10 DIY Solutions for Back-to-School Organization

Homework help

Survive homework meltdowns with a dedicated workspace equipped with a cute caddy like this one by Sandy Toes and Popsicles. With some recycled cans and colorful paints, you’re on your way to a homework center with all the tools to get the job done.

Sports control

Have a house full of junior athletes? Organize the family’s sports equipment with this DIY garage pegboard idea by Shaped by Grace. Help start the school year off uncluttered with an outlined home for bats, bags, and balls.

Mom bag

We know you probably already have all of the essentials bottom-feeding in your hard-working carryall. Get the goodies organized with this DIY purse kit by All Things Thrifty. What a great and inexpensive gift to give to those moms new to the peculiar joys and challenges of back-to-school preparedness.

Lunch center

The morning routine is a flurry of action. Make lunch decisions easier with this genius DIY lunch station idea by Uncommon Designs. All the components are organized for build-a-lunch success.

Closet prep

The Crafting Chicks offer a solution for organizing a week’s worth of clothes with these DIY printable Monday through Friday clothing tags. Assemble outfits right out of the washer and dryer and the I-have-nothing-to-wear morning runaround is gone!

Daily routines

Morning and afternoon free time gets organized with this routine chart idea by The 36th Avenue. Using a dry-erase board as the base, the checklist can be used daily to make sure the kids use their time efficiently.

Command center

Confine the family mess to one place with this family center idea by The Homes I Have Made. Backpacks, routine charts, shoes and emergency phone numbers all have a place to call home here so they don’t find a way to spread throughout the house.

Portable homework binder

Create a binder with all the supplies needed to do homework on the go! Just get a three-ring binder with pockets on the inside covers and add supplies. Think loose leaf paper, a pencil pouch with pencils, pens, erasers and paper clips, sticky notes, you name it! Then when you are sitting and waiting at one child’s activity, or just in the car, stick worksheets or other work in the binder pocket and kids can do homework on the go. Check out full details on the Homemade by Carmona website. 

Cord organizer

Once kids hit middle school (and sometimes before), they have their own set of devices with charging cords. This sushi-like cord roll  from Brit. Co is perfect for keeping those cords organized. Teens can make the cord roll  themselves, but parents will need to do the cutting for younger kids in this genius, no-sew project.

Chalkboard notebook

These notebooks from Brepurposed are fun for kids to make themselves. Notebooks are on every kid’s supply list but you can make theirs special with simple chalkboard paint. So easy yet so impressive. Check out the instructions on the blog.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in August 2018, and updated in August 2021.