As a parent, you probably have a lot on your plate. Between raising your kids and managing the house, it can feel like there’s no time in your day to get everything done—let alone plan out storage systems for their toys.
That’s why so many parents opt to store toys in a playroom instead of trying to figure out how to organize them wherever they live. Unfortunately, not having enough space for kids’ toys can lead to clutter that takes over every square inch of your home.
Luckily, we’ve got some tricks up our sleeves for making sure that never happens. With just a few simple changes, you’ll be well on your way to organizing all those piles of stuffed animals and plastic bins into something useful (and tidy).
Ready? Let’s start now.
It Can Seem Impossible To Keep Toys Tidy Without A Playroom, But It’s Not
It can seem impossible to keep toys tidy without a playroom, but it’s not. Just because you don’t have the space for one doesn’t mean you can’t organize those toys.
You’ll need to be creative with your storage options, but there are plenty of ways to keep things organized in an open living space.
Use the space you have! If there are nooks and crannies around your home, use them! A spare closet or unused corner of a room is great for toy storage while still keeping them out of sight. You can also try using hooks on walls or doors as well as baskets hung from high ceilings above where kids can reach them (make sure they’re safe!).
If you want something more discreet, bookshelves work well too! They provide lots of extra storage without taking up much space at all, plus they look nice if they match other furniture in the room. Use tall bookcases that are deep enough so that toys aren’t visible from standing height (this way only parents will know what kind of messes their kids make.
Tips To Organize Toys When You Don’t Have A Playroom
Storage bins and baskets
Storage bins and baskets are great for keeping toys organized. Be sure to use a variety of sizes, colors, and materials so that you can easily identify which toy belongs where and when it’s time to put them away. Label each bin or basket with your child’s name or the room they belong in (living room, playroom). They’ll also make a great place to store your child’s clothes when they’re growing out of their current size.
Hang shelves on the wall
There are several ways to hang shelves on the wall. First, use a stud finder to locate the studs in your walls so you can make sure your brackets are secure enough to hold up heavy toys. Then, place one bracket on each side of your chosen shelf and mark where they’ll go with painter’s tape or by scratching through the center of each bracket with a nail. Next, take down the shelf and attach it using screws according to the directions in its brackets (it’s recommended that you put them into an existing hole if possible). With this method, your children can easily remove their toys from their new storage space by just unhooking them from their hooks—no tools required!
A large bookshelf
Have you ever thought about using a big bookshelf as storage for your kiddos’ toys? It’s a great way especially when it comes to keeping toys in rooms that aren’t designated playrooms.
It’s such a great way to keep things organized and tidy, plus it doubles as a cute decor piece. My kids love being able to see all of their toys and it makes it easy for them to put things away when it’s clean-up time. Plus, it saves us from having those big, bulky toy boxes taking up space. Just a thought, but it’s definitely something worth considering!
Put a toy box in the room
If you have a room that your kids play in, try putting a toy box in the room. This is a great way to store toys and make the area look neater. If possible, put the toy box at or below eye level so that it’s easy for children to see into it and get their toys out.
This will also help with organization because you can use the toy box for storing toys that are used less often than others. You don’t want your kids sitting on top of their favorite books all day long! Instead, put those books into the toy box so they aren’t all over your living room floor!
Use Toy Rotation Systems
Rotation systems are an easy way to keep toys organized without a playroom, though it does require some discipline on the part of your children.
The main idea behind a rotation system is that you don’t keep all the kids’ toys in one place, but rather spread them out around the house so that no single area is overwhelmed with stuff.
For example, let’s say you have two kids who each have four toys: two trucks and two stuffed animals. Put one truck in each kid’s room and then rotate through which truck goes where next: first you put one truck in the living room during naptime or bathtime while they nap; then at bedtime (or later if they don’t fall asleep right away), move both trucks into their bedrooms overnight; then take both back downstairs to be played with again tomorrow (i.e., when they wake up). It might seem like extra work at first glance—but once it becomes habit for everyone involved, this system works like clockwork!
Use a footrest to store toys
Use a footrest to store toys. The first thing you can do is make use of what you already have in your home. If you have a footrest, these are perfect for storing toys by attaching them to the top and putting toys inside. You can also use an ottoman or even an old wicker basket!
How to make a footrest: If you don’t have one already, there are many tutorials online on how to build one from scratch if your budget allows it (or if you have access to tools). Otherwise, shopping at secondhand stores may be an option as well. A quick internet search should provide enough inspiration for getting started!
Use a Label Maker
I can’t stress this enough: using a label maker will save you so much time and energy. Label everything—bins, baskets, shelves and toy boxes. You don’t want your child to have to hunt for the exact book she wants or the exact toy he’s been looking for all day.
I recommend labeling book bins by genre (i.e., “Fairy Tales” or “Pocahontas”) and toy boxes by type (“Shoes,” “Dolls,” etc.) If you have multiple kids sharing one room, it helps if each of them has their own color-coded label system. Your children will be able to quickly find what they’re looking for when they need it most—and you’ll be able to rest assured that nothing has gone missing (or been traded away).
Add storage space under the bed
A great place to store toys is under the bed. If you have a solid wooden frame, you can use a box or basket to create storage space below the bed frame. The best thing about using this method is that it’s easy to put up and take down as needed—just make sure there are no sharp edges on the furniture!
If you want even more space underneath your children’s beds, consider adding drawers from which they can easily retrieve their favorite toys without getting them dirty or dusty.
Declutter Broken And Old Toys
It’s not easy to let go of old toys, but you don’t want them taking up space in your playroom. Before you donate or throw away toys that are broken and outgrown, consider whether they could be fixed or remade into something new. If not, then it’s time to toss them.
Donate broken toys
Sometimes broken toys are still useful for kids who don’t have access to new ones. Think about which charities would benefit from the donation of your child’s unwanted items—whether it’s a local shelter or non-profit organization working with disadvantaged children—and donate them for their use.
Donate outgrown toys
Kids grow fast! If their favorite toy is too small for them now, it may be time for an upgrade. But if donating isn’t possible (maybe someone else has one just like theirs?), consider giving away used toys instead so another child can enjoy some fun learning opportunities while playing with a hand-me-down toy.
You don’t need a playroom
If you have children, it’s likely that you’ve tried to clean up their toys more than once, only to find yourself in a giant pile of scattered mess. The problem with kids’ toys is that they are often expensive and valuable, so parents often don’t want them thrown away or given away. Toys take up space in your home—and not just the physical kind! They can also cause clutter and stress if they aren’t organized properly.
However, these issues are not insurmountable! Here’s how you can create a toy storage system for keeping things orderly in your home:
- Consider what types of toys your child likes best before purchasing anything new; this will help in deciding where each item should go. If your kid enjoys drawing pictures with markers, for instance, then get an art desk for them instead of buying another toy chest (which may end up containing just one marker). You’ll save money on storing items that aren’t used very often anyway!
- Make sure there’s adequate lighting throughout any play areas; otherwise it’ll be harder for kids (or adults) who might need glasses while playing around with certain kinds of objects during daytime hours without damaging their eyesight over time due to poor visibility conditions while using those particular instruments properly
Conclusion
The key to organizing your kids’ toys is keeping them out of sight, but still within easy reach. One of the best ways to do this is with storage bins and baskets that can be tucked away in a closet or under the bed when not in use. You can also maximize space by hanging shelves on the wall rather than using them as bookcases.
If you have a large bookshelf already in place but don’t want to move it from another room such as an office or dining area then consider placing it here instead where there’s plenty of floor space available for playing on top.