Playroom organizer ideas
30 Playroom Storage Ideas to Manage Toy Clutter in Style
By
Ashley Knierim
Ashley Knierim
Ashley Knierim is a home decor expert and product reviewer of home products for The Spruce. Her design education began at a young age. She has over 10 years of writing and editing experience, formerly holding editorial positions at Time and AOL.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 08/31/22
Design by Maison Ellie / Photo by Scott H. Wilson
Every parent knows that it's all too easy to let your whole house turn into a playroom. Sometimes it feels like toys somehow multiply overnight, and it can be difficult to create a storage solution that not only works for you, but works for your kids, too.
Whether you have an entire dedicated playroom or you use a corner of a living room or nursery to store toys, check out these stylish and clever storage ideas to help you keep toy clutter at bay.
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Add a Hanging Cabinet
Bow in the Sky / Instagram
This adorable playroom from Bow in the Sky features a natural wood cabinet mounted to the wall to add hidden storage for all types of toys. This provides extra floor space underneath for larger items that don't easily fit in a cabinet and helps keep the room nice and tidy.
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Add a Desk
Escape Home / Instagram
This playroom from Escape Home has an oversized kids' desk that is perfect for crafts and homework, but also includes additional storage space for books, papers, or even toys. Hanging wall shelves for a few favorite books and a tall storage armoire maximize storage on the same wall, freeing up floor space in the rest of the room for playing.
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Add Built-Ins
Brittany L Schmitt / Instagram
This play space from Brittany L Schmitt features twin built-in bookcases filled with storage baskets that keep toys neatly put away while remaining accessible.
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Add Book Cubbies
Luka Marie / Instagram
If your playroom is in a living space, look for pieces that don't feel too childlike, but still suit your kids' needs. This cubbie from Luka Marie is a great option for living rooms that double as playrooms. A sleek cubbie unit feels adult enough to stand alone in a multi-purpose room, but adds a ton of storage for books and toys.
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Hang a Shelf
Final Family Home / Instagram
A simple hanging shelf can be a great addition to any playroom. Here, Final Family Home shows how a small wooden shelf can add a lot of style to the room and even a bit of extra storage. Look for a piece with pegs for extra hanging storage, or hang multiple floating shelves for more usable space.
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Use Sliding Bins
Home Interior By Lara / Instagram
This playroom from Home Interior By Lara has wooden storage pieces outfitted with opaque plastic bins that can easily slide in and out, creating an organized system that can handle even the biggest toy and craft collections.
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Let Toys Act as Decoration
Where Learning Meets Play / Instagram
If you are short on storage space, why not let some of your kids' toys double as art? Here, Where Learning Meets Play proves how creative, colorful toys don't need to be hidden away when they are this beautiful. Use exposed shelving or the top of a dresser to show off some of your children's favorite toys.
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Go Wild With Baskets
This Mummy Story / Instagram
Baskets are one of the most versatile items you can have in your home. Not only do they look chic and stylish, but they are perfect for keeping basically anything out of sight. Here, This Mummy Story used a mixture of sliding plastic bins and woven baskets as the ultimate storage space for every type of toy.
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Round Up Books
Kid of the Village / Instagram
Wrangle your child's book collection with these modern wooden bookshelves from Kid of the Village. These units are perfect for keeping a handful of books in rotation for easy access while larger cubbies or bookshelves hold the rest of your collection.
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Use Hanging Wall Storage
Kenzie Salomon / Instagram
The best playroom storage is accessible and easy to maintain (and should be possible for your child to maintain on their own, too). Kenzie Salomon uses a metal rod and three hanging metal baskets to create the perfect place to toss craft supplies right next to where they will be used. Keeping storage within reach makes it much easier for your kid to clean up after playtime.
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Keep It Low
Design by Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Tessa Neustadt
When selecting storage for a kids' playroom, be sure to look for low slung furniture like open shelving that they can reach on their own, like this pink and white playroom from Emily Henderson Design.
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Use House-Shaped Armoires
Design by Sissy + Marley Interior Design / Photo by Marco Rica Studio
Sissy + Marley Interior Design lined one wall of this NYC playroom with tall, whimsical house-shaped storage armoires for toys, allowing the multifunctional space to be used by grownups once the kids are in bed.
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Use Numbered Baskets
Design by Eggshell Home / Photo by Laura Flippen
Instead of labels, try numbering storage baskets to give kids an easy to understand organization system, like this light and bright playroom from interior designer Rosanna Bassford of Eggshell Home.
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Create a Storage Wall
Design by Becca Interiors
This playroom from Becca Interiors has a wall of open shelving for toys and games that makes it easy to find things. Wall hooks hung at kid-friendly height house costumes for impromptu role-playing, and extra storage under the window seat houses books and spillover toys.
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Build a House
Design by Maite Granda
This playroom from interior designer Maite Granda features a whimsical custom-built house-shaped reading nook with a storybook quality that includes built-in shelving to store books.
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Add Covered Storage Baskets
Design by Mel Bean Interiors / Photo by Laurey Glenn
This airy attic playroom from Mel Bean Interiors features a trio of covered decorative floor baskets that make toy storage a breeze.
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Keep It Minimalist
Design by Calimia Home / Photo by Jeanne Canto
When selecting storage for a playroom, look for minimalist furniture and decor that can grow with your children. This playroom from Calimia Home features a white and wood open storage unit that is perfect for older kids who want to move around and make noise and can be easily reappropriated once they're grown and out of the house.
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Add Wall Storage for Art
Design by Mindy Gayer Design Co.
One of the biggest sources of playroom clutter is figuring out how to store and display all of those kids drawings and paintings. Instead of leaving them to languish on a shelf or in a drawer, why not take a hint from this playroom from Mindy Gayer Design Co. and create a designated spot to show them off instead? Six framed corkboards hung neatly on the wall provide a showcase for a rotating display of kids art that doubles as decor.
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Create Zones
Design by Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp
One of the keys to keeping a playroom organized is to create zones with dedicated storage space to help keep things in their place. In this downstairs playroom from Emily Henderson Design, a staircase niche turned kids reading nook is outfitted with throw pillows, a soft blanket, and open shelving for books so that everything kids need for a reading break is at the ready and can be easily put away between uses.
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Use a Black and White Palette
Design by Maison Ellie / Photo by Heidi Lau
This sophisticated playroom from Maison Ellie has a calming and Scandinavian feel that is appealing for kids and parents alike, with a black-and-white palette and plenty of closed storage options to keep clutter at bay.
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Maximize Wall Space
Design by Calimia Home / Photo by Jeanne Canto
In this light and airy playroom from Calimia Home, wrap-around, floor-to-ceiling built-ins with open and closed shelving maximize every inch of wall space, providing ample storage for toys and games.
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Add a Treasure Chest
Design by House 9 Interiors
This soothing green animal-themed playroom from House 9 Interiors has a mix of wall and floor storage including a kid-sized wooden treasure chest to organize toys.
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Add Wall-Mounted Bookcases
Design by Maison Ellie / Photo by Heidi Lau
Wall-mounted bookcases along a whole wall of this spacious multipurpose playroom from Maison Ellie creates a dedicated spot for supplies in the arts and crafts zone that fits in with the overall monochromatic scheme of the space. Canvas storage baskets decorated with pompoms add a whimsical touch.
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Add Stealth Storage
Design by Cathie Hong Interiors
If your playroom is a corner of the living room, keep it clutter free after dark by adding stealth storage, like this simple modern wall-to-wall sideboard from Cathie Hong Interiors that makes the multifunctional space work for kids and adults alike.
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Invest in One Large Piece
Design by Twelve 15 Design Studio
While built-in storage can work well in a playroom, in a multipurpose space, a large freestanding storage unit can anchor the play area, providing storage for toys now that can be easily repurposed later, like this basement playroom from Twelve 15 Design Studio.
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Add Hidden Storage Ottomans
Design by Gray Space Interior Design
In this serene playroom from Gray Space Interior Design, upholstered ottomans with hidden storage for toys makes it easy to clean up when playtime is over.
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Consider the View
Design by Maison Ellie / Photo by Scott H. Wilson
In this light and airy loft playroom from Maison Ellie, a cool white, mint green, and pale blue color palette and low-slung open and closed shelving that doesn't block the windows is all designed to create plenty of storage for toys while preserving the striking river views and blending harmoniously with the main living space below.
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Make It Seamless
Design by Sissy + Marley Interiors / Photo by Marco Ricca
In this sophisticated playroom from Design by Sissy + Marley Interiors, an entire wall of seamless built-in storage keeps clutter at bay, while the remaining walls are clad in whimsical taupe star wallpaper from Marley + Malek Kids.
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Add Drawers
Design by Chango & Co. / Photo by Sarah Elliott
In this colorful, 1970s-inspired playroom from Chango & Co. , built-in drawers under the window seat add extra storage that is easily accessible for kids of all ages.
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Go Big
Design by Maison Ellie / Photo by barefoot in the home
In this dining room-turned playroom from Maison Ellie that is visible from the main living area, a soft palette of blues, grays, and whites harmonizes with the home's color scheme. A vintage-style cloud mural provides a focal point, and an 8-foot-long sideboard provides ample room for toy storage to help keep clutter out of sight.
21 BRILLIANT KIDS PLAYROOM STORAGE IDEAS FOR A CLUTTER FREE SPACE
All products featured on Nursery Design Studio are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Looking for kids playroom ideas or playroom storage solutions? Wondering if it's possible to have kids and a tidy house? Today we are looking at some brilliant kids playroom storage ideas that prove that with a bit of planning, you can keep the toys at bay and have a well organized home.
If you have kids, you've got to figure out what you are going to do with all the toys. Obviously, you don't want the living room floor to be littered with toys. So if you have an extra room in the house, then turn it into a playroom with storage solutions for toys. And if you don't have space to dedicate an entire room, then use a corner of the living room, nursery or the kids room to store and organize toys.
Whatever space you have, with some strategic planning you can create a kid friendly space that's well organized. So today we are going to show you some of our favorite playroom organizing ideas.
These creative kids playroom storage ideas will make it easier for you to pick up toys and keep them organized when play time is over. Implement a few of these toy organizing solutions to whatever space you are working with and you'll be able to keep the clutter at bay.
We love using these beautiful storage baskets to store and organize toys in the playroom. Use tags to label the toys in each basket, and you are on your way to having a clutter free playroom.
2.WIRE BASKETS TO ORGANIZE TOYSMount wire baskets on the wall to maximize storage options in the playroom. They are great for toy organization and easily accessible.
3. STORAGE BOXESStoring and organizing toys in the playroom got a lot easier with these sturdy storage boxes.
4. TIERED STORAGE UNITSElevate the style and organization of your playroom by incorporating a tiered storage unit.
5. BUILT IN CABINETS FOR STORAGE & ORGANIZATIONBuilt in cabinets are great for storing toys and creating a clutter free space in the playroom once play time is over.
6. PHOTO LEDGES TO ORGANIZE AND DISPLAY TOYSDisplay and organize collectible toys such as matchbox cars by hanging photo ledges in the playroom.
7. SHELVING UNITS TO INCREASE STORAGEThink vertical and use a shelving system to increase storage in the playroom. Not only will you get tons of space for storing toys, it will also look beautiful in the playroom.
8. WIRE BASKETS FOR ORGANIZING & easy access to toysWire baskets are brilliant for toy organization because kids can see what's in each basket and access it easily without making a mess in the playroom.
9. PICTURE FRAMES TO DISPLAY ARTKids will constantly bring home beautiful artwork from school or work on their masterpieces at home. Find a way to display their favorite pieces so the playroom will not be cluttered with paper everywhere.
11. CUBE STORAGE UNIT to maximize storageEven if you are short on space, a small cube storage unit like this will help you organize kids toys. Use baskets to store toys when the kids aren't playing and keep the room de-cluttered.
12. A CHALKBOARDLittle ones love to draw everywhere! Put up a chalkboard to ensure that they keep their doodling to the chalkboard and not the walls.
13. OVER THE DOOR STORAGE SOLUTIONSThese over the door organizers are great for storing everything from art supplies to barbies and soft toys.
14. STORAGE bins FOR EASY CLEAN UPIf there's one trick to having a tidy playroom, it's to place toy storage bins everywhere. Once playtime is over, use the bins to store all the toys and clean up the clutter.
15. BINS FOR BOOK STORAGEIf you don't have storage options for books in the playroom, you are going find them all over the playroom. Book bins are a great option for organizing baby's books. Read this post to find many more storage options for kids books.
16. UNDER BENCH STORAGEUse every inch of available space to maximize storage. Put storage bins under benches to store toys in the playroom and make clean up after play time much easier.
17. BUILT IN CRAFT TABLE STORAGEEvery playroom needs a craft table and a place to store and organize supplies. Use the space under the table to store craft supplies so it's easy to reach and clean up.
18. STORAGE ZONE FOR ART SUPPLIESThese wall shelves make a great option for storing and organizing art supplies in the playroom.
19. EASY ACCESS TOY ORGANIZERIf you are looking for something simple but effective to control clutter in the playroom, a toy organizer is the way to go.
20. STORAGE HAMPER WITH LIDSAdd a few of these gorgeous and versatile hampers to the playroom to store toys and tidy up the playroom.
21. TOYS SACKS FOR STORAGEThese durable toy storage bags make cleaning up all those small toys simple, fast and fun.
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Organization of a children's playroom and attracting clients
The first playrooms were something outlandish for both parents and their kids, a huge number of people tried to visit them and the organizers thought little about the concept of the institution, just making money on the original idea. But now the competition in this area is so great that many entrepreneurs from the children's entertainment sector are forced to curtail their activities, because their business simply suffers losses.
Playrooms have become not only separate areas for entertaining kids in shopping centers and hypermarkets, but also part of restaurants, beauty salons, and offices. This is convenient for parents who can leave the child under the supervision of qualified staff, but often boring for the children themselves. How to attract customers to the children's room and organize its work so that there is always no end to visitors, and the enterprise brings a stable income?
Staff
A good administrator is half the success of a game room. If the owner manages to find a person who knows how to work with children, is sympathetic to their problems and joys, friendly and understanding, he is guaranteed to provide himself with a steady flow of visitors who will come to him again and again.
Game room staff can't afford to just collect money from customers at the entrance. The administrator has to solve a number of different tasks during work:
- help kids to relax;
- to settle inevitable conflict situations;
- to distract and calm children.
In addition, it is important for him to be able to find a common language with his parents and children. It is enough just to be interested in personal information about the baby, find out his name, date of birth, ask if he liked spending time in the playroom, and if he will come there again. Then customers will perceive the children's room more loyally and, probably, will return there more than once.
Location
It would be quite logical and justified to organize a children's playroom in places with high traffic - shopping and entertainment centers, supermarkets with an area of over 300 m², points located near key metro stations, railway stations and airports.
However, a playroom for children, created in a residential area of the city, can be no less successful. In this case, it is necessary to carefully study the population in the surrounding area and evaluate potential customers. If this is a microdistrict in which many young families with children live - excellent, the chances of a quick promotion are very high, but when the lion's share of the inhabitants are pensioners, then the business is unlikely to be profitable. In addition, the location of the game room should be considered. Visitors should easily find the right place for themselves.
Zoning of the territory
The organization of the playroom involves the creation of several zones of activity for children of different ages. It is not only wrong, but also dangerous, to collect in one heap kids who are only two or three years old, and schoolchildren. So that children do not interfere with each other during outdoor games, they need to be separated by offering different entertainment, taking into account their age, mental and physical abilities and interests. To do this, it is worth providing separate zones for visitors of younger preschool age and children over 6 years old. It also does not hurt to equip a corner for slot machines, interactive machines and other mini-attractions.
Celebration of birthdays and other events in the children's room has become commonplace. Often it is this activity that brings the lion's share of the gaming income. If you plan to provide such a service, be sure to allocate a part of the common hall or a special room for banquets. It should be spacious enough to have room for tables and chairs and leave room for children, parents and staff to move around.
Special program
Another important nuance is having your own entertainment program or direct cooperation with a special event agency. Modern consumers are not satisfied with just a good interior and high-quality gaming equipment. To attract customers to the children's room to be fruitful, it is necessary to surprise potential visitors and offer them possible options for additional services. What could it be?
- animators;
- puppet theater;
- face painting;
- bubble show;
- children's karaoke;
- thematic workshops and competitions.
The provision of such services automatically entails additional investment for the organizer of the game room. But this is a great marketing ploy and good advertising for the establishment.
PR
Promotion of a children's playroom is by no means a one-time action for an entrepreneur. To maintain a consistently high level of attendance, it is necessary to periodically make effective advertising for your entertainment center. "Word of mouth" is one of the effective methods of popularizing the game room. If parents and children have already formed a certain opinion about the playroom, they will tell their friends and acquaintances about it. It should be borne in mind that this can become both a trump card for the institution and a serious obstacle to its existence and further growth.
Among other methods of advertising, the following types of influence can be distinguished:
Internet advertising is more effective in large cities, while traditional information through leaflets and advertisements has a greater effect on residents of small towns.
how to build a business out of LEGO bricks
October 23, 2019 at 09:00
In 2017, the first Legopolis opened in Kemerovo, and another one in 2018. For almost three years, Lego-joy was delivered to more than 15 thousand children. How to create a business by playing with your own child, the director of the developing game room "Legopolis" tells Maria Chebykina .
Starter kit
“I always knew that I would start a business, I had many ideas, but none of them could be realized,” recalls Maria. – I attended training seminars, trainings and programs, although I worked in promotional and event marketing areas. The impetus for starting the business was the daughter Alena.
Five years ago Maria went on maternity leave. I was sure that I would return to event marketing after a couple of years, but the circumstances were different. At the age of one and eight months, Alena was diagnosed with a serious diagnosis, which required constant rehabilitation and training. Their girl is still going through. Maria realized that she could not work full time and refused to go to the office, devoting herself to her daughter.
One of the recommendations was the development of fine motor skills, the family often played with the LEGO Duplo set. Maria had an idea to buy another set to build a town, it became clear that it was not cheap. So the idea came that many parents face a similar problem.
It is necessary to build a full-fledged city from LEGO so that parents do not have to spend crazy money on toys, and children have fun together.
- Photo from the company's archive
— I will not dissemble, I immediately went to check whether such ideas were implemented somewhere, — says Maria. - I found out that in Moscow and St. Petersburg, similar game rooms are already successfully operating. I seriously thought about the project, found an investor, and decided to buy a franchise. But we did not agree with potential partners at key points, so we decided to take a chance and open a game room on our own. In 2017, when we first opened, there were very few game rooms in Russia. Now this is a very fashionable trend: in many cities there is at least one LEGO playroom.
So-so businessman
According to Maria, the most difficult thing was to decide to open. Everything that happened after was the usual work tasks: find out the legal aspects, find a place, develop a marketing plan, comply with sanitary and epidemiological rules and fire safety standards. In the very first year of operation, Legopolis received the Discovery of the Year award from 2GIS.
Competitors spurred Legopolis level up
Combining the role of mother and businessman was not difficult. Maria builds her own schedule, she can take the child to work or stay at home for the day. The only difficulty is to switch from working behavior to the role of a soft mother. According to Maria, she also copes with this task, since she is a rather gentle person both in business and in life.
According to Maria, anyone can buy and install a set, but this is not the most difficult thing.
Legopolis stake - on service and work of animators.
Maria carefully chooses people, avoids turnover and maintains friendly relations within the team. The list of services in the game room has expanded over time: Legopolis animators hold off-site birthday parties and organize a children's area at corporate events, holidays and presentations.
— I see that there is a demand for our services in the city, — says Maria. — Although, of course, our main client is not a parent with a wallet, but a child. I'm just a businessman. If I see that the child will not be interested in LEGO, I honestly advise parents to another playroom, direct them to competitors. But in general, we are constantly updating locations so that children do not lose interest. In winter, we added Hogwarts and Minecraft zones, we are planning a few more new products.
According to internal statistics, more than 70 percent of children return to the Legopolis playroom again. 26 children received the status of "mayor" by visiting the room 36 times, 4 children became "super-mayors" by visiting "Legopolis" 60 times. The record holders were two children who completed the entire bonus program twice and visited the game room 120 times. They are recognized twice as mayors of Legopolis. Employees already consider such young guests almost family members: they know how children are doing in kindergarten or school, what are the names of their favorite characters and pets.
Plans to enter the B2B market with a new interesting format for children's entertainment
Maria Chebykina does not plan to scale her business and create her own franchise. Alena still needs rehabilitation, which takes a lot of time. The plans include the creation of a business package that will allow mothers like Maria herself to open such rooms.
“I think the guys in Leninsk, Yurga and Belov are also interested in playing LEGO,” Maria reflects. — I am ready to help beginners and experienced entrepreneurs launch a similar project that will allow them to please the guys. The main advice is to work from the first day to the fullest. There is no time to swing - everything changes very quickly. At the same time, do not forget that service and details are very important.
. More information about the project on the website of the Small Business Support Fund.