Toy storage for Living room- reducing clutter

neverdespairgirl

hollieinbloom wrote: »

Just don't buy too many toys. They don't play with them! they want your mobile phone or the remote more than any toy you can buy them! x

And your purse, watch, and keys.

This is my darling son when he was a toddler, with my purse and my handbag:

julie03

ikea trofast is great for toy storage

onlyroz

My kids have one plastic box each in the living room (£1.50 from Tesco). At the end of the day all toys are scooped up and put in them. Any overflow is put back in their rooms. Periodically I do a rotation to make sure that forgotten toys still get played with.

[Deleted User]

My older son was a nightmare. I've always been a bit of a bookworm so I had a floor to ceiling bookcase that's I'd made myself after I left uni. It was huge lol and full of books. There was nothing he liked better than pulling all the books out. Several times a day lol.

Eventually I bought two IKEA billy bookcases with doors (and tied the doors lol). This has now proved proof against two children he he!

Plastic storage boxes are the thing. Or Wilkinson's have a canvas shelf system with boxes for £30. I might get one myself for my 5 year old's room. See http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/kids-storage-desks+chairs/kids-storage-system-canvas+wood-3-tier/invt/0292677/?htxt=CqRsbJu%2FutV8PO2VUe7M5tbw0eF0%2BgiZGsyhRiL%2FA7J%2FD5ckTwx4gGk9NGxRQ2HoBcTxJmxJa8Ar%0AIS49VztZhg%3D%3D
or http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/kids-storage-desks+chairs/kids-storage-system-canvas+wood-4-tier/invt/0292678/?htxt=eDyZipsWYeS0LvKq3zSji6a0DlK4LJkq%2B1ylYoprtjugsyU8KWQsKylrdvByG4u4nZJ1d0WdbtSz%0A54cO%2FAAnbg%3D%3D

gravitytolls

I rather like the rattan storage things from Argos http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/9285338/Trail/searchtext%3ESTORAGE.htm
Not cheap though, but I reckon you could find one on ebay or gumtree.

We've got plastic drawer storage, but they tend to empty the toys and stand on the upturned drawer to reach stuff we've put out of reach. which is all well and good until they get a bit heavier and go through them. Several of ours are taped up with parcel tape.

gravitytolls

These are pretty good too.

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/9349982/Trail/searchtext%3ESTORAGE.htm

Mupette

summerday wrote: »

I hope no-one minds me posting this here instead of on 'In my Home'-I just thought that more people are likely to see it here who already have children and be able to offer help.

We are due a baby in a few weeks, and realise that although we are both fairly house proud and tidy, toys are likely to invade the house at an alarming rate! I wondered if anyone has any suggestions on the best types of storage to keep the living room tidy, and that is not too expensive either.

I initially thought perhaps a toy chest, in a natural wood colour, but then everything inside may just end up one big mess and as it would be tricky to find anything in it so the whole thing may get emptied every time!

Ideally we would prefer a storage unit to be not much higher than back of sofa height, and not too bright/garish colours. Perhaps something with separate storage baskets/containers that can be pulled out?....

I will be really grateful for any suggestions, many thanks.

House proud and tidy v Babies and children, you can't have both.

Bright and garish colours - i assume you mean the important primary colours children learn.

Don't worry we've all been there, the proud housewife, proud mother, wanting everything to be just perfect, just so.

First couple of weeks your not going to know whats hit you (in a nice way), washing dishes will go down the list of things to do, unless you get a baby that goes down for naps when they should.

And just wait until they are crawling....

Stop worrying about how the house will be (your nesting)
rest and enjoy that last few weeks of your pregnancy, the less stress the better. And enjoy your soon to be bundle of joy.

If you feel you need to do something.. how about some batch cooking for when you just can't cook, and it can just be popped in the oven from the freezer.

Becles

We've got a plastic tower unit with 6 plastic drawers in and that stood in the cupboard under the stairs. One box came out at a time, then they got picked up and put away at the end of the day. You can rotate the boxes to keep interest.

Babies don't really make that much mess. It's when they get to pre-school and older age that things get left all over the place. And don't get me started on teenage boys bedrooms!

scheming_gypsy

summerday wrote: »

I initially thought perhaps a toy chest, in a natural wood colour, but then everything inside may just end up one big mess and as it would be tricky to find anything in it so the whole thing may get emptied every time!

.

Just get some MDF cut so you can section the chest off.

Mrs.W_2

summerday wrote: »

....
We are due a baby in a few weeks, and realise that although we are both fairly house proud and tidy, toys are likely to invade the house at an alarming rate! ...

Wait until your LO is enjoying his/her Terrible Twos. As you are scrubbing their latest 'art work' off the walls, you'll look back and laugh at the thought of a few toys cluttering up the place.

Originally, we tried clever storage solutions, then redecorated the dining room as a play room. That allowed me to close a door on any/all mess, and go back to clear up when I had the time.