5 Essential Rules for Storing Toys in a Shared Space—Straight From a Pro

By Louisa Roberts, Neat Method

One of the most common struggles for families with children is learning how to incorporate kids’ toys, games, and puzzles into a shared space. After all, little ones are practically hardwired to strew their toys wherever they go, instantly transforming any room into a tornado of playthings.

As a professional organizer, I have my favorite tips to wrangle the kid clutter into a neat, manageable system for the whole family.

1. Designate a toy area

Whether this area in your home is a closet, toy cubbies, playroom cabinets or shelving, it is important to designate a specific home for the toys. You also want to consider your children’s age and what should be accessible. For example, independent activities are great at floor level, while supervised activities like board games or arts and crafts you don’t want tiny hands reaching are best stored at a higher level.

2. Create and contain categories

Creating categories for toys can help you simplify your organizing challenges. Choosing broad categories like blocks, dress-up, or vehicles can help you keep everything in a category without getting too caught up in micro-categories (where there might be too many to keep track of). If you can put all like-items in one place and, even better, in some sort of container, you will feel like your toy situation is always under control. Adding a stylish, design-forward basket will cut down on actual clutter as well as visual clutter, which can be just as overwhelming. The finishing touch to any container is a label.

3. Occasionally edit and donate 

Editing your toys is a great opportunity to refresh the space, get rid of anything that’s broken or missing essential pieces, set aside toys that your children aren’t interested in, and rotate in new toys or ones your children might have forgotten about. Some parents choose to involve their child in the editing process while others may do it when their child isn’t looking. Choosing to involve your child can create a wonderful learning experience for them, and teach them donating items is an opportunity to give to someone who may be less fortunate and bring them a little bit of joy.

4. Set limits

Set limits for your family with regards to toys. This means making a rule that the toys stay in whatever area (or areas) that have been designated for toys. Keeping them in those spaces will help keep things under control. As for quantity, every family and space is different, but keep your items limited to what your space can handle. One way to do this is the one in/one out rule, or simply editing often enough so that your space can maintain its items. If you find yourself acquiring toys as gifts from people, ask them to change from physical gifts to experiential gifts. This can help you stay within your limits while also trying new things and forming new memories.

5. 10-minute tidy

Making a habit of tidying up at the end of every day is the last step to tackle the toy clutter. It doesn’t have to be a lengthy cleaning session, but taking even five or ten minutes a day to put toys back in their containers will help restore order. If this becomes a collective family activity, a quick ten minute tidying session will maintain your organization system and keep the clutter from becoming overwhelming.

A final thing to remember when it comes to keeping your home neat and toys under control is that you must give yourself some grace. Life happens. Things get left out. Toys get put away in the wrong place. It’s okay. A child’s play space may not always look Instagram-ready, but with the right systems in place and a little bit of grace, it can be on it’s way there!