These ideas for toy storage in the living room or family room will get your space feeling tidy in no time.
It can be such a challenge to organize a multipurpose living area. We want a space where the kids can play and be kids, but also a living area that is cozy and inviting for us adults! Here are a few ideas for toy storage that help me lately to tame the toy clutter!
I also made a quick video about this latest round of toy organization. I’ll link that down below!
Storage Furniture
Storage Coffee Table
A storage coffee table is a huge help in our family room! There are lots of storage coffee table options available for purchase new, or you could find one thrifted!
We picked this one up for $10 on Marketplace and I refinished it.
The tabletop is about the size of a train table, which is perfect for our train obsessed little.
Underneath, there is loads of concealed storage. It’s perfect for stashing toys and boxier items. We have trains and duplos in baskets, with board games and puzzles in the center cabinet.
We replaced the original baskets with four cube baskets, and it was a perfect fit!
Storage Seating
We painted a hope chest to use as a storage bench in the living room. It provides extra seating in a nook, but also offers hidden storage space beneath the seat. We use ours for the kid’s arts and crafts supplies, since its right off the kitchen.
Another easy little spot to tuck toys is in the living room is in a storage ottoman. Even the smallest round ottomans are the perfect size for baby toys, or a set of blocks! They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so they are an easy storage option to tailor to your living space.
Bins and Baskets
Of course, the most conventional place to tuck those toys is in a shelf or cabinet.
Cube baskets
We have a small Kallax shelf behind the sofa that houses the toys in these affordable hyacinth baskets. They are about the same price directly from Best Choice Products and from Amazon, so I will link to both for your preference. So much more affordable than IKEA!
One thing I love about cube baskets is they make toy rotation a breeze. We keep some toys on a shelf in the basement, and it’s great being able to swap out the bins without having to pull things out!
Blanket Basket
On top of our cube shelving, we have a large thrift store basket. When I tidy up, I fold the throw blanket and store it on top to hide our large and bulky collection of Paw Patrol toys!
Storage Crates
Wood crates are super affordable, and easy to stain or paint to match your decor! I stained several crates, then added some wheels to use in our living room and pantry. Here is that quick tutorial!
We keep our rolling crate tucked behind the armchair. Over the years, it has held everything from toys and blankets, to diapers and pullups…even the occasional toddler getting rides around the house from big brother. 😅
Under the Sofa
We are big on Legos in this house, and we have a lot! We were storing them in a bulky tote that didn’t really have a home. One day, it occured to me that we could tuck the out of sight under the sofa! We poured the Legos into a shallow under the bed tote. This tote slides perfectly under our couch, and the kids can pull it out easily to play.
With it being clear and shallow, the kids have an easier time seeing and finding the peices they want, without dumping the bin.
It’s easy to use under bed storage totes for all sorts of toys, homeschool and art supplies, really any storage challenge!
There are even sofas that have built-in storage, another good option for toys in a small space!
Book Nook
The little book nook worked great for an unused corner of our family room. When the boys were small, we kept a round rag rug for tummy time.
Now that they are bigger, we have an armchair and lamp for reading together.
These wood picture ledges I had from IKEA worked perfectly as book ledges with a quick coat of paint! I try to remember to swap out the books seasonally!
Managing toy clutter can feel like a never-ending challenge! I’m always on a mission to find ways to make our living space cozy and kid friendly! Do you have any toy organization tips to share? I’d love to hear about them!
