Faced by a sea of toys, it’s sometimes hard to feel like you’ll ever be organized. No matter how many limits we place on our kids, it seems the toy deposits in each room of the house will one day make us crazy. The constant picking up can be too much. Even if you’re lucky enough to have a play room, it can still be a source of frustration to keep it organized enough so toys actually get played with. Today is the day we conquer the clutter!
First, separate small toys by category - cars, dolls, figurines, art supplies, etc. This is one area where you can likely purge a lot of stuff that’s not used or needed (or won’t be missed). Once you have your piles, put them into labeled storage containers (baskets, buckets, boxes, etc). If your kids are too young to read, label with photos they recognize so they know where to put them back. Ziplocs work well for keeping very small sets of toys together.
If you can make room on shelves, bookcases or in cabinets, it’s an ideal way to store away containers and keep things neat. Larger toys can be placed inside a closet or in a corner in large floor bins or totes. Give each of your children their own place to store their special toys so there is no fighting over them.
Another crucial step is to have a conversation with your kids about the mess and how it affects the family. Establish some ground rules for cleaning up and have older children help you. Then, set some guidelines for keeping it up. Limit toys to specific rooms and identify a place for everything. Clean up toys at the end of every day or get your kids in the habit of cleaning up one mess before moving on to another. Establishing good habits is a key to keeping your home from looking like a preschool.
We like to do a clean-out every 6 months to get rid of toys that have been outgrown and don’t get played with, then we donate them to a local school, handmedowns.com or a children’s hospital. One trick to use in this process it to set aside toys you don’t see your kids using and store them in a closet. When you reintroduce them, you’ll find your child is either really excited to see them reemerge or they haven’t been missed and it’s time to donate them.
Once you have a handle on your storage needs, here are some of our favorite ways to put it all away.
Toy Chests
A toy chest has long been a useful solution for storage that looks good and holds a lot. This white blanket chest is a nice option for a kid’s room, entry or bedroom because the classic design goes with everything.
We love the modern style of this handmade toy box. It has two easy lift-off lids that are made for little hands and two compartments for easy sorting or sharing. A piece this unique doesn’t come cheap, but if you’re looking for something with great design, it’s worth it.
Storage Units
Michele and Gia, the co-founders of Momologie, have these rolling storage units in their sons’ bedrooms. The clean lines fit anywhere and look great with the banana fiber baskets from Ikea (below) or colorful canvas bins.
If you have a lot of space or a big playroom, then this large storage unit is perfect for keeping things mostly out of sight. Fill baskets or bins with toys, art supplies, and books and tuck them away neatly.
White InterMetro shelving looks great in a casual setting such as a playroom. You can customize units to hold bins, serve as built-in baskets and fit whatever space you have to work with. Each shelf supports up to 300 pounds.
Storage Bench
For small spaces or near your main entrance, a storage bench is a great choice tucking away toys and gear you use on your way out the door. Add a cushion and some baskets, and you’ll maximize functionality.
Toy Organizer
We love the innovative design of this toy bin cubby. The bins can lay flat or swivel so it’s easy for kids to reach. The bin dividers are removable so you can store a multitude of items of varying sizes from the smallest Lego to oversized puzzles and everything in between. As a bonus, this unit can graduate from kid use to grown-up storage.
Storage Ottoman
A storage ottoman is another great choice for your living space or bedroom. Put your feet up, take a seat or flip the lid to reveal a finished wood side table or toddler play table. Several of these colorful ottomans can stack to make a tower and free up floor space, all while you stow away toys and other stray items inside.
Storage Containers
These durable, colorful bins will make a statement in any room, and we love the size of the floor bin for oversized toys.
The locker room inspiration for these metal bins makes them perfect for a sporty boy’s room or playroom.
These banana fiber baskets look great in the rolling storage unit above because they fit perfectly and add a natural contrast to the simple design.
You can’t go wrong with classic wicker baskets for storing toys. They’re durable and look good anywhere.
These inexpensive bins from Ikea are big on style with a whimsical circle pattern and fun color, perfect for a kids-only space.
We love this fabric tote for storing toys. The handles make it easy to carry around a room, so it can serve double duty for keeping other household items like remote controls, books, newspapers, magazines or even laundry.
These stylish soft-canvas bins are sturdy enough to hold heavy items and be carried throughout the house.
These personalized tubs or buckets are the most unique choice we’ve seen for stashing toys, and we really like the way graphics and color can be customized to fit your décor.
