How to Do a Room Reset with Your Kids

Resetting your child’s room once or twice a year can make it easier for them to keep it clean. Here’s how to declutter, organize, and set them up for success—plus a printable checklist!

Still struggling to keep your kids’ rooms clean?

You’re not alone. And the solution probably isn’t another labeled bin or chore chart.

It might be something a little simpler… and a little more hands-on.

Here’s the truth:

The Reason Kids’ Rooms Stay Messy

We often expect our kids to maintain a space that’s already overwhelming.

Too much stuff.
Too little system.
Too easy to give up and shove everything under the bed (we’ve all seen it).

If their room feels like a never-ending to-do list every time they walk in, it’s no wonder they resist cleaning it.

The Fix: A Full Room Reset (1–2x a Year)

Instead of asking them to manage a space that’s not working, reset it with them.

Once or twice a year—at the start of summer, the beginning of a school year, before Christmas, a birthday, or whenever things feel extra chaotic—go in together and do a full refresh:

• Clear out the random junk
• Donate clothes they’ve outgrown
• Remove toys they don’t use anymore
• Re-home books they’ve already read (or never will)

Think of it like spring cleaning… for small humans with very strong opinions on who stays and who goes (looking at you, headless Barbie).

Then, Rebuild the Space With a Plan

Once the clutter is out, help them rebuild the space in a way that makes sense:

• Set boundaries: No one needs 14 bins of stuffed animals. Choose favorites, then donate the rest.
• Group like items together and assign homes.
• Add labels to drawers, bins, shelves, etc. so there’s no confusion on what goes where. (Pictured labels work great for younger kids.)
• Leave open space on purpose. It makes daily cleanup faster and less frustrating.

This isn’t about making the room Pinterest-worthy—it’s about making it manageable.

Why It Works

When a room is simplified, kids are more likely to keep it clean on their own.

Not perfectly. Not every day. But without the power struggles, meltdowns, or you having to sneak in after bedtime with a laundry basket.

The goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress.

Want to Make It Fun (Or at Least Tolerable)?

Once everything is clean and reset, let them pick one small item to freshen up the space:

• A cute new pillow
• A framed piece of their art
• A mini rug or new nightlight
• A favorite poster or sign

It doesn’t have to be expensive—it just has to feel theirs.

You’re Not Just Cleaning a Room…

You’re teaching your child how to manage their space.
How to make decisions about what they keep.
How to care for what they own.
How to make their room a space that works for them.

That’s a life skill they’ll use forever—even if they don’t know it yet.

Grab the Printable Checklist:

Want a step-by-step checklist to make your next room reset easy

It breaks down the entire process by zone—closet, dresser, desk, shelves, under the bed, and more—so your child can follow along and take ownership of their space.

This simple reset might take a few hours.
But the results?
Less stress for them.
Fewer fights for you.
And a room that feels calm, not chaotic.