If you have kids who love to draw, paint, and build, you probably know the feeling: creativity is wonderful… but the mess that comes with it can feel SO overwhelming.
For a long time I felt like I was constantly choosing between two things I care deeply about. I want my kids to create freely and explore art materials, but I also want our home to feel calm and livable.
Over time I realized these two truths could work together with the right systems in place! So, I started designing our spaces intentionally around how my kids actually create and behave (without sacrificing style!).
In this video, I’m sharing how I’ve set up our home to support creativity without letting art supplies and toys take over every room.
Our Grab-and-Go Art Bin
The biggest change we made was creating one simple place where our everyday art supplies live!
Instead of spreading materials across different drawers and cabinets, I keep our most-used supplies in a large woven basket in our dining room. When my kids want to draw or create, I simply pull out the bin and place it on the table. (This idea actually started after I made THIS amazing travel art bin to take camping! Which then started to live in the dining room, and then I got tired of looking at a giant Tupperware so I made it pretty, lol.)
Inside the basket are the basics we reach for again and again (Amazon Affiliate links here, as an Amazon Affiliate I may earn from qualifying purchases, thanks for supporting this blog at no cost to you!):
- Mixed Media Sketchbooks
- Markers and Non-toxic Crayons
- Paint Sticks
- Glue stick/glue bottle
- Scissors
- More listed here
Because everything is together, it takes less than a minute to set up art time.
And when we’re finished, everything goes right back into the basket!
Messy Mats to Contain the Chaos
One of the simplest tools that has made a huge difference in our home is using messy mats!
Any time we bring out art supplies, I (or my kids) place a messy mat on the table first. It creates a clear boundary for the activity and protects our table from markers, paint, or glue. These are an inexpensive life-saver! I use a poster board cut in half or whole.
This small step makes it much easier to say yes to creative projects because I know cleanup will be manageable.
Displaying Kids’ Artwork Without Clutter
Another challenge we all face is figuring out what to do with all the artwork that kids bring home or create.
In our hallway, we have a few simple frames designed for children’s artwork. These frames open from the front so it’s easy to rotate pieces in and out.
This lets us celebrate their creations and display them proudly without covering every surface in paper!
When we switch out artwork, I take a quick photo and add it to a digital album on my phone for each child. That way we can preserve the memories without needing to store every single piece of paper. Anything I want to keep then goes in their Memory bin!
Thoughtful Toy Boundaries
One other way I keep our home feeling calm is by being intentional about which toys live in shared spaces. In our living room, the only toy we keep accessible is a large basket of Magna Tiles. They are open-ended, creative, and used constantly by my kids. (Even though there is a very love-hate relationship with them, they keep coming back, haha!) And don’t be fooled, my kid bedrooms are on the main level and yes they do also bring toys out of their room.
Because the basket is heavy, it prevents the pieces from getting dumped all over the room, and it still encourages imaginative play. Sometimes having fewer toys in a space actually leads to more creative play!
Designing a Creative Home That Works for Your Family
You don’t need a dedicated playroom or a perfectly organized craft closet to support creativity at home. Often the most helpful change is simply creating a few systems that make it easy to say yes to art and creative play.
For our family, that looks like:
- one grab-and-go art bin
- messy mats for easy cleanup
- simple artwork frames
- thoughtful toy boundaries in shared spaces
These small adjustments have helped us cultivate a home where creativity feels welcome without letting the mess take over.
If you want to see exactly how these systems work in our home, you can watch the full video here.