I’ll show you how I got our kids toys organized by labelling fabric cube bins. I set up these labels back in 2020, and I’m still using these labels today. Before I installed these labels, my kids and I were struggling with toy chaos. The best part? You can remove these labels easily without damaging the fabric on the bins.

I use a lot of cube storage for toy organization for my kids, but as a family, we were struggling to get the toys back into the proper bin. At the end of each day, the kids were just stashing the toys in whatever bin had room – regardless of what was supposed to be in each container. It wasn’t easy to know at a glance what was inside the bins since they all look the same from the outside. These cube storage units looked nice when closed, but when you opened the bins, you’d never know what you would find inside.

Transparent bins weren’t the solution to this problem, because I wanted the mess to be totally hidden. I also didn’t want to purchase a new storage system when I already had these items on hand. I didn’t want to label directly onto the fabric.

How do you label fabric bins without damaging the fabric?

I came up with a solution: I created these labels that would fold over the handles of the fabric pull handles. They aren’t adhered to the bins directly, so the fabric won’t get damaged when you remover the labels later.

Since it’s not permanent, you’ll have the flexibility to be able to change up the labels as new toys are added or toys retired.

I designed this so the label would hang nicely but wouldn’t be permanently attached. My son wanted a superhero themed room, so I cut out Batman masks to feature on the left side. You could cut any image and glue it here, or if your child is young, you could print a photo of the items that should be inside the bin

I used the Cricut Maker to cut out the shapes and do the stenciling, but you can easily make these with scissors too.

Disclosure: this article contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase after visiting one of these links, I may receive a small commission at no additional expense to you. Thanks for supporting my blog and channel by shopping from my links! 💜

Step 1: Take Stock and Purge Unused Items

First, I took EVERYTHING out of all bins. Undergoing a reorganization session is the perfect time to purge any broken or unwanted toys. Anything that’s still in good condition but isn’t played with anymore goes to the donate pile. I sorted the remaining items into piles by item types; balls with balls, action figures with action figures, and so on.

Step 2: Create a Bin for Each Item Type

I created temporary labels out construction paper to keep myself on track before having the fully designed labels made. I looped them around each handle. You can see the temporary loops on some of the bins in the before pictures below:

I made a list of what labels should be made, and got to work!

What Cubes Am I Using?

I have the ClosetMaid Cubeicals storage system. However, I did buy extra storage bins from Amazon Basics – the dark grey versions pictured are the Amazon versions. Here are the two fabric bin options: ClosetMaid Cubes & Amazon Basics Cubes.

How to Make Labels for a Fabric Cube Bin

I’ve created a template and shared it on Cricut Design Space. You can access the file here. But you could also follow this guide to create your own template if you are using another cutter or cutting by hand. You can also follow this concept to fit any handle size. The dashed line on this diagram below indicates the folding/scoring line. I use a Cricut marker in the Cricut to do the labelling, then filled it in with a marker.

Cut The Labels Out

Fill in The Label Outline

Attach Theme Designs

My son is superhero obsessed, so I cut out these Batman shapes on black and grey paper to decorate the labels. The left side of left side of the label unused for the design element.

Laminate the Labels

To make the labels last longer, I like to add a protective layer to the back and front. This prevents peeling and accidental creasing.

I don’t own a dedicated laminator, but I use Duck Peel & Stick Laminate to cover both sides of the label. For each label, I cut out two pieces of transparent laminate with approximately half a centimeter or a quarter inch around each size. I’m not precise with this since I trim it down after laminating.

Peel the laminate, place one layer sticky side up. Place the label centered on top. Place a second piece of laminate on top. Press all the layers together.

With scissors, trim the laminate, leaving a small clear overlap around all the edges. Fold the two scored lines; you’ll need to snip into the overlap edge slightly to allow the laminate to bend at those corners.

Assemble the Labels

Loop the labels over the edge and secure with packing tape.

It’s been a few years since these labels have been used. We’ve moved homes, we’ve reorganized toys, and the labels are still going strong! Here is an picture taken today from inside my son’s closet.