Toys can take over your home fast. One day the floor is clear. The next, it resembles a small toy shop. A study a few years ago indicated that nearly 140 toys were visible to toddlers in family homes. That’s a huge number.
The trick is not necessarily to hide everything away but rather to make storage simple, visible, easy to use and not overwhelming.
Make Use of Vertical Space
If floor space is precious, go up. Wall shelves keep toys within sight but off the ground and low, sturdy shelves at child height let little ones reach their favourite things. You could use floating shelves for soft toys and display items. You could also add labelled boxes on higher shelves for less-used things.
Pegboards are brilliant. You can hang baskets, bags and hooks and change the layout as interests evolve. Elsewhere, you could use a simple rail with S-hooks to hold dress-up costumes.
Use Clear, Uniform Boxes
Clear boxes are a lifesaver. Toys are visible without opening lids. Boxes of the same size and height stack neatly and look ordered. Choose sturdy plastic with lids. Label each box with a picture and a single word. This helps pre-readers and early readers identify letters and words with items.
For a softer look, you could use woven baskets for teddies and dolls. Baskets breathe and look homely. Sort out the contents regularly because they can become magnets for all sorts of random clutter.
Rotate Toys with a ‘Toy Library’
Pick a good selection to leave out and store the rest in boxes. Every few weeks, swap the boxes. Kids treat rotated toys like new and it reduces the number of items left out and prevents boredom or overwhelm. Studies have shown that having fewer toy choices helps children focus and learn.
If you don’t have space to keep a selection of toys out of play rotation, consider renting a self storage room. It helps to keep toys and games in good condition until they’re needed again, plus it gives you the chance to give kids ‘new’ play items without actually buying new things.
Photo by Carrie Allen www.carrieallen.com on Unsplash
Create Play Zones
Having defined play zones can help you keep things in order. You could have a zone for building block activities, another for messy play like painting, a cosy reading nook to enjoy books with your kids.
You don’t actually need lots of space. Simple things like a small bookcase and a comfy cushion are all you need to define the reading nook, for instance.
Zones help to teach kids where things belong, making tidying up quicker. Even a single shelf with labelled sections helps.
Use Furniture that Doubles as Storage
Choose a storage ottoman, a bench or coffee table with a lid, for example. These can hide a lot while also offering seating. Toy chests are classic for a reason. Make sure the lids have safety hinges to protect little fingers.
Units with angled shelves are great for books and board games. Cube units with fabric drawers look neat and offer flexible storage.
Label Smartly
Labels speed up tidy time. Use pictures and clear words. For older children, add colour-coded labels. Make homemade labels as part of play, letting kids draw the pictures for each box. These may help give a sense of ownership and encourage responsibility.
Repurpose Everyday Items for Storage
Small pieces like building bricks, jigsaws and doll accessories can cause most of the chaos. Repurpose biscuit tins, large ice cube trays and old jars for sorting small parts. You could also keep sets of items together in resealable bags inside a labelled box.
Pop a hanging shoe organiser on the back of a door for small toys and craft supplies. Those with clear pockets make finding things quick and easy.
Respect Your Space Limits
Be honest about space. If a toy doesn’t get used, consider passing it on or putting it into self storage until interest comes back around. Keep an eye on which toys your kids reach for and which they ignore. Take the ignored ones out of rotation to help keep the play decks clear.
Have a declutter day every few months to keep things tidy and working. It prevents boxes (and rooms) from filling up with things that are never played with.
A little planning goes a long way. Try and make storage visible, accessible and labelled, and mix practical solutions with aesthetics so your home feels calm. Keep storage and simple as possible, and you’ll hopefully find play is happier and the mess disappears faster.