Every night, I find myself muttering “why do we have SO MANY TOYS!?” Not only do I walk often on tiptoes to avoid crunching one beneath my feet, I usually have to execute a giant sweep of my arm just to clear space on the couch to sit. And I only have one child, who’s really not that messy. But kids are kids and this is what I signed up for. We practice putting away our toys, but until she’s a little older this is the hand I am dealt with. I have a fair selection of baskets and buckets for toys, but they don’t always contain the mess! If you find yourself in a similar predicament and are in desperate need to some storage solutions, then check out some of these creative ideas on how to keep your toys in their rightful place!
Source: OnTheBanksOfSquawCreek.com
1. The Zoo
Many children form lifelong connections with their favorite stuffed animals, and like to proudly display their collection. The problem is, they start to take over their room and your home. Use an old bookcase and some dowels to create your very own stuffed animal zoo! The bars will keep the animals inside the zoo without falling out, and give them a clear home. You can make it any size you want, and can make it slim enough to fit behind a door. However you design it, your kids will love putting their animals in the zoo!
Visit OnTheBanksOfSquawCreek.com for the full tutorial on building your own Zoo. You can also read more on parenting, home renovation and home design!
Source: WhiteHouseBlackShutters.com
2. Built-In Bookcase
This is not your garden variety quick storage solution, but it’s still a great one. Do your kids have tons of books? My daughter does because I’m much more welcoming of books as gifts, rather than toys. But now we have books everywhere! We don’t have a bookshelf because I’m a little nervous about her pulling it over when she wants a book and I haven’t transitioned her to a big girl bed and don’t want to invest in a bookshelf that won’t match her room. Bookshelves can also take up a lot of space in a small room. That’s where the built-in book shelf comes in! By adding one “medicine cabinet style” (i.e. cut into the wall narrowly) to your children’s room, they have immediate storage that won’t come crashing down on them or take up previous floor and wall space!
The shelf in this photo was originally to close a window opening, but you can still create one yourself. Check out WhiteHouseBlackShutters.com for the complete how-to, along with tons of other home projects.
Source: ALoAndBeholdLife.com
3. Car Garage
I have a daughter who isn’t really into Matchbox cars, but I’ve heard if you have a child who loves them, they LOVE them. You end up with cars all over the house and under your feet. If you go the basket route, then you end up with piles of cars as your kids dig around looking for the one they want. Put your Matchbox cars on display and off the floor with this DIY car “garage” made out of wooden shoe racks! It’s simple and can be a cute and creative piece of wall art for your kids rooms. Your kids will probably end up playing with the cars even more, because they can see them all!
ALoAndBeholdLife.com has the entire tutorial for making this awesome storage rack. If you don’t want to make your own, you can actually order a set directly from their site!
Source: TheLittleStreet.com
4. Toy Box On Wheels
If you have a small living space and it doubles as your kids playroom, then toy boxes are your friends. You can easily pile toys in and shut the top for a nice, concealed storage solution. The truly gorgeous boxes can get expensive, so make your own! You can make it as small or large as you want, and extremely mobile by adding casters. Take it one step further and add a cushioned top to your lid so it doubles as an extra sitting space for the kiddos.
Visit TheLittleStreet.com for her tutorial on making your own toy box and other inspirations on decorating and events.
Source: TheNavyStripe.blogspot.ca
5. Puzzle Pouches
Oh puzzles, how do I love thee? Puzzles are great toys because they don’t take up much room, don’t involve batteries and are great teachers of patience. But, they also tend to get spread out everywhere, and once a piece is lost it’s pretty much useless. To keep your puzzles together, you can purchase inexpensive pencil pouches at an office supply store and store all your pieces!
If you like this idea, then head back over to TheNavyStripe.blogspot.ca for even more ideas on living an organized life.
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Karly Wood
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