Before you have kids, you have all sorts of ideas about how your home is never going to disappear under a pile of toys, and how your children’s bedrooms are always going to be neat and tidy.
Then you actually have kids, and within months every one of those ideas goes out the window.
The good news? Keeping the clutter under control doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Here are eight budget-friendly toy storage tips for when the toy box is well and truly full.
Budget-Friendly Toy Storage Tips For When The Toy Box Is Full
#1. Have a Dedicated Play Area
One of the easiest ways to manage the mess is to give your kids a dedicated play area where they can go a bit wild. You don’t need a separate playroom to make this work — even a small corner can become a proper play area if you set it up well.
Whether you’re lucky enough to have a whole playroom or you’re converting a corner of the living room, combine smart storage with a bit of creative decoration to make a space your children will actually enjoy — and hopefully keep their clutter contained to.
#2. Be Smart When Shopping
When you’re shopping for kid-friendly furniture, look for pieces they can still use as they get older. Ask yourself: will this still be useful when they’re a teenager?
Look for double-duty options wherever you can, such as:
- benches, chairs and tables that double as storage containers
- storage options disguised as cute decorations
- storage that doubles as seating or an art space
- inventive ways to display artwork and more
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#3. Use Clear Shoe Organisers
Image from Organizedchaosonline.com
A clear shoe organiser is an ideal solution you can hang on the back of a door or on a wall. Use just one, or use a few.
Store action figures, bath toys, teddies, Lego (sort by colour for easy use, or use individual bins if you have a lot of it), arts and crafts supplies, and pretty much anything else that fits inside a pocket.
Label the pockets if you want to keep things really organised — though it won’t always stick — or don’t bother, and just repack everything once a month or so.
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#4. Drawstring Tote Bags
Tote bags — basically a sack with a drawstring — are great for storing bulkier items, or when your child has a whole collection of the same thing (dolls, cars, building blocks, farm animals).
Hang them from hooks mounted on a wall, from hooks under a shelf, or line them up on a shelf. They can be cotton, patterned, vinyl, labelled or unlabelled.
In other words, if you can turn it into a sack, you can use it.
#5. Hang Stuffed Toys
Stuffed toys take up a surprising amount of space and rarely fit neatly into storage bins. Hanging them from the ceiling with a simple swing, or across a corner with a hammock (you can buy them, or make your own), is a great way to get them out of the way.
Just make sure your kids can still reach their teddies when they want them, or they may attempt a Spiderman-style rescue mission.
#6. Double Duty
Items with two purposes are a great way to save money — and a great way to make smart use of a small space.
- Get an activity table with drawers or shelves, or one with storage space underneath.
- Attach rollers to a storage crate and use it as a rolling chair or small table.
- Put a cushion on top of a crate for an instant storage stool.
- Mount cubbies or crates on the wall with hooks or rails underneath for 3-in-1 storage.
- Make or buy a wall-mounted desk with storage space and a chalkboard on the back.
- Use a long chest as a window-seat-cum-daybed reading nook.
In other words, work out what your playroom actually needs, then figure out how to combine everything into 2-in-1s or 3-in-1s.
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#7. Display Your Children’s Art As Decoration
If you have a playroom, it’s a good idea to choose a single shade for the walls and let colourful furniture, accessories and your child’s masterpieces do the decorating.
Remember there will be a new masterpiece every few days, so don’t feel you need to frame everything.
Some budget-friendly ideas for displaying children’s art:
- make a clothes line of art, held up with pegs
- make a fabric-covered bulletin board
- make your own chalkboard with chalkboard paint
- create a gallery using plastic sleeves
- use a peg board for a mixed display
Find ways to update the display easily, without damaging walls or spending money on expensive frames.
#8. Keep Your Kids In Mind
You might spot something, or come up with something, that you think is utterly adorable — but remember this space is for your kids, whatever age they are. They need to be able to reach everything, whether it’s a shelf, something hanging from a rail, a hook, or a door.
If you have storage bins stacked on top of each other, your child needs to be able to reach the top one and lift it down unaided.
So think about step stools, and plan for how you’ll raise shelves as they grow and their reach extends.
Now that you have some budget-friendly ideas for creating a play space, hopefully the mess will stay a little more contained too.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the cheapest way to store toys when I don’t have a big budget?
Repurposing what you already have is usually the cheapest route — a clear shoe organiser on the back of a door, drawstring tote bags on hooks, or a crate with a cushion on top as a stool all cost very little and make a real difference.
How do I stop stuffed toys from taking over?
Get them off the floor and out of bins by hanging them — a simple hammock strung across a corner, or a swing hung from the ceiling, keeps them tidy while still letting your child reach and play with them.
Should storage be within my child’s reach?
Yes. Whatever system you choose — shelves, hooks, bins or cubbies — your child should be able to reach it and put things away independently. A step stool can help bridge the gap as they grow.
What should I do with all my child’s artwork?
You don’t need to frame or keep everything. A clothes line with pegs, a fabric bulletin board, or a homemade chalkboard all give you an easy, low-cost way to display current favourites and swap them out regularly.
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- 10 Hacks for Parents to Organise Toys
- 10 Quick Ways to Tidy Up the Playroom
- An Easy Kids Playroom Makeover on a Budget
- 10 Excellent Kids Bedroom Ideas on a Budget
Save This For Later
Got a toy storage system that works for your family? We’d love to hear about it — bookmark this page and come back to it next time the toy box overflows again (it always does).
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