How Do I... Store Toys in a Small Home?
Toys can quickly turn a small home into a cluttered mess – a pro reveals the secrets to taming toys in a compact home
In this practical series, we ask experts to answer your burning design and decorating questions. Bonnie Black, aka Little Miss Organised, is a professional organiser and a member of the Institute of Professional Organisers International (IOPO). Here, she shares her top tips for tackling kids’ toy storage.
Declutter
The first step to taking control of toys is a thorough declutter. The aim is to figure out exactly what you need to store and what you can let go of.
It’s important to involve your children in the culling process. Even toddlers can understand the concept of ‘saying goodbye’ to a toy, and it’s great to start teaching them about letting go from a young age. In my experience, a toddler can focus on this activity for 5 to 10 minutes at a time, and a primary school-aged child can usually do it for around 60 to 90 minutes before needing a break.
Once you’ve decluttered, maintaining order is fairly easy. Before each influx of new toys – birthdays and Christmas, for example – have your children fill a laundry basket with the toys and books they no longer use. The space they’ve cleared paves the way for new items. If any toys come in during the year, make a habit of removing a toy of equal size. These two simple habits will go a long way towards making sure toys don’t get out of control.
The first step to taking control of toys is a thorough declutter. The aim is to figure out exactly what you need to store and what you can let go of.
It’s important to involve your children in the culling process. Even toddlers can understand the concept of ‘saying goodbye’ to a toy, and it’s great to start teaching them about letting go from a young age. In my experience, a toddler can focus on this activity for 5 to 10 minutes at a time, and a primary school-aged child can usually do it for around 60 to 90 minutes before needing a break.
Once you’ve decluttered, maintaining order is fairly easy. Before each influx of new toys – birthdays and Christmas, for example – have your children fill a laundry basket with the toys and books they no longer use. The space they’ve cleared paves the way for new items. If any toys come in during the year, make a habit of removing a toy of equal size. These two simple habits will go a long way towards making sure toys don’t get out of control.
Know when to let go
Unsure which toys to keep and which to dispose of or donate? Ask yourself: does your child actually play with this toy? Does it still have all the pieces? Does it bring them joy? Holding onto toys they no longer play with or were never particularly interested in simply wastes precious storage space. Make room for the things your child loves, and say goodbye to the ones they don’t.
Unsure which toys to keep and which to dispose of or donate? Ask yourself: does your child actually play with this toy? Does it still have all the pieces? Does it bring them joy? Holding onto toys they no longer play with or were never particularly interested in simply wastes precious storage space. Make room for the things your child loves, and say goodbye to the ones they don’t.
Storing bulky toys
Toys for babies and toddlers can present the biggest storage challenge as they are often bulky, awkwardly shaped and don’t easily fit onto shelves. Rather than trying to squeeze them into cupboards or onto shelves where they simply don’t fit, it’s often simpler to choose a few of your child’s favourites and create dedicated space for them in the room.
Once your child has outgrown a particular toy, don’t fall into the trap of moving it to the garage or spare room. Be ruthless about finding it a new home or donating it – the last thing you want is to move a piece of clutter from one room of the house to another.
Toys for babies and toddlers can present the biggest storage challenge as they are often bulky, awkwardly shaped and don’t easily fit onto shelves. Rather than trying to squeeze them into cupboards or onto shelves where they simply don’t fit, it’s often simpler to choose a few of your child’s favourites and create dedicated space for them in the room.
Once your child has outgrown a particular toy, don’t fall into the trap of moving it to the garage or spare room. Be ruthless about finding it a new home or donating it – the last thing you want is to move a piece of clutter from one room of the house to another.
Keep surfaces clear
The horizontal surfaces in a room – floors and tabletops mostly – are your children’s play zones, so it’s important to keep them as clear as possible. You’ll want them to have space to lay out a train set or spread out a tea party.
You can help keep floors and tabletops clear by making the most of your vertical space for storage. Built-in floor-to-ceiling shelves or cupboards make the best use of space. If that’s not an option, consider freestanding shelving, such as a cube unit (make sure they are safely bracketed to the wall), or pegboards for hanging items.
The horizontal surfaces in a room – floors and tabletops mostly – are your children’s play zones, so it’s important to keep them as clear as possible. You’ll want them to have space to lay out a train set or spread out a tea party.
You can help keep floors and tabletops clear by making the most of your vertical space for storage. Built-in floor-to-ceiling shelves or cupboards make the best use of space. If that’s not an option, consider freestanding shelving, such as a cube unit (make sure they are safely bracketed to the wall), or pegboards for hanging items.
Make it easy to pack away
When putting in any new toy storage systems, organise it so that it’s quick and easy for the children to pack their things away at the end of the day. Toys should have dedicated storage spaces, with regularly used toys stored at the right height for your child, and everything clearly labelled with words or pictures. Open units will be easier for your children to access, while a unit with doors is ideal for hiding toys and mess away. Having a mix of the two will give you the best of both worlds.
When putting in any new toy storage systems, organise it so that it’s quick and easy for the children to pack their things away at the end of the day. Toys should have dedicated storage spaces, with regularly used toys stored at the right height for your child, and everything clearly labelled with words or pictures. Open units will be easier for your children to access, while a unit with doors is ideal for hiding toys and mess away. Having a mix of the two will give you the best of both worlds.
Living room storage
If your living area doubles as the children’s play space, you’ll not only want a system that keeps toys organised and allows for speedy tidy-ups, but one that’s stylish too. Cube shelf units with coloured baskets or matching boxes are a great solution, as they look smart and can accommodate several lidded tubs of small toys such as cars or figurines. Boost this with double-duty pieces such as storage ottomans, a sofa with storage in the base, or a coffee table with drawers or a shelf or two for board games and other flat items.
If your living area doubles as the children’s play space, you’ll not only want a system that keeps toys organised and allows for speedy tidy-ups, but one that’s stylish too. Cube shelf units with coloured baskets or matching boxes are a great solution, as they look smart and can accommodate several lidded tubs of small toys such as cars or figurines. Boost this with double-duty pieces such as storage ottomans, a sofa with storage in the base, or a coffee table with drawers or a shelf or two for board games and other flat items.
Bedroom storage
A small or shared bedroom that doubles as a play space can quickly become cluttered. Look around the room for any overlooked storage opportunities – could you add a couple of lidded storage boxes on castors under the bed? Hooks or rails on the back of the door? A hanging storage net in the corner of the room for a collection of stuffed animals? If you’re looking at buying a new bed, consider a loft style that allows you to fit drawers or a shelving unit underneath.
In a shared bedroom, it’s important that each child has their own storage zone, however small, for their special items. A recessed or floating shelf or a cube unit near their bed (positioned at a safe distance where they won’t bump their head) is a good idea.
A small or shared bedroom that doubles as a play space can quickly become cluttered. Look around the room for any overlooked storage opportunities – could you add a couple of lidded storage boxes on castors under the bed? Hooks or rails on the back of the door? A hanging storage net in the corner of the room for a collection of stuffed animals? If you’re looking at buying a new bed, consider a loft style that allows you to fit drawers or a shelving unit underneath.
In a shared bedroom, it’s important that each child has their own storage zone, however small, for their special items. A recessed or floating shelf or a cube unit near their bed (positioned at a safe distance where they won’t bump their head) is a good idea.
Craft storage
It’s often easier to set up a dedicated craft zone than to have the kids pull out their supplies and clutter up the dining table every time they’re feeling creative. Store craft bits and bobs in clear, labelled, stackable containers (tackle boxes work well), shallow drawers with plenty of dividers, or in a wall-mounted system. You can use a folding table or one that flips down from the wall for craft activities – then, once the session is over, simply fold it away from view.
It’s often easier to set up a dedicated craft zone than to have the kids pull out their supplies and clutter up the dining table every time they’re feeling creative. Store craft bits and bobs in clear, labelled, stackable containers (tackle boxes work well), shallow drawers with plenty of dividers, or in a wall-mounted system. You can use a folding table or one that flips down from the wall for craft activities – then, once the session is over, simply fold it away from view.
Tell us
How have you tackled toy storage at home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to like, share or bookmark this story. Join the conversation.
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How have you tackled toy storage at home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to like, share or bookmark this story. Join the conversation.
More
Read more ‘How Do I… ?’ stories
The secrets to making toy storage work in a small home are fairly straightforward – be ruthless about keeping only those toys your children actually play with, maximise your vertical (wall) space, and make the most of any hidden storage opportunities. Here’s how.