Struggling with toy clutter? Explore the best ideas for toy storage for small spaces and get your home a little more organized while still totally kid-friendly!
As a mom of two young kids, I know all too well the struggle of toy clutter—especially in small spaces like the living room. My youngest loves his toys and has every action figure and playset you can imagine, which means they’re constantly scattered all over the house. Sound familiar?
I’m always on the hunt for new storage solutions, and I thought this might be the perfect opportunity to share some ideas that could help others, too. As I tackle the chaos and work on finding storage solutions that fit our home, I hope we can explore creative ways to conquer toy clutter together!
14 Ideas for Toy Storage for Small Spaces
I’m by no means an organizational guru (if you know me in real life you’re likely laughing at the thought), but I AM attempting to control the mayhem that has become our home! We can work on it together!
1. Multifunctional Furniture
When it comes to managing kids’ toys in a small family room, multifunctional furniture is the best way to maximize your storage space while keeping the area functional and stylish. A great place to start is with pieces that serve dual purposes:
- Storage Ottomans and Benches: These are an easy way to hide toys while providing extra seating for your family and guests. Perfect for the family room, they blend seamlessly with your decor.
- Folding Storage Ottoman Bench: This versatile piece serves as a footrest, coffee table, and storage chest, holding up to 660 lbs. It’s perfect for storing toys while providing extra seating.
- Folding Storage Ottoman Bench: A foldable storage solution that doubles as a bench, ideal for keeping the family room organized.
- Beds with Built-in Drawers: If you’re dealing with toys in bedrooms, this is one of the best ways to add extra storage space without taking up more floor space.
- Platform Storage Bed Frame: This bed frame features four drawers, offering ample storage space for toys, bedding, or clothing.
- Platform Bed with Storage: A platform bed equipped with multiple drawers, providing a space-saving solution for toy storage.
- Coffee Tables with Hidden Compartments: Activity tables with built-in storage are a great place to keep art supplies, building blocks, board games, and other small toys organized and out of sight.
- Lift Top Coffee Table: This coffee table features a lift-top design, revealing hidden storage space for toys, games, or other family room essentials.
- Lift-Top Coffee Table: A stylish coffee table with a lift-top mechanism, offering concealed storage to keep your living area tidy.
- Seating with storage: Sure you can buy a comfy bean bag, perfect for seating in a child’s room, OR you can buy an empty bean bag and fill it with stuffed animals! Perfect for those items that aren’t played with super often but we’re not quite ready to let go of just yet.
- Toy storage: Perfectly comfy and perfect storage for stuffies!
Using multifunctional furniture is an easy way to create a tidy, toy-free family room while ensuring your kids’ toys are always within reach when needed.
2. Vertical Storage Solutions
Maximizing vertical storage is a great way to organize your kids’ toys, especially in small family rooms where floor space is limited. Here are some affordable solutions from that provide easy access to items like action figures and toy cars:
- Wall-mounted Shelves: Stylish and functional for toys or books.
- Wall-Mounted Toy Car Display Shelf: Designed specifically for toy cars, this wall-mounted shelf allows your child to showcase their collection while keeping the family room tidy. It’s a great way to utilize vertical space and ensure each car has its own spot.
- Hanging Baskets and Nets: Great for stuffed animals and lightweight toys.
- Hanging Nets: Stuffed animals find a home off the floor and still in site for easy access.
- Pegboards: Customizable to hang baskets or hooks for various items.
- Pegboard Storage: Perfect for organizing and storing Nerf blasters.
- Shelving Units: Versatile and easy to use with storage baskets and bins.
- Cube Shelves: Cube shelves are an excellent way to organize toys in a visually appealing manner. These shelves provide designated spaces for different types of toys, encouraging kids to keep their playthings in order.
- Over-the-door storage: Space-saving and easily concealed behind closed doors!
- Over-the-Door Hanging Organizer: This versatile organizer features multiple clear pockets, making it an easy way to store and display action figures and toy cars. It hangs over any standard door, keeping toys visible and within reach without taking up floor space.
- Hanging Shoe Organizer: Repurpose a hanging shoe organizer by placing it on the back of a door or wall to store small toys, action figures, or craft supplies. This budget-friendly solution keeps items organized and easily accessible.
These vertical storage solutions are a great way to manage toy clutter, ensuring that even with so much stuff, your child’s favorite action figures and toy cars are organized and have easy access in your family room.
3. Clear and Hidden Storage Ideas
Maximizing storage in small living spaces can be challenging, especially with young children and their collection of tiny toys. Incorporating clear and hidden storage solutions is a great option to keep your home organized while ensuring toys are easily accessible. Here are some practical ideas:
- Transparent Bins: Easily find toys without searching.
- Clear Plastic Storage Bins with Lids: These stackable bins are perfect for organizing tiny toys, allowing you to see the contents at a glance. They fit well in closets or under beds, making them ideal for small living spaces. Available in various sizes, they can accommodate different types of toys and are easily accessible for young children.
- Under-Furniture Storage: Slide bins or boxes under sofas and beds.
- Under-Bed Storage Containers: Utilize the space under your child’s bed with flat storage containers. These are excellent for keeping toys out of sight yet easily accessible. Some designs come with wheels for effortless sliding in and out, making cleanup a breeze for young children.
- Behind-the-Door Organizers: Ideal for craft supplies or smaller toys.
- Over-the-Door Hanging Organizers: These organizers can hold a variety of small toys and are a great option for rooms with limited floor space. They keep toys within reach for children and can be easily labeled to encourage organization. Plus, they make use of vertical space, freeing up the floor for playtime.
- Hidden Compartments: Coffee tables or stools with concealed storage.
- Storage Ottomans with Hidden Compartments: These multifunctional pieces serve as seating or footrests while providing hidden storage inside. They’re a stylish way to conceal toys in the family room, maintaining a clutter-free appearance. Choose designs that complement your decor for seamless integration.
- Boxes and Bins: Decorative boxes and bins add a pleasant touch and still give easy access to toys and games.
- Bookshelves with Baskets: Incorporate bookshelves equipped with baskets or bins to store toys. This method keeps toys organized and out of sight, while the clear bins allow children to see what’s inside, promoting independent play. It’s a functional and aesthetically pleasing solution for small living spaces.
Implementing these great toy storage ideas can help maintain an organized and tidy home, even with the abundance of tiny toys that come with young children.
4. Helpful Tips for Managing Toy Clutter in Small Spaces
If you’re juggling toy organization in a small living space, here are some practical tips to help manage lots of toys while keeping your home neat and functional:
1. Sort by Size
- Separate smaller items like action figures, building blocks, or toy cars from large toys such as stuffed animals, playsets, or ride-on toys.
- Use appropriately sized storage solutions for each category, like a small basket for smaller items and larger bins for bulkier toys.
2. Designate a Toy Area
- Create a specific toy area in the family room or bedroom to keep toys contained.
- Use rugs or floor mats to visually define the space, making it clear where playtime happens.
3. Make Cleanup Simple
- Use open bins or baskets for smaller items to make tidying up quick and easy for kids.
- For larger toys, consider using hidden storage like under-bed containers or storage ottomans.
4. Rotate Toys to Reduce Clutter
- If you have lots of toys, store some away and rotate them regularly.
- This not only keeps your toy area organized but also makes toys feel new and exciting for your kids.
5. Use Multi-Purpose Storage
- A small basket on a bookshelf can hold frequently used toys while maintaining a tidy look.
- Invest in furniture with hidden compartments to keep larger toys out of sight when not in use.
Hopefully this gives a few ideas for organizing lots of toys easier, ensuring that both smaller items and larger toys have their own designated spots in your home’s toy area.
While my house is far from perfectly clean, I’ve found a few solutions that help manage the chaos of my kid’s toys—even with a ton of toys in a small room. In our living room, I use storage bins for quick and easy cleanup, a bean bag that doubles as a home for stuffed animals (and is utilized for a lot of jumping), and shelving with baskets to keep things organized. Over-the-door organizers are also lifesavers for smaller items like craft supplies or action figures.
These are just a few of my favorite toy storage ideas, but I’d love to hear what works for you! How do you manage the toy clutter in your home? Share your tips and tricks in the comments below- anything that helps us not step on LEGOs is worth sharing! :)