Stuff stuff stuff - storage help

[SPR1107]

I have a 3 bed semi, but it is just over 800sq ft. I have attached a floor plan.

Red = Sofa abd armchair
Yellow = Tv and stand
Green = toddler table and chairs
Blue = toy box, two sacks of toys, a box of books

Currently in our house is me, DH, DS age 2, and a dog. Second child is on their way.

We have no more room in the front room for anything, and baby is going to bring with it swing chair, play mats, etc etc.

Can I ask, what you would do differently? What could we change for better use of the room / better storage... but still look nice

A bit drastic/expensive perhaps, but one of those sofas that has storage inside could be good? Next have some. Is there space in your dc’s room for the toy storage? Could then just have one box of toys downstairs each day, and rotate... this would free up some floor space for the baby’s things

Using a kallax 2x4 as a TV stand has revolutionised our storage situation

Coffee table/ trunk with storage inside

Change the tv stand for a long unit with storage.

Rotate the toys so less is downstairs at any one time or time for a clear out

Shelving above existing furniture

Could you rotate the sofa, put the tv against the kitchen wall and make the window nock a play area? Hard to know if the proportions would work but it’s an idea.

Change tv cabinet to something with drawers or doors to store toys behind.

Coffee table with storage

Any toys that dont fit in tv cabinet or coffee table need to go or be in bedroom.

Books - can you put up a couple of ikea spice racks as book shelves near the window/armchair. look on pinterest for ideas. Rotate books every few weeks so the rest in bedroom.

Ditch small kids table. Just use main table in kitchen for art and crafts, eating, puzzles.

That will free up all the green and blue space in room currently.

Do you need the armchair as the sofa looks like it might be quite big? Without the armchair you could have some storage across the wall under the front window, or use that end of the room for the baby things.

Could you move the arm chair up to the space next to the wall to the downstairs loo (approx where the basin is) so that the entire bottom rectangle of space can be used for kids toys and a small play area but still be accessible via the space between the armchair and end of the sofa. You could then replace the various toy/book storage for one large unit on one of the side walls - like an IKEA kallax unit - and free up all the floor space for play.

Or would the sofa fit in the window area? Is the L shape moveable to go on either end so it would fit? If you did that then you could put the TV on the kitchen wall, the armchair against the wall on the left and all the space currently taken by the TV could be used for a toy storage unit.

I would also work on getting furniture that does double duty - a bookcase/sideboard/kallax unit for storage can double as a TV stand; a blanket box/trunk for storage that doubles as a coffee table; a pouffe with internal storage etc

If you have an IKEA nearby I'd have a trip out and look at some of their sitting room set ups - there is wall storage that still looks stylish and multi purpose furniture.

If not, have a look in their online catalogue for ideas

Also look at Kallax hacks on Google - there are some good window seat options - Kallax holds loads and lots of insert/basket options

In the meantime, I too would lose the toddler table and chairs to the kitchen. Could the sofa be pulled in to the room to stash things behind?
Kallax TV unit and Kallax in front of the window...Or look at low Billy bookcase units as they are slimmer

Also...less is more where toddlers are concerned - they play better when they have less to choose from so don't panic about thinning toys out a little

Kallax stood on end I find way more efficient than toyboxes. We had a 4x2 set as all the storage for toys until we moved house, when our youngest was a toddler. Get rid of toddler table and make kitchen table more accessible for them instead, or get a playmat that slides away under a sofa, or even just a bit of plywood for trains etc. if you have carpet.

Think efficient floor standing shelving or cubes for children's stuff and wall mounted shelves for adult stuff. Do you have space for a big bookcase or small storage unit in the dining area?