Clever Ways To Organize Toys for Practicality AND Style

Are you tired of stepping on Lego pieces and tripping over stuffed animals? As a mom of three, I know how much of a challenge it can be to keep your children’s playthings under control and stop the toy clutter taking over!

So, to start the new year, I want to show you how to organize toys in a way that works for both you and your child(ren). Keep reading to learn how to balance practicality with style and choose the best toy organization solutions for your home!

But before I share my favorite ideas for organizing toys, here are a few key principles to bear in mind when it comes to kids’ toys:

• Declutter and donate: Kids outgrow their toys faster than we realize, so go through their collection regularly and donate anything they no longer play with.
• Group similar items: Keep similar toys together, so your child knows where to find the type of toy they’re looking for.
• Keep it simple: If your toy organization system is too complex, your child won’t be able to stick with it. 
• Keep certain toys out of reach: Toys with small parts or anything age-inappropriate should stay on higher shelves or in closed storage young children can’t access.
• One in, one out: Every time your child gets a new toy, require that they pick one to donate. 
• Choose the right storage solution: To choose the most appropriate type of storage, think about how the toy is used. For example, frequently played-with toys might need to be easily accessible in open bins, while special-occasion items can live in labeled containers or tucked away in a closet. 

The Best Toy Storage Ideas for Your Home

Okay, now let’s look at some great storage solutions for kids’ stuff, so you can identify the best way to organize toys in your home!

1. Baskets

If you’re looking for a storage solution that’s both functional and stylish, you can’t go wrong with a large basket. Whether your home leans farmhouse chic or modern minimal, there’s a basket out there that will fit right in.

You can even customize old baskets to match your aesthetic:

• Stain your baskets to create a cohesive look.
• Add patterns or colors for a pop of personality.

Baskets are perfect for a quick and easy cleanup. Kids can just toss their toys in without needing to worry about organization. Plus, baskets are lightweight, so you can carry them around the room as you pick up scattered toys.

You can keep them on the floor, so your little ones can easily reach in and grab what they want, or place them on top of cabinets or shelves for less frequently used items.

Baskets are a particularly great place to store small to medium-sized toys like dolls, action figures, plushies, and building blocks. 

🛒 Shop these toy storage baskets on Amazon 🛒

2. Clear Storage Bins

When it comes to organizing toys, storage bins are good but clear ones are great! Why? Because you can see exactly what’s inside! No more forgetting about old toys buried at the bottom of a box.

Clear bins work especially well if they’re stackable and open-topped, so your kids can easily reach in and grab what they need.

These bins are ideal for organizing small items like craft supplies (think beads and crayons) and small toys (like Polly Pockets, HAMA Beads, or even Lego pieces).

You can see my favorite clear storage containers here, plus some that I think would be perfect for toys below:

🛒 Shop these clear storage bins on Amazon 🛒

3. Beanbags, Ottomans, and Footstools

Looking for a really efficient storage solution? Go for beanbags, ottomans, and footstools. They keep toys out of sight and double as seating, making it easier to maintain a clutter-free living room.

Beanbags can be filled with soft toys or dressing-up clothes. Ottomans and footstools are perfect for larger toys like a toy garage and cars or for corralling miscellaneous items that don’t belong anywhere else. I used a storage ottoman in my daughter’s room, and it’s been a game-changer.

🛒 Shop these storage ottomans on Amazon 🛒

4. Canvas Bins

These days, it seems like almost every house has at least one cube shelving unit like the IKEA Kallax shelves or the Better Homes & Gardens Cube Organizer! And the perfect storage solution for these shelves is the versatile canvas bin.

Canvas bins come in a variety of colors, materials, and patterns, so it’s easy to find ones that match your decor. They’re great for hiding clutter but your kids might forget what’s inside them, so consider adding labels.

These bins are pretty deep, which makes them best-suited to items that can be tossed in and rummaged through, like Legos, toy cars, or dolls’ clothes.

🛒 Shop these canvas storage bins on Amazon 🛒

5. A Trolley or Cart

I love using trolleys because they’re just so stylish! Of course, they’re also portable, which makes them great for shared spaces like living rooms. 

Trolleys make great homework stations and book carts. They’re also ideal for toy rotation – a simple trick where you regularly cycle toys in and out of your child’s play area. Keep the bulk of their toys in a cupboard, and once a week or month, swap out what’s on the trolley.

This keeps playtime fresh and exciting, reduces the number of toys you have out at any given time, and it gives your kids the feeling of “new” toys without actually buying more. It’s a great way to avoid ending up with lots of toys.

🛒 Shop these storage trolleys on Amazon 🛒

6. Toy Shelving with Bins or Drawers

You’ve probably seen those handy toy storage units designed specifically for kids. They’re typically wooden frames with colorful baskets or bins that slot onto the shelves. You can also get wooden units with plastic removable drawers, like the Trofast system from Ikea.

These storage units make it easy to group similar items, like cars, pretend food for play kitchens, and building blocks.

They’re a great option for children’s bedrooms because they let your children see everything at a glance, giving them easy access to a whole selection of toys. They can simply lift off the tub containing the toys they want to play with and put it back when they’re done.

That said, because they’re made for children, these units, and particularly the plastic bins, can sometimes be a bit garish, so they might clash with your decor. Consider giving the unit a makeover by painting the frame and wrapping the bins to better match your decor style. Or take a look at the more tasteful toy storage units below!

🛒 Shop these toy storage units on Amazon 🛒

7. Storage Caddies & Bags

Caddies are an organizational dream! They let you organize all your supplies in one place, on a shelf or cabinet, and when it’s time to use them, you can simply grab the whole caddy and carry it to the table. They’re versatile, stylish, and they come in all sorts of cute designs to suit your decor.

Caddies are best for storing art supplies like pens and pencils, and hair and beauty items like brushes and hair ties. In fact, any storage bag with lots of compartments would be perfect for storing and grouping small, fiddly toys and accessories like these. Think shoulder bags designed for crafters, diaper bags, and tool bags.

Storage bags and caddies are also great for making little grab-and-go “kits” for your kids’ favorite activities. For example, you could have a painting caddy, a jewelry-making caddy, or even a “playing teachers” caddy!

🛒 Shop these storage caddies on Amazon 🛒

8. A Clothes Closet

How about turning your child’s clothes closet into a dedicated toy storage space? I turned my nephew’s closet into a toy cupboard and it worked out so well!

Your child would be able to see all their favorite toys at a glance, making it easier for them to decide what to play with. And when playtime is over, you could simply close the doors or draw a curtain across to hide the toy chaos!

This setup is perfect for toys of all sizes and types, from board games to stuffed animals to larger toys like dollhouses or train sets. I’d recommend using shelving, bins, or baskets to keep the space organized.

9. Under-Bed or Couch Storage

If your child has a small bedroom, under-bed storage can be a total lifesaver. Whether it’s a bed with built-in storage, or drawers you slide under the bed, making use of that often-neglected space is a smart way to keep toys out of sight when they’re not being played with.

Under-bed storage is great for kids who aren’t the best at tidying up, because they can pile everything into the drawers and push them out of sight.

My youngest daughter isn’t exactly the tidiest child, but her room has looked so neat since we got her the Better Homes and Gardens Lillian Twin Daybed, some underbed organizers and a cute bedskirt!

Drawers are particularly well-suited to toys that don’t need to be organized neatly, like dolls and dolls clothes, Legos, and even board games.

Oh and if a new bed or brand new drawers aren’t in your budget, why not DIY it? I’ve repurposed old drawers as under-bed storage before. It’s a simple project anyone could do.

🛒 Shop these under-bed storage drawers on Amazon 🛒

10. Cabinets with Pullout Drawers

If you’re looking for a neat way to store your child’s toys in shared spaces like the living room, cabinets with pullout drawers are the perfect solution.

The cabinets will blend seamlessly with your decor and your kids will easily be able to grab what they want. We use our pullout drawers to store our board game collection.

Don’t forget you can divide up drawers to keep smaller bits and pieces tidy. A cutlery tray works wonders for storing counters, dice, or anything else that needs to stay grouped.

And if you have video game controllers laying around, add see my tutorial on using foam inserts to store controllers neatly.

11. A Coffee Table or Play Table

If you’re looking for a functional piece of furniture that doesn’t scream “toy storage,” consider a coffee table with built-in storage. There are so many beautiful coffee tables on the market now that come with hidden compartments or drawers – perfect for stashing board games, puzzles, or even craft supplies.

You can also get coffee tables that have cube boxes underneath that double up as seating. These cubes are the perfect hideaway for dolls, balls, and other random toys.

If your children love playing board games, another option is a dedicated gaming table, like mine. While you can buy them, they tend to be expensive, so I actually made my own.

🛒 Shop these play tables and coffee tables on Amazon 🛒

For your brick-building enthusiasts, it’s easy to convert a regular table (or even cube shelving) into a dedicated Lego table by attaching a Lego board to the top. It keeps all those tiny pieces in one spot, and your kids will love having a designated place to build.

With a little creativity, you can find (or build!) a coffee table or play table that looks fab in your living room and keeps clutter under control. 

12. Decorative Storage Boxes

Decorative storage boxes are the perfect item for hiding smaller playthings in plain sight. You can buy beautiful fabric-covered boxes and wooden keepsake-style containers, or even repurpose some vintage meal tins or a gorgeous jewelry box, depending on your interior design style.

These little beauties can look so stylish and double up as decor, perhaps as part of a vignette on a bookshelf or coffee table.

Small decorative boxes are ideal for craft supplies (like washi tape, ribbons, and coloring pencils), jewelery-making or sewing sets, and small games (think Dominos and marbles).

🛒 Shop these decorative storage boxes on Amazon 🛒

13. Baby Changing Station

Okay, stay with me here… a baby changing station could be repurposed into a genius toy storage solution! It’s a large, often expensive piece of furniture most parents don’t need once their children grow out of the diaper stage, so why not turn it into a toy storage trolley?

Those little removable pots for diaper creams and lotions? They could be great for storing small items like pencils and brushes. The top shelf could be the ideal spot for lightweight items like plushies or craft supplies, while the lower shelves could handle big toys like a doll’s house or toy garage. Or you could put baskets or boxes on the bottom shelf to fill with smaller toys.

If you try this, please let me know! I’d love to see this idea in action.

Think Outside The (Toy) Box!

No matter which toy storage solutions you choose, the goal is to create a system that works for both you and your child. By making it as easy as possible for your child to put their toys away, and by making sure they understand how to organize toys properly, you’re setting them up for success. 

Happy organizing!