How to Organize Your Middle School Locker

Co-authored by Alicia Oglesby

Last Updated: August 6, 2022 References

Keeping your locker organized makes life all the easier. You'll not only be able to find your stuff with greater ease, but if you take the chance to decorate it, you'll also be able to show off your locker as it will have style. Once you've cleaned up your locker, you can make it uniquely yours.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Organizing the Locker

1
Clean your locker. Whether it's the beginning of the year or the middle, your locker should be clean.^{[1]
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- At the beginning of the year, it's a good idea to wipe down your locker with cleaning wipes, as you never know what was there before you.
- In the middle of the year, clean out everything, scrub down your locker, and, if needed, get rid of the smell of your gym clothes. Hanging car air fresheners on the hooks help a lot with any such smell.
2
Put back in only the things you need. Keep things such as pictures of your best friends forever, books, binders, shelves, papers, mirror, whiteboard, etc.

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3
Make way for your supplies. Make a spot for your books, backpack, coat, etc. Keep it all very neat so that it looks more put together and so there is room for decor. Lockers aren't exactly walk-in closets, so try to keep it organized. Never have a cluttered locker.^{[2]
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4
Inspect your locker space. Remove any unnecessary items before proceeding to the next phase (personalizing).
5
Stay organized. Make sure you put things back where they belong. Even if you're rushed, try to take the time to put things in their correct spot. It won't help when you get to class and realize in your haste you grabbed your social studies binder instead of your science one.^{[3]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Personalizing the Locker

1
Pick out some locker necessities. Make them cute so it represents your personality. You'll need hand sanitizer and band-aids, but not a whole first aid kit. If it is necessary for you, bring a small makeup bag. Always have a compact mirror in your locker.^{[4]
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2
Depending on the amount of room you have in your locker left, decorate. A sticker or picture will be nice to have. A colorful whiteboard or corkboard would be nice. Try to find magnetic mini photo frames for lockers. ^{[5]
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- Locker decorations can usually be found at office supply stores like Office Depot or at department stores like Target.
3
Use gel window clings. Since most schools don't allow anything permanent or anything on the outside of the locker door, these decorative things are a must. They cling to smooth surfaces and leave no residue.
4
Hang a mobile from the hooks on top of your locker. They are fun and easy to make, and don't cost a lot of money.
5
Attach a magnetic mirror. Put your own magnets on the back of a mirror or buy a locker mirror at a store and put that on your locker door. You can get these locker mirrors at many "big box" office supply stores.^{[6]
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6
Put a whiteboard on your locker door. This is an easy way to keep track of tests and write yourself notes. You can survey the board after every class period.
7
Post a multitude of pictures. These can be some that you drew, some that remind you of something great, or a combination of the two.^{[7]
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8
Consider using a theme for your locker. This could be something like: The 70's, chocolate, Skittles, sparkly things, sports, racing, favorite colors, and so on. Maybe even puppies! However, this step is optional, as just colors or neatness make a nice look too.

Warnings

Don't use glue or paint without permission from your school. Some schools allow it but some of them don't.

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Several schools allow teachers to check into your locker with a universal key at any time. Nothing inappropriate. Remember, your locker may seem like its yours, but it still belongs to the school.

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Follow school rules about decor. You don't want to have to pay for damage.

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Wasting time decorating a locker could be spent more profitably going home earlier or doing homework or talking to friends. Perhaps you might like to prioritize what's most important.

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An organized locker is always better than a decorated one. If your decorations cause clutter, you might want to rethink them. Since lockers are small, you should first prioritize fitting your supplies in neatly, then any extras like decorations.

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