With the holidays over, you might be wondering what you’re going to do with all of the new things your children accumulated. If you can’t get rid of a lot of things to make room for the new, then you may find your child’s room is a total disaster zone. This can be a bit of a hazard, especially with younger children. Luckily, there’s a lot of cheap or free options that can help you keep your child’s room looking amazing. So, if you’re ready to get organized then you may want to check out these ten ideas that will be fun to try out with the whole family.
1. Reuse Shoe Organizer
When it comes to organizing toys, one of the best allies you have is actually a shoe organizer. These organizers come in all shapes and sizes, so try to utilize a variety if you can. If you already have one in the home, then you’re one step ahead when it comes to saving money. One of the best organizers to use is the type that fits under a mattress. These are perfect for your child’s favorite stuffed animals, bedtime stories and even a flashlight or other items of comfort. Best thing is, the organizer can be covered when your child makes the bed, so you won’t have to worry about it looking unsightly. Shoe organizers that fit over the door are perfect for dolls, action figures and even small stuffed animals. You might even consider placing toy cars in these. Other shoe organizers can be used to hold toy bins or even as a place to organize books or larger stuffed animals.
2. DIY Bags
One major problem when it comes to storing items is finding something to store them in. Sure, you might have bins and boxes, but these can take up a lot of room and often don’t organize the items you’re looking to organize. Instead, you might want to consider making your own bags. These are very simple to make without having a high sewing skill. They also can be made with cheap fabric or even old clothing that you have lying around the house. If you want to get intricate, you can add a name strip over even a peek hole, so children can see what’s in the bag. These bags can be hung up on hooks at your child’s level, placed in a closet, drawer or toy box, or even stuffed under the bed. It’ll also help encourage your child to keep the room looking nice and organized.
3. Magnetic Strip
Another simple way to stay organized is to consider adding metal strips to your child’s wall. These strips can be placed in decorative patterns or in rows to make them look decorative. Magnetic strips can come in handy with a wide variety of items. For instance, metal cars can simply be placed on the strips for easy storage. The clean up for this toy will be so easy kids will have fun doing it. You can also attach magnets to certain toys, so you can hang them up too. Art supplies, books and other simple toys are perfect for this, and will add a fun touch to the room.
4. Recyclables
Your recycling bin can actually come in handy when it comes to storing some toys. One of the best items to use is actually a cereal box. You can cut a hole in the box to allow it to store larger puzzle bases, coloring books, folders, or even items like racecar or train tracks. If you buy coffee in large containers, rather than bags, then these truly come in handy for small items. For instance, you can separate your child’s LEGO sets, store doll accessories or even keep track of puzzle pieces in these handy containers. Oatmeal containers are great for putting away dolls, like Barbies, or smaller action figures. This can help keep the room looking tidier while protecting the items from plants. Finally, if you have lots of toilet paper or paper towel rolls then you can cut them and stack them to make a great storage space for toy cars.
5. Clearance Bins
Of course, if you don’t want to spend a whole lot of time making your own items, or you need specific items, then buying bins will come in handy. However, it is usually best to hold out until the items are on clearance. You can usually find a great deal on these items after the spring when cleaning season is over. If you don’t mind colored items, then you can always shop after a holiday for larger bins that are great for toy boxes. Make sure you know exactly what you’re looking for though, so you can grab the item whenever you see if hit the clearance aisle. This should help with organizing all sorts of toys. If you want to add a fun element to the bins, then paint them or decorate them with tape and stickers. This will help kids remember what is supposed to be stored in the specific bin.
6. Hanging Baskets
If you don’t want to place shelves in your child’s room, or you simply don’t have the money to spend on them, then hanging baskets are a brilliant alternative. You can find baskets for a dollar or less at most discount stores. All you have to do is place a nail or other hanging alternative and place the basket on it. Then, all sorts of toys can be placed in the baskets. Of course, you should experiment to see how much weight the baskets can hold, so you know how to organize the items you place in them. If your child has a lot of stuffed animals, then you might also want to consider hanging a larger basket from the ceiling. This can be done with strong string or rope and will add an element of décor to the room.
7. DIY Toy Box
Toy boxes can actually be one of the most expensive methods of storage in the home. So, many people tend to choose to go without them in order to save money. Luckily, there’s a lot of great DIY toy boxes that can help organize your child’s room. For starters, you can use a simple cardboard box to store items. It won’t last as long as a regular toy box, but you can always replace it later on. If you’re feeling ambitious, then you can always build a toy box on your own. All you need is to purchase cheap wood, some nails and wood glue to make it happen. If you want to customize the box even more you can add special pockets inside to fit smaller items. You can also paint the box to suit your child’s interests.
8. Refurbish Furniture
Believe it or not, one of your best options when it comes to toy storage is utilizing some of the old furniture you have collecting dust. For instance, old shelves can be lined with bins to keep your child’s toys out of sight and easy to find. You can also transform an old desk into a storage device. The top is great for larger toys like dolls houses or action sets while drawers can be used for smaller items. You can also place a larger bucket or other storage device for stuffed animals or other large toys. If you don’t have items around the house to use then you may want to check out thrift stores. You can always work with whatever you find to give your child a unique storage area.
9. Play Table
When it comes to younger children, play tables are one of the best ways to keep things organized and a little less messy. The tables allow children to play on the table, so toys won’t wind up in the floor. This will help prevent injury and frustration, which ensuring toys won’t get broken. You can easily make your own play table too, so you won’t have to spend a small fortune on a themed table. One of the easiest ways to build one of these tables is to use items like egg crates for the legs. Place these items with the opening of the crate facing outward. Then, you can nail or glue a piece of plywood, an old door or other table top options on top of the crates. Once everything is sanded down, you can then paint it and present it to your child. You can even round out the corners for even more safety. The egg crates work well as storage areas too, which will give you even more reason to build one of these tables. Of course, there’s many other ways you can build a play table so look around for some plans that suit your needs.
10. Animal Storage
Stuffed animals can be one of the biggest pains when it comes to storage. More often than not, they end up on the bed, which means they get thrown on the floor every time bedtime rolls around. There’s a few great options for your child’s stuffed animal collection though. One such example is the animal zoo, which has become very popular on hobby websites. These animal zoos are made out of simple items like wood, plastic pipes, elastic and so on. The storage item is build so that children can pull out the toy they desire from the gaps in the item. Plus, it creates a cute look that children will adore. If you don’t want to put a lot of effort into your stuffed animal options, then you might consider hanging up a small hammock. Toys can be placed on this to keep them off the floor and bed.
Storing your child’s toys may seem like an endless battle, but with these ten tips you’re sure to find a little hope. These tips will allow you to save a lot of money on your toy storage, which is certain to make you happy. After you work on these ideas, you may find your child’s room stays cleaner for a while longer, which will give you a little more time relax and enjoy the post-holiday vacation.
