Professional organizers are always discussing what to get rid of around the house, and paper clutter is usually at the top of the list. For parents with piles of cute drawings, paintings and crafting projects, it’s not so simple. Children’s art projects carry memories and showcase developmental milestones, which can create guilt when parents choose to throw them away.
Since children’s artwork is sentimental and can be incredibly difficult to declutter, should you toss it? I asked three pro organizers, who also happen to be moms, and they all agreed: Most of your kids’ artwork should get thrown out.
Why you should throw away your kids’ artwork?
Paper clutter takes a toll on our mental well-being, impacting stress levels and productivity. “As both a professional organizer and a mom, I’ve seen how excess paper creates this constant visual noise that disrupts our functionality, focus and even our family harmony,” says Laura Kinsella, founder of Urban OrgaNYze. “When papers are scattered everywhere, we waste time searching, feel guilty about the mess and lose those truly special items in the shuffle.”
Kinsella, who throws out 75% of her kids’ artwork, says it’s important to be selective. “The real value lies in the creative process: When kids make art, they reduce stress, build confidence and stimulate their minds. We don’t need to keep every piece to preserve those benefits.”
The pros stress the importance of quality over quantity. “It can be more impactful to save and display a few prized masterpieces than to keep boxes of artwork stashed in a closet,” says Lisa Zaslow, founder of Gotham Organizers. “But, no need to feel guilty if you don’t want to keep any of it.”
What to do with your kids’ artwork:
For the small percentage of art you keep, don’t toss it in a drawer and forget about it. The pros suggest digitizing or displaying your kids’ artwork, so you can eliminate paper clutter without throwing away cherished memories.
Organize a photo album.
Ask yourself: Is it important to keep the art in its original form or could you take a photo of it, instead? “Take a photo and make a digital or printed album of items that are too big or that don’t make sense to store,” says Zaslow.
Hang refillable frames.
Modern frames with a front opening design allow you to easily swap in artwork. Some options hold up to 50 papers at once, so you can continue to stack artwork as your little one creates.
Upload photos of art to a digital frame.
Before you toss a masterpiece, take a photo and upload it to a digital photo frame, like the Aura frame, so you can keep admiring it.
Use a service that digitizes artwork.
There are various brands that specialize in turning kids’ artwork into something special — think coffee table books, collages, gift wrap or T-shirts.”Artkive — popular for its framed mosaics — “is fantastic if you want a done-for-you service,” says Kinsella. Fill a box with artwork, send it in and they’ll professionally photograph everything.
Turn drawings into wall art.
Sites like Shutterfly and Artifact Uprising allow you to transform photos into personalized art — whether it’s a framed print, photo display box or canvas print.
Tips for decluttering kids’ artwork:
To alleviate guilt and decision fatigue, pro organizers suggest creating realistic systems for organizing your kids’ artwork.
- Sort through artwork daily. “I recycle anything that is schoolwork-related such as worksheets or spelling tests,” says Lightfoot.
- Dedicate a storage bin to each child’s art, and keep only what can fit inside. “Twice a year — mid-school year and end — I review everything we’ve collected,” says Kinsella. Get rid of anything that doesn’t feel meaningful. “I always remind myself: Nothing is precious if everything is saved.”
- At the end of the school year, file pieces into portfolio boxes. Anything that isn’t thrown away or put on display can be neatly organized and labeled for long-term storage. “These boxes create a natural physical limit for what we keep, which helps prevent overwhelm,” says Kinsella.
- Share the love. Gift creative pieces to grandparents and other family members.
- Reassess over time. “What feels precious now might feel less so in a few years, and that’s okay,” says Kinsella. “Your system can evolve as your needs change — especially as the volume of artwork ebbs and flows.”
Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) is the associate lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things home and interior design. Prior to joining GH in 2022, she wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine and LODGING Magazine, in addition to crafting product copy for home brands like BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries.
