Overwhelmed by your little Picasso’s growing portfolio? Here’s how to streamline displaying and storing all that precious art
Art overload? Start by streamlining your child’s collection with a good editing session. Empower your little ones to help with the process by choosing their very favorite creations for storage or display. Set clear limits and guidelines, i.e. “Let’s pick your five favorite paintings from this pile.”
Do your little artists create at a faster pace than you can keep up with? Create a temporary holding zone for incoming art by setting up an oversized bin or basket that can corral new work. This simple system ensures that art is stowed safely and can be sorted through when you have the time to edit and organize! Do your best to review every few weeks so the pile doesn’t become unmanageable.
Create a designated “greatest hits gallery” in your home with a favorite piece from each school year. Using uniform frames in the same style and color will create a cohesive and playful look in a playroom, hallway, or family room. Creative space guru Megan Schiller, of The Art Pantry, suggests these handy storage frames that can do double duty for both display and storage.
An oversized art portfolio book, or a binder with plastic sheet protectors, will help preserve art for years to come. Make sure to store only the most treasured creations and milestone pieces, like first self- or family portrait. Label with the child’s age and year for easy reference later.
Can’t bear to part with that massive science project or collage? Photograph the keepsakes to store digitally or make into an archival book. Services like ArtKive make storing and organizing your digital art easy. They even offer customized hardcover keepsake books so you can enjoy all the art without the storage challenges.
You can reuse art to make more art! Laminate drawings to create personalized placemats, coasters, or other useful objects. You can also cut out old paintings or pictures to make new bookmarks, collages, or cards.
Create a “rotating gallery” in your child’s room or playroom so they can display their art and easily and swap out new “exhibits.” A cable with clips, ribbon with clothespins, or an oversized corkboard will make it easy for little hands to update the gallery all by themselves.
A magnet board or refrigerator can provide a nice space to display current treasures. A piece of sheet metal bought from your local hardware store can be easily mounted to create a magnetic wall, making it easy to swap out the latest creations.
What to do with those huge watercolors or doodles on butcher paper? Turn them into wrapping paper! This way your kiddo can share their creations at the next birthday party or celebration and you can recycle their art without actually tossing it into the recycling bin.
Think of art storage as a long game and reflect on what your child might actually appreciate ten or twenty years from now. Even with the best of intentions, a collection of dusty, overflowing bins may end up feeling daunting or overwhelming to navigate through. Instead, opt for a carefully curated collection or hardbound keepsake book as a thoughtful (and space-efficient) way of preserving the past.
Shira is the founder of Shira Gill Home, a boutique lifestyle brand with a “less is more” philosophy. She offers on-site and virtual home organization and styling, as well as online resources and inspiration to help you design a clutter-free life. Follow Shira on Instagram or her blog for weekly tips and inspiration.