How do you store toys?

[ipredicttrouble]

Hi

I'm needing some suggestions on solutions for toy storage. I have 2DCs (13 mo & 3wks) so we don't have loads of big toys at the moment just lots of little ones!

I can't keep things in their bedrooms as they are obviously too young to play up there so at the moment everything lives in the lounge. We have a bay window so currently I just tidy everything into that space on an evening. However, it's starting to bug me & I need something to tidy the toys in to.

I know that I could just get some of those big plastic boxes with lids but I want something that looks a bit nicer as it will be kept in the lounge.

Any suggestions?

I have a big wooden chest in my bay window for DS2's toys, it used to be my toy box.
Its really handy for storage and doubles up as extra seating.
You can get them quite cheaply on Ebay etc, I got my Dad to fit special hinges on so the lid can't just slam shut like it used to when I was little.

We have various things around the house. 2 x material toy chests (1 in bedroom, 1 in living room) but draw back is that material marks but chests are good for throwing things into (e.g. quick tidy). We have an old half wine barrel that is filled with train tracks and vehicles.

Ikea do some good things with drawers for sorting, you can label them with pictures (e.g. vehicles) so when the kids get a little older they can tell where to tidy their toys.

Wait till they come home with bucket loads of artwork groan!)

oh that a big wooden chest would solve this problem for us ... we now have a number of such chests and things are still spiralling out of control .....

I wish we had the space to put some proper storage cupboards in but we dont so all these chests/baskets etc are piled up on top of each other. Wholly unsatisfactory as quite dangerous, not ordered (which means hard to get the children to tidy up after themselves) and not helpful for access.

If all your toys fit into a chest then I would go that route for now but do give some thought as to the long term solution as you will be staggered by how many toys children can acquire in a very short time.

On the floor

In a heap on the floor works for us. We have the various storage solutions but they remain empty and unloved...

Thank you. I think a chest may be the solution for now. I just can't stand clutter and as I sit here breastfeeding DD2 things are slowly starting to get on my nerves . Why do I get the urge to start a massive spring clean/reorganisation when I have no time to do it/am permanently feeding?! I would love a full day to myself for a massive de-cluttering session - not going to happen though!

I got some seagrass boxes from Argos - a larges chest one and two smaller ones which sit on top - in the corner of the living room. The toys do seem to have spilled out though and I feel a toy cull coming on!

www.hastingwoodbasketworks.com/80400/info.php?p=8

handmade to order any size.I measured our gap beside the sofa and it fits perfectly. They can do anything and it look great they can also do it in different colours.

I got a carpenter to fit a window seat with storage in my bay window (as you mentioned you had a bay window). He also put up some shelves in the alcoves at the same time, which I put books on and things like jigsaws, electronic game type things. It works fairly well, but I do have problems still with bigger toys (toy kitchen, rocker etc).

I'm also going to put some ikea floating shelves up too with some pretty boxes on top, and I'm also going to put some shelves up in my DDs room so her bedroom can take some of the toy strain too.

I too feel a toy cull soon!

IKEA trofast storage sytem