With their enthusiasm and imaginative ways, children bring joy to our lives and make us smile. But they can also cause a little chaos in our homes- especially when it comes to toys. As much as we love our little ones, we don’t necessarily like the clutter of toys competing with our beautifully designed living spaces.
What’s the solution to this problem? Combine necessity with style by choosing toy storage that works with the decor in your home. Let’s take a look at some toy storage ideas sure to please even the poshest of design enthusiasts.
Mobile Storage Makes Play Easier
While organizing and storing toys is easier when they’re limited to the playroom, some families like the flexibility of having playtime in any space. Consider keeping toys your children play with the most in a mobile unit, like these wooden crates from Cozy. Cottage. Cute. The antique dynamite crates are perfect for little hands to wheel around, and chic enough for you to keep on display.
Perfect for smaller toys like Lego’s, shoe boxes can help organize little pieces so you’ll be sure they stay together. They don’t take up much room, and can be slid under a bed or stacked in a corner for convenience. Instead of using a plain old box from your closet, try using ones that feature a design, like these from The Gold Jellybean.
If you prefer an easier method for carrying toys from room to room, suitcases offer a unique storage solution. Older suitcases give a vintage vibe, while newer ones fit right in with a modern home. For a shock of color kids are sure to love, try finding suitcases in a fun hue like this turquoise and lime green set from The Land of Nod.
Decorative Bins That Add a Special Touch
Long gone are the days when our only toy storage choice was a boring, plastic bin. Now, plastic is being pushed aside in favor of a different material- canvas. We’re not talking about any average canvas bin, however. These bins add a special touch to any room. Plus, they’re durable and easy to clean.
With more and more products appealing to savvy and chic homeowners, you no longer have to choose from plain, solid storage bins. There are now an abundance of colors and patterns from which to choose. In a room that features a neutral palette, a pattern like these polka dot bins can add some visual interest. [from Little Green Notebook]
What’s great about these canvas bins from Pottery Barn Kids is the extra feature of personalized labels. If you have more than one child or just like ways to keep toys better organized, consider labeling your canvas bins. If you’re looking for a more classic look, monograms are also a great option.
Canvas bins are perfect organization tools for shelving units. They’re available in a variety of sizes, so be sure to choose bins that are at least two to three inches shorter than the shelf opening. That way, they’re easy to slide in and out. Bins that feature the color of the shelving unit in their design, like these blue and white bins from Pottery Barn Kids, create a seamless look.
Units that Pull Double-Duty
When you’re trying to manage the clutter of toys in your household, it’s important to have a designated place for every item. If you’re unable to dedicated an entire room to playtime, a unit like this multipurpose storage cubby from Brookstone is perfect for you. Multiple bins allow you to use as few or as many cubbies as you need for toys without sacrificing space for other items, like shoes or books. Organizers like this would work well in a mudroom or next to a back door- you can stash away outdoor toys and shoes as you enter the house.
Don’t worry- you don’t have to go out and buy a special storage unit just for toys. Consider using furniture that’s a little easier to find, like a dresser. Dressers are simple to customize to compliment any room design. With convenient pull handles, they’re also easy for kids to use. And the best part? When your children get older, you can swap out the toys for added clothing storage. [from Canadian House & Home]
If you happen to have built-in shelves in your home, you already have a great starting point for toy organization. Aside from their beauty, built-in shelves help maximize storage potential by allowing you to house toys all the way to the ceiling. Separate toys into plastic or canvas bins and place them on the lower shelves for kid-friendly accessibility. If you plan to use the shelves for more than one purpose, use the higher shelves for books, delicate decor, or anything you want out of easy reach. [from Decor This]
Seating-Turned-Storage Ideas
In multipurpose areas like living rooms, storing toys out of sight when not in use is a must. Furniture like ottomans or this bench from Land of Nod add seating and keep toys off the floor so the whole family can relax and move around with ease.
If you like the idea of additional seating, but plan on keeping toys in your child’s bedroom, fun design elements like chalkboard paint make bench storage more appealing to younger tastes. Personalize the bench with your child’s name, or allow them to use their creativity and change it up with doodles or poems. [from Decor Pad]
Buildable Units Offer Customization
Life is unpredictable, and you never know how your storage needs may change. The addition of more children to your family or a move to a different home may call for a reconfiguration of your toy storage system. That’s why a shelving system like this one from iToyBoxes is ideal. Its flexibility allows you to use a single cubby unit, or stack a few to create custom storage.
These storage ideas offer simple solutions for managing even the largest collection of toys. As long as you address your family’s personal needs, you’ll be sure to create a system that works perfectly in your home. Did this list sparked an idea? Tell us about it in a comment below.
