BEST OF PHILLY® 2026 WINNER FOR BEST HOME STORAGE
School’s out, but the family calendar is still full.
Between camps, pool days, vacations, playdates, and all the extra hours at home, summer puts every storage system to the test. But the right organizational systems can make the season easier on everyone.
Here are a few ways to keep the kids more independent, the clutter under control, and the busiest parts of your home ready for whatever the season brings.
Give Kids a Setup They Can Actually Use
When kids are home all day, they need to be able to find what they want without turning every drawer, shelf, and cabinet upside down.
Create a Grab-and-Go Snack Zone
Choose a shelf, drawer, or pull-out basket that’s easy to reach, then fill it with approved snacks. Grouping similar items together makes it easier for kids to choose and helps you see what needs restocking before the next grocery run.
A custom pantry can make this even smoother with adjustable shelves, pull-outs, and dedicated zones for snacks, breakfast foods, and larger staples. Everything stays easy to see without kids digging through the entire pantry.
Keep Activities Contained
Crafts, games, books, and toys are easier to enjoy when cleanup doesn’t turn into a project of its own.
Keep frequently used supplies in accessible drawers, bins, or open shelving, while anything requiring supervision stays higher up. Closed cabinets can hide the visual clutter afterward, and a dedicated work surface gives unfinished projects somewhere to wait without taking over the kitchen table.
A custom craft room, playroom, or multipurpose storage system can also give kids one place to create, play, and return to without moving supplies from room to room.
Make the Seasonal Clothing Switch
Summer brings lighter clothes, different shoes, and a whole new round of gear. It also leaves coats, sweaters, and other cold-weather items taking up the space you need right now.
Before packing anything away, take a quick inventory. Set aside pieces that no longer fit, need repairs, or probably won’t be worn again. Donate what still has life left in it, then clean the clothing you’ll keep before storing it. And through our community partnership program, The Closet Works can collect eligible donations on installation day, helping you clear the space without adding another stop to your list.
Keep off-season pieces protected and out of the daily rotation by utilizing upper shelving, enclosed storage, and clearly labeled containers. These keep items easy to find without letting them crowd your seasonal selections.
Adjustable closet systems are especially useful as seasons and wardrobes change. Rods and shelves can be repositioned to make room for whatever is in rotation, from a young child’s triple-hang setup to double or single hang as they grow. Shelving can shift just as easily for shoes, folded clothing, bags, or accessories.
Focus on Summer’s Busiest Spaces
You don’t have to reorganize the entire house for a smoother summer. Start with the areas that get the most traffic and create the most frustration.
Turn the Mudroom or Garage Into a Launch Pad
Pool bags, sports equipment, shoes, helmets, coolers, and outdoor toys pile up fast in the summer.
Instead of scattered piles, create a place for them near your entrances. Hooks can hold bags and towels, cubbies can separate gear by person or activity, and cabinets can keep loose items from taking over the floor.
A custom garage or mudroom system can make use of wasted walls and vertical space. Shelving, cabinetry, slat walls, and storage zones can keep summer gear organized without sacrificing space for the car, workbench, or other household needs.
Bring Order to Basement Storage
Basements tend to become the catch-all for home clutter. Over time, seasonal decorations, unused items, and household overflow can turn into stacks no one wants to sort.
Summer is a good time to check those storage areas before adding more to the mix. Work through one section at a time, remove anything damaged or no longer needed, and group the rest by category. Sturdy shelving keeps boxes off the floor, breaks up unstable stacks, and makes each category easier to reach. Closed cabinets can handle smaller or loose items, while labeled shelves keep larger bins visible and organized.
The goal isn’t to clear it all out; it’s to make sure you can reach what you need without digging.
Storage That Keeps Up All Year
Summer may change the routine, but the right storage should keep up all year long.
Craft spaces can make room for homework supplies and school projects, while mudroom cubbies shift from pool gear to backpacks, jackets, and winter accessories. That same flexibility carries into the closet, where adjustable components can change with growing children, new wardrobes, and each seasonal switch.
When you choose custom storage, you get a design with those changes in mind.
At The Closet Works, we design, manufacture, and install custom storage for any space that needs it. Every project starts with understanding how your home functions and where the current setup is falling short, then ends with a custom solution that makes the space easier to use every day.
Book your free design consultation and create a home that keeps up with your family this summer and every season after.
