Easy Backpack Storage Ideas for Home Organization
Beat the back to school chaos with a drop zone for easy backpack storage ideas! See how we took an underused closet to create and organize a drop zone for backpack storage to use before and after school! We are already loving how it keeps everyone’s things accessible and easy to find each school day!
Well, the new school year has begun! I can’t say that everything is running perfectly smoothly yet. However, our efforts to have a designated spot for a drop zone with easy backpack storage ideas are already paying off big time!
I feel so much better not having backpacks and lunch boxes strewn across the back entryway. The kids’ daily routine is more efficient in the mornings…so far at least! Having their things in one place, easy to access, is so helpful!
Honestly, we’ve tried “easy” backpack storage ideas over the years and it seems that we have finally landed on a perfect storage solution that actually functions well for our whole family!
You might think, well, how can this post help me? I’m out of the “back to school” season of life and don’t need a backpack station anymore! However, I imagine that you still have bags, umbrellas, jackets, rain boots, or shoes that tend to want to live inside the back door. Am I right?
No matter who lives in your house or what season of life you’re in, a simple solution for home organization can be to organize a drop zone with easy backpack storage ideas…or for adult stuff too!
What is the drop zone concept?
A drop zone is the same idea as a mudroom or entryway. However, I think of a drop zone as maybe a little smaller space, specifically designed to “drop” those things we bring in when we come home from work or school.
A drop zone may consist of hooks, shelves, hanging space, drawers, baskets, storage bins, or other ways to organize things that you need quick, easy access to most days.
For us, the drop zone is ideal for easy backpack storage ideas, extra school bags, and also for extra school items. However, a drop zone would also be perfect for:
- Keys
- Purses
- Work tote bags or briefcases
- Frequently used gardening supplies
- Appropriate gear for your weather, and
- Outdoor shoes or boots…
Just to name a few things!
What is the difference between a mudroom and a drop zone?
Really, the two rooms serve the ultimate same purpose and homes may interchange the verbage. However, to me, a mudroom is more of an actual room. On the other hand, a drop zone is a specific organizational spot that is perfect for easy backpack storage ideas. The drop zone could even be inside the mudroom!
Ultimately, no matter what you call it, having a space to organize a drop zone for easy backpack storage ideas along with other things you use frequently when coming and going from home is incredibly helpful!
Do these backpack storage ideas and organization sound great to you?! The ideas definitely did to me! You don’t have to have a fancy or large room to designate as a drop zone for backpack storage ideas or whatever else you may need it for. In fact, we used a small hot water closet that was really underused and felt like a “wasted space”! If you’re looking to create a drop zone space for easy backpack storage ideas, here is what you need to do:
How do you make a drop zone at home?
- Identify a designated area for backpack storage ideas.
- Make a priority list of needs along with backpack storage ideas.
- Measure the blank wall and vertical space carefully.
- Shop and research options for practical solutions.
- Install the drop zone system.
- Organize a great organization area for backpack storage ideas and other needs.
- Teach the entire family how to use the storage system.
- Make a weekly plan to tidy up the drop zone space.
Easy Backpack Storage Ideas for Home Organization
Identify a Space to Organize a Drop Zone and Mudroom
Perhaps you are lucky enough to have a designated area or built-in space that is designed for a mudroom. It could also be called an entryway.
For my purposes, I was trying to come up with backpack storage ideas in a drop zone that is specifically for the kids’ backpack organizer, school papers, water bottles, homework folders, and other school things.
If you are like me, you might need to think outside the box in order to create a designated spot for a drop zone or mudroom space. However, it is worth the extra effort and a little extra time to create the perfect solution for your family!
We took the extra space in the hot water heater closet and made it over into our drop zone for backpack storage ideas. Previously, we had shelving in there but it really wasn’t being utilized to its best potential. However, we decided that with some creativity, it could be a great option for the backpack station. I’m all about every inch of real estate in our homing meeting its full potential! Right?!
Here are some other outside-the-box organization ideas to consider:
Make a Priority List of Needs to Organize a Drop Zone
What do you need in a drop zone?
Your list of clever backpack storage ideas and needs will differ from mine. However, maybe the list I created for our drop zone and backpack storage ideas will help you get started with thinking through your own prioritized list to create and set up your mudroom entryway space.
- Heavy double hooks to hold new backpacks
- Designated area for school shoes
- Hanging space for school jackets and rain jackets
- Storage for kids’ instruments
- Extra hooks to hold lunch boxes, school snacks, and music bags
- Bins for smaller items
- Easy access to homework supplies to take to study areas
- Shelves for storage bins to hold each child’s papers and space for extra school supplies
- Storage space for other items that I still need a little bit of the closet for: gift wrap, bin of table cloths that I need to keep but aren’t used often, extra paper goods, like paper towels (utilizing height in the closet allowed for these extras that we don’t need to get to often)
- TOP PRIORITY: Easy for the kids to use, accessible, and looks streamlined and clean.
My goal was not necessarily a beautiful area but rather a super functional and accessible space that works well for backpack storage ideas for the long run. However, your needs will be different than mine.
Pro Tip: Listing everything you want to use the space for will help you choose the best organizing solution, furniture, or system for your specific needs.
Take measurements first before trying to organize a drop zone for kids backpacks.
This step is extremely important in order to maximize the space and get the proper storage for our family command center.
We took really detailed measurements of our underused coat closet and hot water heater closet before heading out to get inspiration for our drop zone. Our measurements had to take into consideration access to the hot water heater, the electrical breaker box, and a pipe that sticks out a bit from the wall.
By taking detailed measurements, we were able to use every single inch of available space in the storage area!
Pro Tip: Take into account baseboards and door openings too!
Shop and Research Options to Organize a Drop Zone or Entryway Space
A recent trip to The Container Store had given me some inspiration and creative way for how we might better use and repurpose the hot water heater and coat closet for backpack storage ideas! So, we headed there with our measurements and a tape measure in hand.
Much to our delight, a professional organizer was able to put our detailed measurements and wish list right into the computer to generate a plan using the Elfa system. Since we had some unique needs with the breaker box, hot water heater access, and pipe, having some professional help that knew the product so well was extremely helpful!
If you do not have a Container Store nearby, THIS SYSTEM is almost exactly the same. I love the versatility of these innovative storage solutions and that we can rearrange the shelves, tracks, hooks, and rods to meet our needs as time goes on.
For your sake, hopefully your ideal solution for backpack storage ideas is a lot more simple! You may be able to just order a great piece online that fits your space. Easy breezy!
I have linked several great options in my Storage and Organization Storefront, found HERE!
It’s time to install your drop zone for kids backpacks or mudroom entryway!
You’ve already done the hardest part of prioritizing the needs, designating a space, getting detailed measurements, and researching the best option for your space.
Next, it is time to install your drop zone or mudroom entryway! Our system took Robb a few hours. You’ll want to read instructions carefully before purchasing to see what the assembly time and level of difficulty will be, if that is a factor in your decision!
How to organize a drop zone for kids backpacks:
Now your drop zone is ready to be filled up and organized! Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Put items within easy and convenient reach of the family member or members who need to use them.
- Use hard to reach spaces for “extras” or things that you do not need to access often. It’s great to maximize this storage, though, so don’t discount the high shelves!
- Include a variety of organizational items such as bins with lids, baskets, shelves, and hanging space. You may also choose to include a small family command center to leave notes, important reminders, or important papers.
- Invest in containers and organizers that all blend and look nice together. It just helps the entire space feel more cohesive, even when adding in everyone’s different personalities…aka…backpack styles! Haha!
- Come back and tweak the things that just aren’t working. I don’t usually nail home organization perfectly the first time around! It’s okay to try something, rearrange, and make small changes if needed!
Teach kids how to use the drop zone you’ve created.
Guess what? With a little effort, kids are able to organize and keep things tidy!!! It’s true! However, it won’t come naturally to most of them. Your newly organized drop zone is a perfect teachable lesson in simple organization. At the same time, kids can learn responsibility for their things. They can also take pride in helping your family unit operate more smoothly and efficiently
However, kids may need you to show them (more than once) how to use the space you’ve created. I know I will need to have patience as we all get used to the new organizational system!
Here are a few tips from a mom and teacher:
- Repetition is key; showing them one time probably isn’t enough.
- Involve kids in setting up and designing easy backpack storage ideas so they feel ownership of this new, pretty space.
- Experiment with different easy backpack storage ideas for organization to see what works best for them.
- Have patience and grace!
- Make the drop zone part of their daily chores and or routines at the end of the day to help keep it tidy.
Create a weekly plan to keep the new drop zone organized
Guess what else?! I know our drop zone is going to get really messy sometimes. It’s just the nature of busy family life with three kids and all of their things. I am scheduling a time into my weekly routine to take a few minutes and freshen it up. At the same time, I will involve my kids in the process so we are working together as a team. This is just another way to help them build organizational skills too!
Scheduling a time to do this each will helps me keep on top of it. Otherwise, it would build up until it was driving me crazy and then I would be soooo frustrated! Instead, I’m going to try and work ahead of that to stay on top of it.
Disclaimer: If you come to my house, don’t look too closely, please. I know it won’t be a perfect system!
Are you inspired to do some organizing?!
I’ll be honest, once again, and say that our home is not a picture of perfect organization. However, any effort for these easy backpack storage ideas is better than nothing at all. For me, the efforts to create a tidy and organized home are well worth it. I feel so much more restful and peaceful in a tidy space and I want my family to be able to have that same experience!
I hope our little hot water heater closet, with its easy backpack storage ideas, offers some inspiration for you to think outside the box and inspiration to make even a small space in. your home work more efficiently for your family!
You may also enjoy these posts:
- 21 Tips for Back to School to Survive (and Thrive) as a Family 2023
- 7 Best Tips for a Successful Back to School
- Simple and Easy Ideas to Organize a Kitchen Like a Pro
- 15 Simple Ways to Transition Your Home Decor from Summer to Fall
- How to Make the Best Affordable and Simple Crock Pot Meals for the Whole Family
- The Best 7 Thrifted Fall Home Decor Items to Shop For
- Design Ideas to Create a Rustic Neutral Living Room for Fall
- 44 Easy Ideas to Decorate a Kitchen Table for Fall
(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Posts on Robyn’s French Nest may contain affiliate links. You can see our full disclosure details here.)
Gallery
Recent Comments