Getting Your Home Summer Break Ready - Part 1: Arts & Crafts

Summer break is a magical time for kids—later bedtimes, popsicles on the porch, and days full of possibility. But for moms? It often feels like a marathon of snack requests, sibling refereeing, and the constant hum of, "What are we doing today?!"—all while trying to maintain some semblance of order at home.

If you're already feeling the mental load piling up, you're not alone. The shift from school-year routines to summer's looser schedule can throw even the most organized households into disarray. But here’s the good news: with a few simple systems and realistic strategies, it is possible to create a calm, functional space that supports both your sanity and your family's summer fun.

During this 3 part "summer break ready" series we'll work our way through the summer's most frequently used categories and spaces of your home, one week at a time. I'll share the process to create and maintain organized systems, recommended products and project inspiration (no matter what type of space you're working with) to prepare your home for summer break.

THE PROCESS

Our tried and true process for creating effective, sustainable systems. Skipping steps will save you time today, but will cost you more time and continued stress in the long-run.

Step One: Edit

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, you MUST start with a thorough assessment of all your items. Put on your favorite tunes, audiobook or podcast, grab a trash bag, some boxes for donations and then gather the arts & crafts items from all the spaces they currently live in your home into one central "working" location". I typically like to start scanning for obvious trash at this point (old artwork, party favors, broken items) and then start grouping items into piles of like items. Typical categories are things like coloring books, stickers, embellishments, crayons, markers, jewelry making, DIY kits, etc.

Once you have your piles, begin making decisions on whether to keep, donate or trash (which includes recycling) items. Below are some helpful questions to ask yourself when making these decisions:

1. Has it been used in the last 6–12 months? If it’s been untouched for over a year, chances are it’s not inspiring creativity anymore—and it might be time to pass it on.

2. Is it age-appropriate for my child now? Glitter glue and pipe cleaners might’ve been a hit at age 5, but at 10, your child might be more into sketching or model kits.

3. Do we have multiples of the same thing? Keeping a reasonable amount is fine, but 12 bottles of half-used paint? You can likely pare that down.

4. Is it still in good, usable condition? Dried-out markers, empty glue sticks, tangled yarn—these can go straight to the trash or recycling.

5. Does the item invite chaos? Maybe it's just me, but some items or kits are just not worth the time you'll have to spend creating or cleaning it up. I'm specifically thinking of a glitter tube 12-pack that I thought was a GREAT idea to bring home for the girls!

6. Can another family, school, or community center use this more than we can? Donating gently used craft supplies can feel great when you know they’ll actually be used and appreciated.

Step Two: Measure + Shop

When you're left with only the keep items, take a fresh look at where you've been storing your arts & crafts supplies. Is the current location in your home still your ideal choice? Would storing in drawers be better than cabinets? When you've determined where you're going to store everything, grab a tape measure, sketch out your spaces on paper (graph paper if you have it) and write down the dimensions of your drawers, shelves and cubbies. Before you go shopping for new organizing products, you'll need to determine 2 things:

1. The location of each item category within your space (e.g. all coloring books, construction paper, stickers, etc. are going to live in your cubby system and all markers, pens, tape and scissors are going to live in a drawer)

2. The best organizing product to contain the items + fit the space you'd like to store them in (e.g. multi-purpose bins to keep all the books and papers stored vertically for easy access)

   • Make a list, buy more than you'll need, and give yourself options if you're not sure how something will fit. It's easier to shop and return once, than multiple trips back and forth to the stores.

   • Keep in mind you can also utilize storage products you already have at home. Just make sure they meet your accessibility, maintenance and aesthetic goals.

Step Three: Organize

Now for the fun part! Start by staging your organizing products in the spaces you have them planned for to ensure they fit, then fill with your categories of items. If a collection doesn't fit in the medium size bin you bought, having a large bin at the ready can save you another trip to the store. Once you're pleased with how the items have been contained and arranged, label as much as makes sense to ensure everyone using the items will have an easy time returning them once they're done creating their masterpiece.

MAINTAINING YOUR SYSTEM

You’ve done the heavy lifting—editing down the items that no longer serve your family, planning your zones, and thoughtfully containing everything so that your kids are inspired to create and stay busy this summer. So first: take a moment to celebrate that! 🎉

Now comes the part that turns a tidy space into a sustainable one: maintenance. The good news? When you’ve laid a solid foundation, and incorporate small daily habits, maintenance is much easier over the long term. Below are a few tips to help keep your arts & crafts area functional and clutter-free all summer long:

1. Create a Daily “Craft Reset” Routine Set a simple expectation that crafts get cleaned up before meals or at the end of the day. Keep it light—turn on music, make it a game, or set a timer. A five-minute tidy can prevent a big mess later.

2. Rotate Materials to Keep Interest High & Clutter Low You don’t need to have everything out at once. Keep a small stash in a bin or drawer to rotate in every few weeks—it keeps kids engaged without overwhelming the space.

3. Make Cleanup a Shared Responsibility Remind your family: this is a shared space. Encourage even the youngest kids to contribute by putting markers back in jars or scraps in the recycling. Teaching them to treat the space with kindness is key to keeping it functional.

4. Do a Weekly Check-In Once a week, do a 10-15 minute walk through: toss markers without the cap, tidy areas/items that weren't thoroughly put away during the week, and remove finished projects that are ready to be displayed or filed away (including the trash can, you can only keep so much)!

ORGANIZING PRODUCTS

Below are some of our top recommended and frequently used art & craft supplies organizing products to help get you started. Keep in mind there are many different ways to store items based on a variety of factors (visibility, accessibility, portability, density of items, storage location). As an example, we have stored markers in clear drawer bins, clear bins on shelves or within a larger basket, zipper pouches, handled caddies or turntables and portable art cases.

Bringing It All Together

At Sort & Soul, we believe well-designed, intentionally arranged spaces empower you (and your family) to show up as your best self and thrive. If you're looking for more calm and order, empowered kids and less chaos when it comes to the arts & crafts section of your home, we're here to help if you don't feel like taking the DIY route!

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We service the following suburbs in Columbus, Ohio: Upper Arlington, Grandview, Powell, Delaware, Dublin, New Albany, Sunbury, Westerville, Galena, Bexley, Plain City, Worthington, Lewis Center.

Disclosure: I could earn commissions for purchases made through some links in this post.

Product photo credits: The Container Store, Target, Walmart, IKEA