When we moved into our home, there was this awkward little closet above the stairs in the kitchen. It could have worked as pantry storage—but I kept picturing something else.

I wanted a space that was just for the kids. A place where all the art supplies could live in one spot, stay accessible, and not take over the rest of the house. That’s how our art supply closet came to be—and honestly, it’s one of the most-used spaces in our home.

Why I Keep an Art Closet

Art is a big part of our days, but I didn’t want supplies scattered across drawers, bins, and counters. I wanted one dedicated place where:

• kids could freely create

• supplies stayed contained

• clean-up was simple and predictable

Having a single space just for art gives the kids ownership. They know where everything is, what’s allowed, and where it all goes back when they’re done.

How I Avoid Overwhelm (Less Is Truly More)

I’ve learned that too many supplies actually stop creativity.

Anything that feels “extra” lives on a small shelf downstairs—things we might use once in a while, like:

• droppers these big ones are nice for little kids or if you are wanting to capture a lot of liquid

• contact solution for slime of course

• t-shirt markers

• gels for sensory in a bag

• yarn

What stays in the art closet are the items we use regularly. This keeps choices simple and prevents the dreaded dump-everything-out scenario.

Our Art Supply List (The Easiest Way to Organize It)

Instead of listing every single item randomly, I organize our supplies into categories. This makes it easier for moms to skim—and for me to link exactly what we use.

Core Art Supplies

• crayons

• colored pencils

• our favorite markers we also love the chunky markers too

• dot markers that have lasted us years

• watercolors way better than food coloring

• paint palettes

• no spill paint cups with paint brushes -I use them for water too

• paint sticks

• washable stamps

Painting & Coloring

• washable paints

• oil pastels

• chalk pastels

• paint brushes for big kids and for toddlers

• watercolors

• watercolor markers

Creative Building

• play dough and tools

• play clay and clay for big kids

• cardboard building materials-seriously hours of fun and creativity!

• paper tubes

Paper & Books

• scratch paper-misprint papers

• plain white paper

• construction paper

• paint pads

• the best how to drawing books and craft books

• sticker books with over 500 stickers and favorite sticker books for big kids

• coloring books or grab these to print at home

• dot-to-dot worksheets

• activity worksheets-so many you can find online

• activity workbooks

👉 I’ve linked everything we use below so you can easily recreate a setup that works for your home.

Storage & Organization Tips

Because this closet is stair-shaped, the top “step” ended up being perfect for a 6-cube shelf I already owned.

On the top shelf, I keep:

• play dough and accessories in clear bins

• pastels and clay

• cardboard building materials

• extra paper and activity books

• extra paint cups

• Trays to contain the mess

Everything else is stored vertically and visibly:

• paint is hung on clear wall shelves

• scissors, dot markers, watercolors, and paint palettes are stored in clear hanging baskets

• paper is organized in clear wall holders and sorted by type

• the best storage for art utensils

Seeing everything at once helps kids choose quickly—and helps me notice when we’re running low.

How My Kids Access It Independently

They simply open the closet and start.

Everything is within reach and easy to open on their own, which also means:

• they choose their materials

• they use them responsibly

• they clean up independently

If they can get it out, they can put it away.

Our Favorite Art Routines

We don’t have a set “art time.” The closet is open whenever creativity hits.

That said, after supper I usually say “colors only.”

Anything beyond that tends to turn into longer clean-ups or the classic “just one more thing” situation.

This boundary keeps evenings calm while still allowing creativity.

Final Thoughts

This art closet has brought so much freedom into our home—freedom for the kids to create, and freedom for me to say yes without stress.

You don’t need a big space or tons of supplies. A small, intentional setup can go a long way in encouraging creativity while keeping your home peaceful.