10 clever ways to store and display your kids’ art
13.3.2026
Translation: Veronica Bielawski
Pictures: Ann-Kathrin Schäfer
Even Picasso said that there’s an artist in every child. But where do you put all their artwork? Here are ten ideas for organising and displaying it.
I love watching my children draw. They’re totally focused – lips pursed, heads slightly tilted. A creative hush comes over the room as I marvel at how beautifully they bring the world and their imagination to paper. When they were younger, crayons would race wildly across the page, watercolours would bleed beautifully into one another. The older they get, the more detailed their drawings of buses, police cars, tower blocks, hospitals and floor plans become.
But then comes the evening, and a fresh pile of drawings lands on the dining table on top of the previous already-toppling pile. I almost feel a flicker of panic when I realise there are now even more little masterpieces waiting to be homed.
Do you know the feeling? If so, the following nine ideas I’ve come across throughout parenthood might help. They give children’s artwork the place it deserves and help you keep a bit of order throughout the creative frenzy.
I do have a confession: despite following several of these tips myself, fresh drawings have again piled up on the dining table waiting to be sorted… I’ll get to them later. But first, let’s go over the theory.
1. For the season: the rotating exhibition
One thing I admire every time I visit our lovely neighbours is their rotating exhibition. Taped to the back of the kitchen counter are works of art that match each other thematically and even fit the season. Right now, I imagine pictures of crocuses and tulips hanging there. Until recently, it was pictures of skiers, mountains and snow. Easter, Halloween and Christmas all get a feature too. The exhibition includes pieces by everyone in the household, sometimes even the adults. I think this is a lovely way to decorate your home in a way that’s personal and creative. If you don’t have a big kitchen counter, you can hang up a clothesline and clip the drawings to it instead.
2. For a feature: clips
I saw this in a friend’s hallway: one of their kids’ drawings hanging on the wall from a binder clip. It looks genuinely artistic in her old-style flat, displayed where visitors can stop to admire it. This system also makes it easy to swap the picture out regularly.
3. For safekeeping: folders
A few years ago, we discovered folders – and with them the first real sigh of relief. Nothing’s quicker than putting that newly completed work of art straight into a folder. We have one for each child. Before you slide the drawing in, it’s a good idea to grab a pencil and jot down who drew it and when – and possibly what’s on it. I recommend getting as large a folder as possible so there’s ample space for oversized (at least A3-sized) pieces. Every few months, take some time to go through the folders with your kids – and maybe use the opportunity to clear out a few pieces, too. Follow the motto: only the best drawings make it into the folder.
4. For a mass exhibition: the magnetic wall
One of my kitchen walls is magnetic and covered in my children’s drawings. They love stopping in front of it to admire their work. Every so often, one drawing has to disappear into the folder to make room for new artwork. Instead of a magnetic wall, you can also use adhesive strips on a door, or a pin board.
5. For style: the oak frame
When I was a kid, my parents hung up the artwork my siblings and I created in frames above the couch. My grandmother still has a framed piece of mine on her wall that I gave her as a child. Seeing it there filled me with pride and made me feel like quite a good artist. And because I think my children’s artwork is artistically valuable and genuinely beautiful, I’m continuing that tradition. So, I’ve got framed children’s drawings hanging in my living room and hallway. I really like the ChiCura oak frames, for example. They’re made with real glass and are available in A3 and A4 sizes. I’m also a fan of magnetic poster hangers and canvas for acrylic paintings. As Pablo Picasso is said to have remarked: «Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.»
6. For style and safekeeping: the storage frame
And when there’s more artwork deserving of wall space than space on your wall, you can opt for storage frames designed specially for children’s drawings. What makes them special? Well, they offer space for a stack of up to 100 drawings. One such frame comes from the brand Jamu and is produced by the socially committed Züriwerk Foundation in the Zurich Oberland region. My colleague Patrick tested the picture frame and highly recommended it with five out of five stars.
7. For greetings: artwork on cards
The digital revolution aside, I still love sending and receiving physical cards on Christmas and birthdays. I think they’re especially lovely when made by children. What we’ve also done before is scanned our child’s drawing, printed out several copies on photo paper, and glued them onto blank cards. Just like that, you’ve got yourself personal greeting and Christmas cards.
8. For flipping through: the album
Depending on the size of the drawings, you can easily stick them into an album. You can also always scan them and print them out in a smaller size. And if you want to go above and beyond, you can round off the album with text. That way, you have a lovely memento that showcases your child’s development. Standard binders with sleeves, photo albums or scrapbooks all work well. Alternatively, you can go with your photo book provider of choice. You'll find plenty online. Another option – though it’s not as fun to look at with kids – is to create a digital photo album.
9. For order: the three-stage system
I got this tip exclusively for this article from a very well-organised relative. She developed her patented three-stage system. Here’s the gist: Stage 1: gather all the drawings and place them on a spare chair at the end of your table. Don’t worry about creating any semblance of order yet. The pile can – even should – be chaotic and not yet sorted by child. It can even include school worksheets, unsharpened pencils and paper ads. Stage 2: take the time to sort the drawings into plastic sleeves by child. Weed out anything unusable at this stage. Stage 3: file only the best drawings into a binder for each child. Keep these binders in the kitchen next to your cookbooks until there’s no room left for any more drawings. After that, label them with the year and move them to your basement or attic. It’s time to start a new binder! Smart system, eh?
10. For floof lovers: transformation into a rug
To end things on an original note, there’s Swiss start-up Tufty. It’s socially minded, employing people with disabilities who turn children’s drawings into fluffy rugs and doormats. What a way to show long-lasting appreciation for your child’s art, all while adding colour to your living space. It also makes a lovely gift idea, for example for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day.
Source: Tufty Teppichatelier
What do you do with all your children’s beautiful creations? Let me know in the comments!
Ann-Kathrin Schäfer
Editor freelance
simon.balissat@digitecgalaxus.chI'm really a journalist, but in recent years I've also been working more and more as a pound cake baker, family dog trainer and expert on diggers. My heart melts when I see my children laugh with tears of joy as they fall asleep blissfully next to each other in the evening. They give me inspiration to write every day - they've also shown me the difference between a wheel loader, an asphalt paver and a bulldozer.
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