Looking for an Art Cart to Organize Kid Art Supplies? I was. It was time to get the loose stickers off the ground and put the scattered markers in an art cart. Everything needed a home. This art cart is accessible for kids, and families can control which art materials go inside the cart. Spoiler: you don’t have to buy out Michaels to begin. As a former teacher, I strongly believe it is important to start small and build over time—more on this in this post. Let’s get started!
RELATED: Love art as much as we do? 20+ craft supplies will get you started!
How do you stock an art cart?
Begin stocking your art cabinet or a rolling cart with a few items you know your child is familiar with. Washable markers, kid scissors, cardboard, painter’s tape, and a glue stick are excellent art materials. You can always add more supplies as your child creates art projects and can use a few more items. The art cart is self-serve and child-led, so include items you feel comfortable with your child using.
Why is this important? Too many supplies can lead to overwhelm, which will likely lead to not respecting the art supplies. Instead, show your child how to take out what they are looking for and where to put it back when finished. If you spend a few days building the routine, it will become a habit.
Art will likely become part of your child’s daily living and play, so building routines to use the art cart is an important step. You don’t need to add the easel paint cups on day one. One thing is for certain. If you make art supplies available, they will likely be used with more respect than when viewed as something a child sneaks to get access to.
Involve your child in the setup
I assure you, this was not the easiest task. Getting the art center resources was a lot of redirecting and refocusing. My three-year-old was certain the bottom drawer should be used for his Matchbox cars and the top shelf for Legos.
However, having your child help assemble the trolley art cart will help them take ownership. And children who help feel empowered. Have your child help with age-appropriate tasks.
Offer age-appropriate tasks:
- Test which markers work
- Add stickers to the bottom shelf
- Fill the storage compartments with painter’s tape
Why Include Kids to Fill the Art Cart?
Investment. When children are involved in the decision process, they are MORE LIKELY to keep the art supply cabinet tidy and put the stamp markers back with the stamp markers.
The entire point of organizing art supplies is that the art supplies have a place to call home. When children understand the system, they are more likely to use it!!!
Test your markers
Okay, so it is likely that many of your markers are missing their caps. Such is life with little kids. And yep! I’ve got a solution how for making watercolors out of dried-out markers. Checking for dried-out markers also makes a fantastic Breakfast Invitation.
- Label one bin with a happy face – this represents the markers that work.
- Label the other bin with a sad face, representing the markers that no longer work.
- Allow your child to test and sort the markers – getting them involved is good.
- Throw away the markers that no longer work – your kids can help with this step too!
- Sort the markers that do – a great additional activity that helps with math and problem-solving.
My toddler and five-year-old came back and forth with this activity as the boys shifted their attention. Remember that it is age-appropriate for your child to lose interest and return. Toward the end, I sat with them to finish the job.
Incorporating art (like this watercolor painting idea) into every day is a gift we do not want to take away from our children. That’s why an art supply cabinet is a must!
Art cart details
Let’s get to the good stuff. We like to use the IKEA Alex five-drawer cart with wheels. If you have less space, the rolling cart is a great solution to add more process art to your day.
Days with Grey participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I also earn from qualifying purchases on Reward Style. Read more about these links in my disclosure policy.
This art cart is one of my favorite things I set up for the boys when they were younger. They turned to art and crafting on most days when we were bored and stuck inside.
This is a functional system for small spaces. Use it for art supplies or magnetic tiles.
What do you put inside the storage drawers?
Again, put art supplies you are most comfortable with and what your child is most familiar with. You do not have to fill the cart. Below are some suggestions, but slowly add as you go. I like to use these three storage containers to help organize the supplies.
Use these storage containers to contain card games, crayons, dice, and other small parts and pieces you cannot find a home for.
I found these storage bins this year on Amazon. They fit in the art cart and contain markers, pipe cleaners, paintbrushes, and watercolors.
This is a functional system for construction paper, stickers, and school papers.
RELATED: Proper toy storage starts with these tips.
Inside the drawers
Remember, you do not need to fill the drawers all at once. We added on this over time as the boys got used to the system.
Art cart drawer one
- Crayola Washable Markers: Washable…need I say more?!
- Highlighters: These are a must in your art supply cabinet to help with tracing shapes.
- IKEA colored pencils: Everyone needs some color!
- Skinny Markers: A really good addition so children can explore different sizes.
- Stamp Markers: I love having stamps in my art supply cabinet; they’re so much fun!
RELATED: Love to paint? Here is how to paint with kids.
Art cart drawer two
- Clothespins: Great for developing fine motor skills in your art supply storage cabinets.
- Honeysticks Crayons: These are perfect for one-year-olds.
- Hole Puncher: This is best for making DIY confetti and also for organizing paper
- Paper Clips: A super simple way to keep art together and let kids experiment.
- Post-It Notes: You always need stationary in your art supply cabinet!
- Tissue paper squares: A quick and easy addition to your craft supplies.
- Washi Tape: This stuff peels off easily, so it won’t leave any marks if it gets stuck somewhere in the house!
RELATED: You can use these art supplies for Sticky Pumpkin and Washi Measurement Game.
Art cart drawer three
- Glue: I prefer the large containers to refill what I already have.
- Glue sticks: trying to keep the lids on is a nightmare! But these help my kids’ creations.
- Jumbo Craft Sticks: I always keep a stack in my art supply storage cabinet.
- Mini clothespins: You can use these in your art supply cabinet in so many ways!
- Painters swatches: Find them at your local paint store.
- Rubber bands
- Stapler: Use supervision with those tiny hands.
- Scissors: I know, I know.
- Tape: Top off with tape to keep the art supply cabinet going.
Art Supply Cart Drawers Four and Five
- Cardboard: Who doesn’t have that in the house?!
- Paper tubes: These never get old!
- Small pieces of wood: These are so much fun to color and maybe even practice nailing into with supervision.
- Sandpaper: Give this a try in this drawer, along with the wood.
RELATED: Here are 40 terrific painting ideas for kids.
Art supply cabinet drawer six
Save this drawer for your random sticker collection. Here, we have traditional stickers and felt.
- Felt Alphabet: These ones are all uppercase which is great for a first learner.
- Felt Numbers: This is a terrific addition to include math in your art supply cabinet
- REUSABLE sticker book: What, reusable?! You heard me right!
- Sticker book: We love this sticker book.
Art book and inspo
What is an art cart without some inspiration to reuse egg cartons, cardboard, and fabric scraps? This book is my all-time FAVORITE book to use and share with you.
This process art workbook has lived on our shelves for years. We LOVE it! Inside are 25 process art experiences that allow children to take the lead and create from recyclables. This book has inspired years of ideas. (and time to sit on the sidelines for me)
Now Your Art Supply Cabinet is Ready to Go!
Invite your children to create and see what they can make. What will you add to your art cart? We LOVE ours and use it every day!
Who has time to search for ideas?
Save with the PDF bundle to have everything you need on your digital device without ad interruptions.
More art, please!
- Art Cart – Kids Art Supply Organization
- Tissue Paper Pumpkin Art
- Nature Murals; An Outdoor Art Idea
- Bubble Wrap Art
- Easter Art Paintings for Kids
Begin storing art supplies with a few items at a time. Make sure each art supply has its own container. This helps with cleanup. Learn how to use one art supply at a time, and add more as your child demonstrates responsibility. Keep in mind that less is more.
Art caddies make great alternatives to an art cabinet. Add washable markers, a glue stick, blunt-edge kid scissors, and some paper. Store the art caddy on a table, or put in a cabinet to be taken out as needed.
Include your child in setting up the art cart. This helps children take ownership of what they have. Include your child in cleaning up and checking for dried-out markers. Involving your child will help them better understand how to keep the art supplies tidy over time.
Love this post! Thank you- as an Art teacher you would think that I could do this on my own (smh) but it’s harder than you think.
I have a few questions though. Where is this space in the pictures? Is this the playroom? Also, what about the 1 year old that can open the drawers, pull out all the markers, possibly color on the curtains, suck on the markers, pull all the tape out of the dispenser, etc. LOL I have a 16 month old and I just can see it ALL go down right now, haha.
Hey Tricia!
The set up is in the playroom. Blog post coming soon since we just spent time making it a more usable space.
I hear you! Setting something up and then having my 18 month old rummage through it is not my favorite to watch.
However, I don’t discourage it. I try to stay close and offer help by bringing him back to the table with the supply and showing him his workspace. This isn’t saying that accidents don’t happen, but by having him feel comfortable also being able to use the space helps with bing able to respect the space down the road. Also, since the big guys helped set it up, they seem to help with the management of putting it back where it belongs. LOL
Dried up markers can be recycled through Crayola’s Colorcycle program at a nearby school that participates – which is a great message for little ones to learn about recycling.
Thank you for sharing this!!
I love this! But did I miss it somewhere, exactly which IKEA cabinet is this? It’s so hard to search their site, or store! Thanks ?
frantically scrolls and clicks through DWG blog posts to find THE. ONE.
I’m remembering this post today. Came back to it because I have a situation: My 6.5 year old is a crafter/creator/jr. engineer/etc… I love the creativity and want to support it. BUT the messes her exploring creates are going to be the end of me. I’m trying to find a way to allow for some level of independence but also set expectations for clean-up and storage of future materials. What do you think?
I’m in the process of setting up an art cart and got those washi tapes. Where is that wooden holder from? Thank you!
Hi! This wooden dispenser came with the tape. I do not see a link right now for it on Amazon, but it is the size of painter’s tape.