket that I bought on clearance. It is about 4" wide and 3' long. It holds cups for markers, pencils, erasers, and the like. Also a good place for packs of flash cards and card games, boxes of crayons, and an electric pencil sharpener.

I bought the matching 3-tiered wall basket (also a clearance buy), and have it hanging to the right- easy access for my 7 yr/old to grab apples, oranges, or bananas to snack on.

Wait- there's more! The breakfast bar is as wide as my back kitchen wall, so there is also space for cardboard magazine files to keep artwork, construction paper, and magazines (Lego & National Geographic Kids). Also bought on clearance- 2 Pottery Barn beverage baskets that hold colored pencils, markers, scissors and rulers.

Everything is handy, and there's no "Mom where are my...?" while I am busy in the kitchen. I neaten it up about once a week and because evrything has a place, this takes no time at all!

We do keep our dd's arts supplies in the kitchen, but I'm ashamed to admit they pretty much lay on top of the refrigerator willy nilly. Thanks for reminding me I can always do better. lol

Um, pbzoe, pictures please? :)

I do this. ATM, my three year old and I live in a 1BR apartment. So the best place for all his toys just happens to be a built-in floor-to-ceiling cabinet on the edge of the kitchen.

I also have a whole shelf (low down) in my pantry where I keep all the craft items in baskets for the kids along with art smocks. They are only 18mths and 3 so it is great to have it all close and they work at a little table in the kitchen where I can see what they are doing. It is also a great way of keeping it organized as I spend a lot of time in the pantry so it stays neat.

We don't keep everything in the kitchen, but have been using Clementine Boxes as art of the moment (at the moment it's playdoh) holders for the dining room table (which is open to the kitchen). I used one plain for a while and just modge podged it with pictures out of High Five. It's nice to have a little mini art station on the table where my 3yo can get it when she wants it.

http://driedfigsandwoodenspools.blogspot.com/2010/03/clementine-box-storage.html

ok, now i really need an armoire or hutch! ...now where to put it? Small space with kiddos, tough to figure out.

Holy Moly, I just checked out the tour of this kitchen and I am MOVING IN! How fun! Any kid would LOVE to live there!

Hay guys, what a nice surprise !!! Thanks for all the comments and visits. So glad you love our kitchen and want to move in S!!! Hope you all have a great week!!!