Please help me plan toy storage

[butadream]

Am I optimistic in thinking I may have found an alternative to Ikea and GLTC in these Really Useful Boxes?

I am looking at combining the 18L and 35L boxes in some form of made to measure shelving unit, I have space for 3 wide and, ooh, lots tall.

I am thinking from the top down:

3 x 18L
3 x 18L
3 x 35L
3 x 18L
3 x 35L
3 x 18L
3 x 35L at the bottom with rollers on

The question is whether to go for clear transparent or different colours? What do you think?

[CarGirl]

We have loads and loads and loads of duplo in a huge but shallow under bed drawer on wheels.

I refuse to let them have little lego yet (they're all at school) because of the foot issue

If you have toys that just doesn't float their boats there is no point keeping it. Donate it to charity if it makes you feel better - I sell it and reinvest it on stuff they do want.

[Habbibu]

In dd's room we use these, and downstairs we use these. Wouldn't bother with the lidded ones again, as you just don't need them in the shelves.

[CarGirl]

Our house is so dusty we've ended up getting lids for the trofast. Although this is worst under our open plan staircase so not exactly rocket science!

[WeNeedToLeaveInFiveMinutes]

It's not that children, or you, can't use lids but I find it much quicker when we do chucking. I've never managed to have a "one toy at a time" policy. Also, you may be happy getting the toys down for your children now when they are small but they'll shortly want to be able to help themselves to stuff, without asking you.

I had craft stuff out of reach until recently, and paints still are. As is the marble run as it's bits are small and irritating. So you do always need some out-of-reach stuff.

[CarGirl]

Just give them a step stool - I have to use it anyway

[MomOrMum]

This may be more involved then you had in mind, but we have built a storage unit in our living/dining room out of Ikea kitchen cabinets. Ours is a long low sideboard type unit. You can use either the deep cabinets (60 cm I think) or the shallow ones (30 cm I think).

You could use the pantry style cabinets for tall toy storage and then have a door to hide it all away!

[cilitbang]

Love, love, love this book yes I know, I'm a bit of a weirdo reading houseorganising books, I don't know whats wrong with me - i can't seem to get enough of them....anyway, I digress. In this book there is a whole section on toy organising and systems. And, get this, she uses washbasins! I kid you not. The plastic ones you can get from Asda for a £1! And I heeded her advice and I have actually found them a godsend. They are just the right size for little hands to pick up and we have them all over the place! I must admit we are fortunate enough to have a walk-in cupboard with shelves for toys so aesthetics isn't too much of a problem,because we close the door and hey presto! I have to say though they are an easy, cheap and fabulous way to keep things organised for lots of different things.

[butadream]

MomOrMum if we had a playroom that would be perfection!

Hmm hmm hmm:

getting DC to tidy up themselves

VS

dusty toys

We need Harry Hill to settle this with a fight!

[butadream]

Ooh new idea - would underbed drawers fit under (Ikea) sofas do you reckon?

[Wonderstuff]

Have not seen expedit before (or at least not considered it) looks really good. I love mumsnet

[butadream]

Yes if there were a perfect answer then mumsnet would have it - sounds like Ikea are top choice overall

[MomOrMum]

We also replaced our coffee table with one of those footstool things with storage underneath? Ours is an aged leather and has stood up to years of abuse including lots of full drinks and coffees spilled on it. We got ours at Darlings of Chelsea. Ikea also have them.

We are able to fit all of DS's toys in it right now (only one DC and a scrooge about buying toys!) so in the evenings we dump all of the various toy boxes and bins in the ottoman and close the lid. Ours is sturdy enough to put drinks/plates on, but if it's not you can just get a large tray to put on top (not that we ever eat dinner on our laps watching TV of course )

Underbed boxes for under the sofa would be great too. If the sofa isn't high enough, you could replace the legs with ones a bit longer so that there would be space?!

I have a strange obsession with storage solutions.

[MomOrMum]

Footstool is like this onethis one at Ikea

[MomOrMum]

Duh - useless at doing links.

[LoveBeingAMummy]

In the living room now i've got this under the shelf of my coffee table without the lid on it and on the shelf just above it got her books. But also have one of those bucket tubs.

[butadream]

More good things, brilliant

[allthatglisters]

Those colourful large rubber baskets are good for dressing up clothes, dolls/soft toys and also dirty washing baskets for kids bedrooms. They can be stacked too, even with stuff in.

Don't get too many boxes with lids - different sized woven baskets look quite nice dotted around with wooden bricks, teasets, toycars, baby board books, toy animals in etc and encourage creative play. Enamel mugs from discount shops are nice for felt tip pens and longer pencils.

[SparkyToo]

We use plastic boxes and they and great at stack and you can easily see what's stored inside. However I have to admit the Great Little Trading company option mentioned above, looks really gorgeous..... if only we could live like that!!

[Bumperlicious]

Have just bought that book cillitbang, it looks like just what we need!

[butadream]

Thanks for additional responses

Think I will try a combination of baskets and use the plastic boxes for things like storing baby clothes for future DC / nieces & nephews