Playroom Organization: Reducing Toy Clutter

Every year after Christmas it looks like a toy store has erupted in our playroom (well actually in every single room). The toy clutter drives me up the wall and to Pinterest looking for organization tips and tricks. I have written about some of my favorite playroom organization hacks here and in a few other past posts too. Here is a round up of some tried and true organization tips that continue to keep the toy clutter to a minimum in our home. This post contains affiliate links, which means I get a commission at no added cost to your purchase.

Also, make sure to check out the very end where I share how we’ve prepared and been successful in reducing the abundance of toys.

Storage Bench

Some of my favorite organization hacks are from IKEA. This IKEA hack turns a bookcase into a storage bench. I love that this solution not only helps the kids clean up after themselves but also gives them a place to relax and read. We love this storage bench so much we have one in the playroom and my daughter’s bedroom.

I have another one of these bookcases in a larger size in the playroom closet too. It helps to label the bins (you can even print pictures if your kids are too young to read) so that everyone can clean up after themselves. It’s a great way to keep the toy clutter out of sight.

Book storage

A lot of our books are in the storage bench, but we still have our favorites that we always want to read over and over again. Those books are put on display in a way that is easy to access for the kids.

The spice racks from IKEA are a great hack for smaller spaces and smaller hands.

These acrylic book ledges are my favorite in my son’s room. I also love these longer photo ledges that work great for books.

                

Stuffed Animal Storage

If it were up to my kids they would keep every single stuffed animal they own on their beds. The clutter isn’t my only issue here, it’s the dust and allergies that come with them (ahhh-choo!!).

A few years ago I stumbled upon this brilliant idea (not my idea) to purchase a bean bag cover and fill it with stuffed animals. It was a great way to keep my daughter’s stuffed animals tidy and easy to access.

Now that they are older I purchase under-bed storage to keep their stuffed animals organized. These are some of my favorite ones we have used:

     

Lego Storage

While I love how building LEGOs fosters their love for creating, I don’t love stepping on them! These LEGO storage bins are my favorite for keeping their bricks contained. They are adorable and come in a variety of colors and sizes (also you can build with them if you have a ton haha!). The only downside once you graduate from the DUPLO size is that the little pieces can get stuck in the cracks. An easy fix is to cover the opening with tape! Click on each photo to see details.

Prepare for the Holiday Toy rush

The best way I have been able to get ahead of the post-Christmas toy clutter is to simply have less toys. We do this by going through their toys before the holidays to purge and donate. This year we donated nine bags of toys and clothes in November. I make sure the kids know this is not a punishment. Donating toys and clothes should be a positive experience and one they get in the habit of doing.

We also limit the toys we buy for the kids on Christmas. I buy a lot of books, accessories for bikes/scooters and only a few toys. A lot of our family members also ask for specific lists which helps. When the kids were little I was able to hide a lot of their presents and gradually bring them out. It helped with overstimulation. Now they remember every single toy they received and there is no waiting/hiding!

I hope these items and tips help reduce your toy clutter! Would love to hear if you have any other tips too (share them in the comments!).

With love,

Shahla