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Original poster

When did you get your living room back?

55 replies

Geckosgarage · 05/03/2023 16:09

What age did your DC’s toys move from the living room to their own room?

My living room was a room I was once proud to show off but now there are just toys everywhere! It’s certainly not the place of solace and comfort that it once was before DC.

Mine is almost 3 so I know I’ve got a while yet as he wouldn’t play by himself for very long in his room but just looking for a general idea.

OP posts:
Dacadactyl · 05/03/2023 16:14

Oh God. Well my DS is 10 and his toys still make their way from the garage to the living room in the holidays. He doesn't tend to have toys in his room, mainly books in there.

mycatisaloveabledemon · 05/03/2023 16:15

Haven't yet.

Doubt I will tbh, DS is 10

ShowOfHands · 05/03/2023 16:17

Never had toys in the living room. They have always been elsewhere, either the dining room in a chest, conservatory in IKEA storage and now, in DS's bedroom (eldest is y11 and no toys).

cortisolqueen · 05/03/2023 16:20

Age 7. Toys banished to bedroom but games/books still downstairs

QuestionsFromThePublic · 05/03/2023 16:21

About 7 to 8 I think?

Baby to about year 1 everything was in the living room and it was all centred around the DC. It ended up getting on my last nerve.

We moved them out of the room when they went to year 2 / juniors. They were still allowed to bring toys in, they were tidied away at the end of the day to their rooms. Mid teens, they now bring drum sets, guitars and laptops. As long as it goes away, it's fine.

I would have loved a house with one adult zone and another DC friendly. Not enough room.

PaigeMatthews · 05/03/2023 16:22

Probably around 7/8 when they played more unsupervised.

but then we got a dog. And the living room now has toys scattered around again.

demotedreally · 05/03/2023 16:26

Blimey 11 and no toys ?

We have kids stuff everywhere. Lots of books too. It stresses me out sometimes but DH is a messy bugger too so our house is no showhome

Kitcaterpillar · 05/03/2023 16:28

Haha, yesterday I was wondering when I could have nice things again, I was looking mournfully at my once pride and joy velvet sofa.

So can I add the follow on question - when can I have nice things again?!

AnneLovesGilbert · 05/03/2023 16:32

We have toys downstairs but they’re tidy by the end of the day and we have a big chest that gets cleared out if it’s getting too full and the lid doesn’t go on. Craft stuff on shelves. Everything’s put away by dinner time and the rooms look clear and fine. DD is 3 and I’m all for plenty of her stuff in her room and communal living spaces but it’s got to go into storage boxes or shelves etc and be able to be cleared away.

Colourinsidethelines · 05/03/2023 16:35

My two DS are 5 and 6. Their stuff is either in their room that they share or in the dining room in a kallax unit. DD is 5 but she has SEND so can’t play in her room on her own so hers are still in the living room. We have a bench that they all go in though so in the evening they are all away and can’t be seen so looks like a tidy living room!

Slimjimtobe · 05/03/2023 16:36

About 7 or 8 but we still have nice containers with little cars and toys (Lego) they play with most days nearly 9 and 10) - the soft toy mountains are in the bedroom

once they grow out of paw patrol and those big things (about 6) you can start to get your life back

MamOfFive · 05/03/2023 16:37

My youngest is 7, half his stuff is downstairs in a kalax unit to be fair he has a box room so can't be helped. I'm hoping maybe before Christmas we can downsize the toys downstairs as he doesn't really play with them.

ShowOfHands · 05/03/2023 16:38

demotedreally · 05/03/2023 16:26

Blimey 11 and no toys ?

We have kids stuff everywhere. Lots of books too. It stresses me out sometimes but DH is a messy bugger too so our house is no showhome

Who is 11 and no toys @demotedreally ?

MNDhelp · 05/03/2023 16:40

Mine are 6 and 8 and we have no toys stored in the living room anymore. The occasionally bring them down to play, but then they are packed up and out away in their room after use (or left in a basket waiting for them to take back up).

Slimjimtobe · 05/03/2023 16:40

This type of storage (IKEA) means you can live toy free in the evenings (a big ottoman for the large plastic things)
i used to throw a big cream blanket to cover them too 😅 ps this is a photo from Google image not my own

When did you get your living room back?
monsterradeliciosa · 05/03/2023 16:44

I moved toys back down so she could play here she has her own area
we’re only in a small house
she only plays in her room when friends are over
Because of the area it still feels like a lounge
when she goes to bed the toys aren’t visible as they’re tidied into boxes and behind the corner of the sofa

DeadbeatYoda · 05/03/2023 16:51

I have 3 teens and they have their consoles / spend their lewisite time in the front room. But then I like that, it's their home and they'll be gone before I know it. I'll have my front room back when the nest is empty, I'm good with that.

Sarahcoggles · 05/03/2023 17:27

DS2 is 13. The living room is his xbox room as his bedroom is too small for a console, so I don't really have a living room until he's gone to bed.

GiltEdges · 05/03/2023 17:28

Think it depends on your preference/set up. DS is 4 and we have no toys in the living room, only books. He has a Kallax unit in his bedroom and brings one box at a time downstairs to play with during the day, but they're always tidied back away at the end of the day.

Sarahcoggles · 05/03/2023 17:29

demotedreally · 05/03/2023 16:26

Blimey 11 and no toys ?

We have kids stuff everywhere. Lots of books too. It stresses me out sometimes but DH is a messy bugger too so our house is no showhome

I think she said Y11, meaning age 15/16.

SleepingStandingUp · 05/03/2023 17:30

DS are 3, 3 and 7. Just brought more storage for living room altho it is mostly the twins stuff.
Their site to swap bedrooms soon so eldest won't have much room for toys and I currently wouldn't trust twins with much in theirs hence extra storage for living room.

ScottChegg · 05/03/2023 17:48

I have three sons still at home, they are 25, 21 and 19. They take over the living room regularly with their computers to have gaming tournaments, like they have right now. I'll let you know.

demotedreally · 05/03/2023 17:53

Sorry all! I can deal with a y11 having no toys! 😁😁

Tiredalwaystired · 05/03/2023 18:00

Toys? Years ago.

Dirty socks/homework books/hair ties/make up/hair pins? I’ll let you know.

#MuckyTeens

TheToyStoreAlienMum · 05/03/2023 18:11

Haven't yet but thats because DC has a tiny bedroom and nowhere else for any toys really.