With four young kids in our home I have come to realize that there will always be a mess somewhere. Children learn so much through play and as Albert Einstein famously said, “Play Is The Highest Form of Research.” So for that reason we knew we wanted to give our children space to make their “messes” and play! The problem we faced was the clutter that ensued and lack of organization that resulted in lots of unforgotten and unused items. I decided to focus on playroom organization and toy storage ideas that promote more play and less clutter.
Playroom Organization Tips
With four kids and a blog we sure gather toys around here but we have a close relationship with a local church and foster organization which we love to pass along our outgrown toys to! If you can clear out even a handful every few months you’ll do a world of good. There are always places looking for exactly this. You could also bring to local thrift shops and get cash if you could use that too!
Purge / Donate Outgrown Toys
When I talk about key zones here I am not talking about a grocery store system like I do in my pantry post. I try to think about the key zones of play my kids gravitate to (stuffed animals, building area, crafty area, car play, active and baby dolls/house.) After I focus on what the four of my kids gravitate towards most I gather the main toys in those categories and find a home in the playroom for them.
Key Zones/ Groupings
Our Playroom Zones Include:
One part of organizing that is true for every part of the home: You DON’T use what you can’t see. This couldn’t be more true when it comes to children too. Previous attempts to organize the playroom failed because I was more focused on “hiding” the clutter of toys in the closet instead of making sure the kids could see what they actually had to play with. Previously I had white labeled bins which looked nicer but the stuff in the boxes just kind of got lost in the closet. This was a key change to making the room as functional as can be!
Playroom Toy Storage
– Square Storage Organizer With Handle: I have to note that these are pretty small containers but I felt like by sectioning out the toys that get played with often it makes everything easier to see and keep track of. AND THE HANDLES! The handles are pure genius for little kids. This makes them easy to grab from the closet which has been super helpful too!
Toy Storage Organization Bins:
– Fabric Storage Bins Clear Front: I love these because you can see inside each bin easily and also the lid is attached! Two super functional features for organizing toys!
Toy Storage Organization Bins:
Wicker Floor Storage: There are some items I like to leave out all the time because they routinely get played with by our 3 year old twins and one of those things is their magnet tiles! We have this under the bed wicker storage bin that can be left on the floor but doesn’t look as though it just isn’t put away.
Toy Storage Organization Bins: