7 Creative Ways to Store Toys in Your Home
Take a look at these fun ideas for stowing away your child’s playthings
Amanda Pollard
25 December 2018
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
Finding it hard to get your children’s toys tidied up at the end of the day? Perhaps it’s time to rethink their storage with some playful ideas that look good and make it fun for your kids to take things out and put them away again.
Roll with it
If you want to make it easy for your child to access and put away their toys and books, try this clever idea. Wheels have been attached to the bottom of small storage boxes, which means they can easily be moved around the room.
The wheelie boxes have been built to fit beneath the wall cabinet, so they can be stowed away neatly when not in use.
If you want to make it easy for your child to access and put away their toys and books, try this clever idea. Wheels have been attached to the bottom of small storage boxes, which means they can easily be moved around the room.
The wheelie boxes have been built to fit beneath the wall cabinet, so they can be stowed away neatly when not in use.
Hack a spice rack
For small toys and books, a few shelves with barriers are ideal, as the objects can be displayed without the risk of them toppling out.
Try hacking a spice rack, as they often have a rail to keep the jars in place. These ones have been spruced up in bright colours to suit the room.
Find a range of spice racks in the Houzz Shop.
For small toys and books, a few shelves with barriers are ideal, as the objects can be displayed without the risk of them toppling out.
Try hacking a spice rack, as they often have a rail to keep the jars in place. These ones have been spruced up in bright colours to suit the room.
Find a range of spice racks in the Houzz Shop.
Share your space
If you have the room, consider creating a play area that blends in with your living room or kitchen. In this double reception space, the owner has turned half of the room into a child-friendly zone.
The key to making this work is to tie the storage design in with the rest of the décor. The other half of the room is in a Scandi style, with soft colours similar to the ones used here.
It’s a great spot for playing during the day, then, in the evening, everything can be packed away to turn the living room into a calm, grown-up space.
If you have the room, consider creating a play area that blends in with your living room or kitchen. In this double reception space, the owner has turned half of the room into a child-friendly zone.
The key to making this work is to tie the storage design in with the rest of the décor. The other half of the room is in a Scandi style, with soft colours similar to the ones used here.
It’s a great spot for playing during the day, then, in the evening, everything can be packed away to turn the living room into a calm, grown-up space.
Play with colour
Have fun with your child’s storage boxes by choosing colours that tie in with the room.
In this nursery, the designers have covered the wall with a brightly coloured mural, then used similar shades for the toy boxes below. By merging the two elements together like this, the storage and toys appear to be a three-dimensional aspect of the mural.
Shop for children’s toy boxes on Houzz.
Have fun with your child’s storage boxes by choosing colours that tie in with the room.
In this nursery, the designers have covered the wall with a brightly coloured mural, then used similar shades for the toy boxes below. By merging the two elements together like this, the storage and toys appear to be a three-dimensional aspect of the mural.
Shop for children’s toy boxes on Houzz.
Take a flight of fancy
If you’d like to get creative with your child’s toy storage, how about this fun idea? These aeroplanes are simple shelves with a few added extras – a propeller and wheels have turned them into fun machines, flying out of the deep blue wall.
Need help with a project like this? Read reviews of carpenters and joiners near you.
If you’d like to get creative with your child’s toy storage, how about this fun idea? These aeroplanes are simple shelves with a few added extras – a propeller and wheels have turned them into fun machines, flying out of the deep blue wall.
Need help with a project like this? Read reviews of carpenters and joiners near you.
Get creative
Turn a simple set of drawers into a fun item by painting a design on the front. These drawers are practical but plain, so the owner has perked them up by painting a mountain scene on the front.
This is a good idea if you don’t want to paint the whole piece of furniture. And if your art skills aren’t up to the challenge, there are plenty of stencils you can use to help you.
Turn a simple set of drawers into a fun item by painting a design on the front. These drawers are practical but plain, so the owner has perked them up by painting a mountain scene on the front.
This is a good idea if you don’t want to paint the whole piece of furniture. And if your art skills aren’t up to the challenge, there are plenty of stencils you can use to help you.
Put on a smile
There are plenty of practical and fun ideas in this kids’ playroom, including adjustable desks, mobile storage units and, most importantly, some very happy drawers.
The designers have transformed the plain drawers simply by cutting face shapes into the fronts. If you’re reluctant to cut shapes out of your cabinets, you could create a similar look with stickers.
Tell us…
Do you have any creative ideas for storing toys? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments section.
There are plenty of practical and fun ideas in this kids’ playroom, including adjustable desks, mobile storage units and, most importantly, some very happy drawers.
The designers have transformed the plain drawers simply by cutting face shapes into the fronts. If you’re reluctant to cut shapes out of your cabinets, you could create a similar look with stickers.
Tell us…
Do you have any creative ideas for storing toys? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments section.
Related Stories
Gardens
How to Disguise Rubbish and Recycling Bins Outside Your Home
Need to hide unsightly bins in your garden or driveway? Take a look at these clever ideas for inspiration
Full Story
Storage
7 Ideas for Children’s Bookshelves
Need bookshelf or book storage ideas for your kid’s bedroom? Browse these stylish rooms for inspiration
Full Story
Housekeeping & Cleaning
How to Be More Green When You Clean
Refresh your cleaning routine as well as your home this year with these eco-friendly cleaning ideas
Full Story
Living Rooms
10 Excellent Ideas for Alcove Storage
By Kate Burt
Those spaces either side of your chimney breast – are you making the most of them? Read on to find out
Full Story
Bathrooms
How to Design a Bathroom That’s Easy to Clean
Want a clutter-free, sparkling bathroom? Follow this expert advice on how to cut down on cleaning time
Full Story
Housekeeping & Cleaning
10 Things to Remember While Decluttering
Fast-track the process and ease the stress by making a plan before you begin
Full Story
Storage
9 Things No One Tells You About Creating Storage in Your Home
By Kate Burt
Stuck for more storage? Look no further than our pros’ ideas for maximising space – beautifully
Full Story
Housekeeping & Cleaning
Organising? Don’t Forget the Essential First Step
Simplify the process of getting your home in order by taking it one step at a time. Here’s how to get on the right path
Full Story
Storage
7 Ideas for Acing Your Open-plan Room’s Storage
By Kate Burt
Open-plan living spaces come with their own specific storage challenges, but there are several ways to tackle them
Full Story
Storage
How to Achieve ‘Barely There’ Bedroom Storage
By Kate Burt
Let your bedroom feel serene by keeping your storage discreet
Full Story
Just make sure your kids only have toys that match the decor!
Oh boy! We seem to be talking about our Tanova Ventilated Drawers on Houzz an awful lot right now, but that's just evidence of how incredibly versatile they are!
They are a wonderful way to provide practical and robust toy storage. They're constructed on soft close pull out runners, and the drawers themselves are powder coated steel that will stand up to all those knocks and clunks and slams!
They come in two widths, two depths (front to back) and three heights so there's a size to suit. Standard colour options are white and the newly introduced, very contemporary charcoal. But we know all your Houzzers love having fun with colour, so guess what? We can customise Tanova Ventilated Drawers in any colour from the Dulux range.
Read more in our Tanova Ventilated Drawers Houzz Project here.
Or on our website here.
By the way, Tanova Ventilated Drawers are also perfect for kitchens, pantries, sculleries, laundries, wardrobes and even light commercial use like salons, daycare centres and offices.
My daughter was given a couple of book cases with glass doors, so we added a couple more from Ikea and made a wall of glass fronted bookcases which we filled with all her son's brightly coloured toys and books. We added a small desk and a lego table and apart from a couple of very large trucks which are poking their noses out from under his bed, he is sorted. Of course things never go back where they were but it doesn't matter because it looks good no matter where he puts it in the cupboards.