- Nursery Articles -

Creative Toy Storage Ideas
for an Organized Home

west-elm-x-pbk-mid-century-toy-chest-o

Toys are an important part of childhood, but they tend to end up all over the place. Keep playtime fun and the rest of the time organized by decreasing clutter and getting the most out of storage. Plus, you’ll get to teach your little ones valuable lessons about the importance of staying organized. Check out our favorite toy storage ideas, from keeping their bedroom neat to ensuring the playroom is always ready for creativity.

Bedroom Storage

Their bedroom should most importantly be for sleeping, but if it also doubles as their play area, there are some great tricks for keeping the clutter to a minimum. Here are our favorite bedroom organization solutions for keeping toy storage top of mind.

Under Bed Kid Storage

When playtime is over, the empty space under their bed is a prime storage area for bigger kids. Toys on wheels can roll right underneath, puzzle boxes can stack on top of each other and small toys can tuck inside bags, baskets and bins. Optimizing this space will help you quickly and easily contain clutter so you can focus on bedtime.

Built-In Storage

Belden Bed

Take that under-bed storage to the next level with a storage bed. Beds with drawers or cubbies can give you the storage space you need in a small room. Or, if your kiddo has a tendency to scatter their toys all over their room, this will always give them a place to put everything back where it belongs. The mess will be out of sight in a flash!

Stick with the Classics

What’s more practical than a classic toy box? From stuffed animals and dolls to blocks and books, you can fill it with all of your kid’s toys and match the style of their room.

Wood. Classic and contemporary, a wooden toy box fits with whatever aesthetic you’re embracing. Paint it in your little one’s favorite color and monogram with their name or initials so they always know where to put things away. We also sell monogrammed toy storage to personalize their toy box with a classic look.

Wicker. For a natural look, a wicker toy chest is perfect for a home by the beach or one with casual decor. You can pair it with a liner that will help protect soft toys and stuffed animals from snags.

Acrylic. Modern and bold, an acrylic toy chest lets your child showcase their personality, even after playtime is over. Plus, they’ll always be reminded to “smile” when they open the lid.

Mid-Century. With clean lines and plenty of storage space, a mid-century design toy chest brings an iconic silhouette into their room. There’s even room underneath to tuck a few small toys away!

Wall Solutions

Books, action figures, art supplies, you name it. A set of shelves will give their favorite things a designated space and keep them from getting lost. Plus, they’ll always get to look at their go-to toys, keeping their imagination and creativity alive.

Hang It Up

Multi Geometric Wall Hook

A wall hook unit will keep toys off the floor and organized. It can also double as a space to hang jackets and backpacks at the end of the day, promoting good habits all around. Bonus: Hang cloth bags filled with soft toys for an easy DIY toy storage idea, or keep dress up clothes and costumes in easy reach. 

Multipurpose Furniture Storage

Charlie Dresser

You don’t need a designated storage spot to get creative! Tuck a bin under their nightstand, stack blocks on top of their dresser or pick a drawer for little items that would otherwise get lost. You don’t have to go out of your way for toy storage to be easy.

Use The Closet

Designate a few low shelves in your kiddo’s closet for some baskets and bins to hold all their toys. Larger items can sit on the floor underneath their hanging clothes. This way, you’ll always be able to put toys out of sight and have plenty of space for bedtime.

Organize Your Bathtub

Gray Tubby Bath Toy Organizer

Don’t forget about bath toy storage! Bath toys need a designated spot so they don’t get lost. With a bathtub organizer that suctions to the side of the tub, every rubber ducky and squirt toy will always have a place.

Playroom Storage Tips

Cameron Wall 3 Open Base Set

Out of the bedroom and into the playroom! Whether you have a designated playroom in your house or your living room serves double duty, there are plenty of toy storage ideas to keep everything neat and tidy. Plus, cabinet doors can help you hide toys away for a cleaner look at the end of the day. Check out our go-to playroom and living room toy storage ideas below. 

Not Just For Books!

Reading at a young age is just as important as play, so your bookshelf can serve multiple purposes. Store their favorite toys on the lower shelves for easy access and books on the top shelves to bring out at bedtime. If you’re tight on space, opt for a corner bookcase so you can optimize every square inch.  

Organizing Bins

Silver Rope Storage

It’s easy to toss everything in bins at the end of playtime. Baskets and bins are your catch-all, from blocks and soft toys to puzzles and art supplies. Attach labels to the outside so everyone always knows which bins are for blocks, art supplies and beyond.

Wicker and Woven Solutions

From a classic basket to a fun themed look, wicker and woven baskets offer versatile storage solutions. If you’re looking to complement a nature-themed playroom, a tiger-shaped basket can tuck in the corner to house all of your favorite soft toys and blankets. For a more classic look that can grow with your kiddo, a woven rope basket can adapt to a laundry hamper when they get older.

Declutter with Canvas Storage

Blue Triangle Pop Up Canvas Storage

Perfect for little ones, canvas storage baskets offer a soft solution without sharp corners and fun patterns to complement any décor. The handles make it easy to transport toys to another room and move around the playroom for easy cleanup. 

Wall Storage System

Elevate an empty wall with a wall storage unit to hold everything from books and toy baskets to your TV and movie collection. The best part is that you can customize it to your space, including color and size. It’ll help you keep the space organized and teach your little ones the value of putting things away. Be sure to keep their favorite toys on low shelves so they can easily reach them. 

Craft Table Organization

Carolina Craft Play Table

Got a house full of aspiring artists? Help them channel their creative abilities with a craft table that suits all of their needs. Drawers can hold pencils and markets, while the paper roll attached to the end of the table provides an endless blank canvas for their artistic endeavors. 

Bench Solutions

Elevate their craft table with a bench that has storage space built in. Durable and classically styled, there’s plenty of room for a few friends or siblings to express themselves and enough storage for a few bins underneath. 

Activity Table Storage

Carolina Grow-with-you Activity Table

Adaptable furniture is one of the best investments you can make with a growing family. An activity table that has plenty of room for storage underneath, plus the ability to grow taller with your little ones, is the perfect cohesive solution for your playroom.  

Out of the Box

Don’t be afraid to get creative! If you have multiple kids sharing the same playroom, giving them each a designated place to put their toys away at the end of playtime is a must. Try getting each kid a small rug or mat that designates their storage space. At the end of playtime, they can stack up all their toys on their rug to declutter the room and keep everything safe for the next day. 

Culinary Creations

Chelsea Kitchen Collection

For the little chef in your house, their play kitchen can also double as toy storage when the pretend restaurant closes for the night. Tuck all of their pretend cooking supplies, like play food and pots, inside bins in the cabinets. Plus, you can stack other bins and baskets on top to clear up floor space.

Label Everything

It may seem obvious, but labeling everything from plastic toys to the bins you use as storage will help keep everything neat. This is especially helpful if you have multiple kids and they have similar toys. This way, you’ll always know whose blocks are whose and where everything belongs.

Backyard, Beach and Beyond

Rainbow Inflatable Sprinkler

For water-loving, outdoorsy families, pool and beach supplies are essential. Designate a spot on the patio or in the garage for bags and totes after a long day in the sun. Picking a spot in the garage for outdoor toys will help keep any dirt or sand out of your home as well.

Donate What You Dont Need

There comes a point when some toys either don’t work anymore, your little one doesn’t play with them anymore or you just have too much to store properly. Whether it’s time for spring cleaning or you just need to declutter, collect everything that you don’t need anymore and donate it. This will also teach your kids the valuable lessons of charity and not having more than they need. 

Final Thoughts

When it’s time to clean up after playtime, having a storage plan will help keep you organized and happy. Plus, your little ones will always know where their favorite things are. Keep these tips and tricks in mind when it comes to reorganizing your space so that playtime is always your favorite time of day. 

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