If you've ever stepped on Lego, or accidentally turned on a toy whilst your tot is asleep, you'll know all too well how important a good toy storage idea is.
But before you curse under your breath or in your head, just know a good bedroom storage idea can work wonders in your kids room design.
The latest designs don't have to look boxy or even be made from plastic. On the production lines, we're seeing eco-chic sea grass designs and rustic trunks, bookshelves and even storage bags.
Our ideas will look stylish in your children's bedrooms, and dare we say make tidying up a breeze.
1. Tidy up toys in a creative bedroom cupboard idea
She sells seashells by the sea shore, goes the childhood tongue twister. But, once her customers have come home, where do they store their treasures?
OK, so this question may not have kept you up at night, but the thought of a messy bedroom may have. So bring the seaside to your kiddies bedroom with a whimsical wardrobe storage idea.
Complete with a roof and paneled door featuring a cut out porthole style window at the top, this toy storage idea adds a touch of fun to your youngsters bedroom and is perfect for putting away buckets and spades until the next beach day.
2. Use a classic toy storage chest
Children and tidy living spaces tend not to mix, period. But there are still options to restore order, if only for a short while. One is to store children’s toys in a hefty box or chest – it does the job of clearing away toys but also would look lovely in a living room or bedroom too. It can also be used as a handy seat so why not pop it in a bay window or even a hallway to throw school bags, skipping ropes and footballs in.
3. Sit pretty with a bench toy storage idea
Bending, kneeling, squatting, sprinting and crawling. Throughout childhood, your little one will go though a variety of movements and poses. And let's not even start with their 'interesting' sleeping positions at night.
One things for certain, a good seat can encourage proper posture which is important for their physical development now and in the future.
So, this storage bench by Cam Cam would be a great addition to any nursery idea or playroom design and makes a comfortable place to sit and read a book or two.
With clever and considerate design, the seat has a smooth closure to ensure small fingers never get trapped. For a cozy story time spot, add cushions for the ultimate plush plot.
4. Buy a simple-to-access toy storage cabinet that looks good too
Loving this cute Songmics toy storage cabinet from Amazon. Our advice? Fill it with storage boxes so when your kids want something they don't pull out the whole cupboard to find it. LEGO in one, dolls in another, cars in another... You get the drift.
5. Choose organiser systems for small toys
For kids who like crafts or Lego, there are plenty of organiser solutions, such as the mesh drawer systems from Elfa. Crucially, all of their drawers are see-through, allowing your child to find what they want quickly and without pulling everything else out along the way. If you are after Lego storage ideas, check out our guide.
6. Go rustic with a wood blanket box toy storage design
Ahoy my hearties! If you're looking for toy storage idea for your little pirate to store their treasures, then look no further than a wooden blanket box.
This chest design works perfectly in a rustic bedroom idea and the classic design will mean that it sees them through to adolescence and even adulthood to store blankets and bedding for the colder months.
Alternatively, style with faux fur throws for a Nordic-inspired bedroom design.
7. Put two toy storage pieces back to back for play surface space
Not got much floor space? You can still pack in plenty of storage, and leave the tops clear for the play that they might otherwise have done on the floor. See more about this idea at Ikea.
8. Go old school with a locker toy storage design
Look sis! If you're in need of a toy storage idea that's perfect for a girls bedroom design, then a locker is where it's at! Trendy enough for a teenage bedroom idea and tiny enough for a toddler, this stubby metal framed cabinet is cute.
Aptly named 'The Shorty' this stylish storage idea from Mustard Made comes in right and left opening options and ten different colorways. Perfect for when you haven't quite got settled on a bedroom paint color just yet.
Who knew a toy storage design could be so inclusive?
9. Double up toy storage as a display
It may be that a child has favourites she or he just cannot part with for very long, or the sight of your child’s toys actually gives you joy. In fact, just as you may display your favourite art, toys can be used to accessorise a room too. Colourful wooden toys can be particularly pleasing in an otherwise neutral room, and open shelving offers the chance to use these to redesign the room as your child grows.
10. Go eco chic with sea grass baskets
If you go down to the woods today, you're sure of a big surprise. And that might just be finding your child has packed their toys neatly into this woodland-inspired basket.
Perfect for tidy up after a Teddy bear's picnic, this wonderful storage solution from Sweetpea and Willow will keep kids toys, books and accessories tidy in place. Ideal for small bedroom design, this basket with generous dimensions, is not too big, or small but just right.
Made from natural materials, this toy storage idea gives any bedroom a chic but sweet, Scandinavian charm. The little ear details on this design add bundles of fairy tale fun too.
11. Invest in a rail for dressing up clothes
Kids love to dress up? A peg rail is super handy for everything from costumes to clothes, dressing gowns to bags. This lovely peg rail is from Ikea, you can run them together to create as much hanging storage as you need.
If you are after more clothes storage ideas head over to our gallery.
12. Find a fun felt toy storage design
Offering organic style and much needed storage space this sheep wool felt basket from Garden Trading will look great in your little lamb's grey bedroom design.
Featuring a star on one side it can sit almost anywhere in the house to keep the room clutter free. Whether used to store toys in a kid's bedroom or playroom design, it also doubles up as a laundry basket once your tot has outgrown the need for so many toys.
The two chunky contrasting handles make the storage basket easy to move when needed. And, we think the soft wintery material will add a tactile and textural feel to the room.
13. Invest in an end of bed toy storage pocket
Some toys need to be handy – for young kids it might be their favourite cuddly toy or a book; for older kids, it's no doubt their phone or device... Either way, an end of bed toy storage pocket is a great idea for keeping stuff from getting lost and for keeping bedside tables neat. This one's from Ikea.
14. Pack up their playthings in a cool velvet trunk
Childhood is all about creating memories and using your imagination. So let your child's mind run riot with adventures and exploration with a trunk toy storage idea.
Whether the trunk's final destination is in a bedroom, living room or playroom, the velvet containers will look chic stacked in a corner, or standing solo in style.
And, it's not just little 'uns that'll like this design. With realms of room, these storage boxes are also a great closet organization idea for grown-ups! Store out-of-season clothing or extra bed linen.
15. Buy toy storage boxes with windows for easy access
It's really easy for kids to tip toys all over the floor when they're on the hunt for something particular – but if you've bought storage boxes with windows at the front you can seriously minimise the mess. When they're older, swap out the toys for clothes. Genius. These are from Ikea too (can you tell we love Ikea for storage ideas?).
16. Stuff toys in a drawstring washable storage bag
Ever thought bagging up your kids toys could be a practical toy storage idea?
Made from 100% cotton, this washable and reversible design from Bobby Rabbit is great for sticky fingers, grubby hands or if there's been a food or drink spillage.
The drawstring design means that you can hang this toy storage idea on the back of a door or hook onto a cloakroom peg - saving valuable floor space.
This portable toy storage design means that you can transport kids toys on your travel adventures, be it on vacation, or sleepover at grandma's house.
17. Find a footstool with storage hidden beneath
This one from Ikea is designed to slide under the bed (clever) but also doubles up as seating (even cleverer); it's on wheels, too (genius). Even better? It looks fantastic in a living room, too, and as they get older, if it's still in their room, it makes for extra seating. Win win.
18. Talking of toy storage for under the bed...
It's the best place for hiding away toys. Best case scenario? Buy a bed with built-in storage beneath the bed – you can use it for toys when they're young and for their burgeoning wardrobe when they're older. Or, retro-fit – you can buy smart under bed storage drawers to fill up with toys.
19. Place toys in a planter for a garden-inspired idea
If you want a toy storage idea that is unique and utterly genius, then you may need to look to garden ideas for inspo. Yes. Bear with us.
Not just for houseplants, or trendy families on the grow your own train, planters are great modern, freestanding storage idea for planting plush and plastic toys in.
With wooden legs that double as handles, this design by Beaumonde makes it easy to move around.
20. Get creative with shelves
Shelving does not have to be boring, so why not integrate shelved toy storage into the design of your child’s bedroom? You can use floating shelves to create a quirky display for toys and allow you to put them away out of reach after playtime.
If you are feeling creative, you can also make shelves by repurposing anything from planters to paper tubes. For example, follow this guide for making toy shelves on the quirky Swedish blog Pysselbolaget.
21. Hang in there with a toy hammock
What are cute toy storage idea! Knitted toy hammocks can be attached to walls and doors and are handy for that abundance of soft toys that builds up. Buy one ready made from Etsy, or download a knitting pattern and make one like the sweet design pictured below yourself!
22. Create a designated adventure play area with a tipi
If floor space is so tight it's a choice between toy storage furniture and toys, why not seek a compromise? A play teepee, one of the best soft play equipment buys, will transport your child into another world, and when they're back to earth, they can stash away their toys in it. There are options for every budget, from the very affordable, options on Amazon such as this stylish option from Wildfire Teepees.
23. Move toys off the floor with a modular shelving idea
Kids grow at a scarily fast rate...and so do their toy stash. So if you're finding that their playthings are multiplying overnight, a modular toy storage idea is ideal.
Plus, there's no right or wrong way to stack this shelving design so have fun positioning them as and where you see fit. Equally, if at first you don't succeed - try try try again. Modular design means that the arrangement is adjustable.
Do consider placing them out of head height to avoid a boo boo or bump in the night!
24. Go eco with your toy storage ideas and pick cotton bags
Many of us are trying to make more sustainable choices when we shop for homeware – why shouldn’t that apply to toy storage, too? Avoid plastic and go with cotton or even paper bags (they make 'em really sturdy now). Have a look over on Etsy for loads of options.
25. Invest in purpose-built furniture
If you want to hit the next level in tidiness, consider investing in built-in storage. Design it to suit the space and how many things you need to store, or combine with clothes storage and a desk too. The Dormy House Modular Wall Storage or Multi Modular Storage, is customisable to your space, needs and even colour scheme.
26. Grow your toy storage as your child grows
Children's storage and playing needs go through so many transformations over their early years. It can be exhausting (and expensive) to keep replacing and rearranging their furniture to keep up. Help is at hand with Ikea's clever Trofast storage combination. It comes with removable plastic trays which can be added to, and it can be used as a shelving unit for everything from books to games consoles when your child is older.
27. Slot toys tidily into a bookshelf design
If you have a child that likes to tip out all of their playthings in search of their favorite
then why not consider an open shelf toy storage design? Perfect for seeing things in plain view, this idea will keep toys, games and books neat and tidy.
Designed at a lower height, this toy storage design means your little one can easily reach and access the contents, and with labels included, draw pictograms to make packing easy-peasy.
Ideal for use in the playroom or kids bedroom, this stylish unit would fit seamlessly with existing furniture. Perfect for a girls or boys bedroom design, this cabinet from Cuckooland comes finished in a soft pastel green or simple white design.
Alternatively this wooden fixture pairs up as the perfect shoe storage idea or a way to keep diapers at your fingertips in a gender neutral nursery design .
28. Mix study time and play time with multipurpose toy storage ideas
Make learning more fun for the kids by combining toy storage ideas with a desk, or position a blackboard above your toy storage unit. Taking breaks for playtime is much easier when the toys are within easy reach. Take inspiration from the Industrial Kids Storage Bench by Woood, which can be conveniently positioned right underneath a blackboard, transforming study time into interactive play time.
For more playroom ideas, head over to our gallery.
29. Keep toys accessible with a string bag
A super simple way to add a bit of extra toy storage is to hang a few string bags. We swear by string bags as storage in any room – they work so well in a bathroom for example – you can see what's in there there, get it out easily and we think they look lovely too. Make them more playroom friendly by hanging them from a funky peg.
30. Create a feature wall of shelves
These toy storage is super cute and practical too! You can keep your most used toys on the lower shelves so that they are accessible and the special or more decorative toys up top. They are also add plenty of personality to a kid's bedroom which we think is just as important as practical toy storage.
31. Integrate a toy storage idea into the living room
Have you ever wondered if it's possible to create a family-friendly interior space that doesn't feel too cluttered, mismatched, or out-of-place, in comparison to the rest of the home design?
While many of our storage ideas have toyed around with the idea of a playroom or shutting away toys in a bedroom, one interior designer has quite literally thrown the toys out of the pram, choosing instead to move toys to the living room.
Mother and successful interior designer, Shaolin Low of Studio Shaolin, has found a way to incorporate both kids' toys and gorgeous interiors all in one. Talking about the room she styled, she says: 'My client is a busy mom of a two-year old toddler and a working professional. They recently had to downsize from a home to a condo.
'They love the convenience of this lifestyle and it's in a great location, but integrating her toddler's playroom and their living room was her first challenge.
'Before she hired me, she planned on giving up the living room altogether and just making it a giant playroom. So, our challenge was, how do we make a living room/dining room beautiful while also incorporating a kids playroom with her toys?'
'Thankfully the client is into Montessori (as am I) and has beautiful wooden toys for her child. We were able to embrace the Montessori method with a child size weaning table and shelf from Sprout Furniture.'
'We also added plexiglass to her coffee table so that her child could use it as a large surface to color/draw when she needed -- since the coffee table she loved was carved.
'We made sure the custom sofa from American Leather, with the beautiful teal contrast welt, was in performance fabric and we secured the artwork to the wall so that her toddler couldn't bring it down.'
How do you store lots of toys?
Wayfair's Resident Style Advisor Nadia McCowan Hill's clever storage solutions for tidying away your children's clutter. She says: 'In a small space, you can’t afford to have excess stuff so opt for smart storage solutions to keep your kids’ clutter at bay and maximize your floor space.'
'Choose furniture that works double duty, trunk sets look super stylish and are also a fabulous place to stash toys.'
'Storage ottomans are the small space designer’s best friend. Go for a beautifully upholstered version in a bold jewel hue for a style statement that doubles as a secret storage spot, perfect for organizing toys so they’re easy to find.'
'And finally, utilize your wall space by incorporating floating shelves into your design scheme. Opt for modern geometric designs in bright colors to add a bold statement to any room, perfect for storing kids toys in style.'
Where should kids store toys?
Mother and successful interior designer, Shaolin Low of Studio Shaolin says:
'When it comes to storage, have a place for everything and things that you don't use every day or if they are in a toy rotation - store them out of the way, out of sight,
and neatly somewhere.'
'Living in fear of your upholstery is no way to live at all, especially when there are children present and they are using the space too. So, just save yourself the panic moments and get everything in performance fabric.'
'Pulling from the Montessori method, everything should be kid-accessible and kid-friendly. This way, they can play and put away all on their own. This helps to keep a space tidy and foster independence. A toy shelf and weaning table are always my favorites.'
'Keep the floor open. Kids tend to spread out and if you're going to share a space with them, they need plenty of room for all of their inspiration. Try not to crowd the room with unnecessary items, keep it minimal and multi-use.'
'Kids like to be comfortable, and frankly, so do most adults. Pick items that are comfortable for everyone to enjoy - soft rugs, big sofas and practical coffee tables with round edges. The more everyone can relax and hang out in the space, the better.'
'Kids love to explore their surroundings and for some reason accessible artwork or decor pieces are so enticing for little hands. So, make sure you secure the artwork to the wall (top and bottom), secure any furniture pieces that might tip over to the wall, and either forgo breakable decor pieces or place them out of reach.