Clever storage solutions!

[GoByTrain]

So in a bid to halt the tide of plastic crap, does anyone have any ideas? We've not got lots of room, so the storage needs to be efficient. One toddler atm so lots of lego, balls, train sets, marble run etc just in boxes taking up room. (books go on shelves) One thing I'd love a sofa/chair with a seat that lifts up = hidden toy box! But I can't see any on-line (or at least nothing beautiful). I really dont want to spend hours sorting & placing things on open shelves as some of my friends do. Or perhaps you have other ideas for dealing with the plastic? So, beautiful efficient storage - any ideas?

Have you looked on Pinterest? Great collection of ideas, or DIY protects that mean you could make easily (or so they say) an ottoman with storage for example.
I'm in the same situation though...

Ah that's an idea K2. Hmm. Am surprised at how unfunctional furniture is - surely even things like benches with storage are as old as the hills? Still wondering what others do to keep their toddler-zone places in order.

Ikea has this storage footstool is that what you were thinking of?

I'm a childminder and have my own DC so have way too many toys, so I'm on an ongoing mission to contain toys!

I have several of these - although mine are in birch, which they don't seem to do as the tall unit anymore. You can get the frame separately and choose your own boxes to go in it, so you can tailor them to the size of the toys. They're good for where there's not much floor space, but other options like www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/S89842470/ are good if you want the top to be a play surface.

More recently I just bought this which looks nice in a chimney breast alcove and hides lots of toys/puzzles etc.

Can you tell I have an ikea 10 minutes away?

I second Ikea - they can't really be beaten for reasonably priced, flexible storage.

We have the Trofast range and does the job.

HAH Leeloo that footstool looks good - many thanks! I spotted something sim from the Conran shop but was about £800... visions of paint splatters after one outing.
Itsjust & leeloo - yes, I've looked (on line) at the Trofast range - and I think I'll investigate it further. Seems to be well-liked (on line at least!). We have one massive great high wall against which storage could go.
Cheers both.

The great thing about it is that it is quite an adaptable system - if they could only find a magical system to get the bits back into the trays at bedtime ...

fleshwound hum you're right. That is in fact what I'm looking for. Curses.

We have Trofast here too. It's amazing.

A friend also has the Expedit. Worth a look if you're in ikea anyway. May even be better for slightly bigger toys

We have expedit and love it. It works well for us ar it's in the family room which is open into the kitchen so I wanted something as attractive as possible. I'd say it's not quite as versatile as Trofast though.