The Best Toy Organizers, According to Parents

As a mom of four, I can confirm that kids acquire a lot of stuff. Once that happens, the question becomes, where to put it all? Not only does having heaps of toys scattered around the room clash with your home decor, but keeping toys well organized and smartly displayed will encourage kids to engage with them more, and develop independence as they get and put away their playthings on their own, says Naeemah Goldson, certified professional organizer and owner of Restore Order Professional Organizing. “Teaching kids how to return items to their rightful place when they are done playing will build positive habits in organization that they can use throughout life.”

Plus, toys that are strewn about the floor can also pose some safety concerns. (Yep, stepping on stray Legos really hurts that much.) Sick of tripping over your little one’s playthings? We’ve come to the rescue with toy organizers for every area of your home—indoors and out. Read on for our favorite toy storage ideas, as well as some expert-backed top tidying tips.

How We Chose the Best Toy Storage Solutions

The best toy organizers help clean up clutter in your home, while also making the toys you already have more accessible to your child. Toy organizers are an investment, making these items that you want to choose wisely. To choose the best toy storage solutions:

• We interviewed three organizational experts for their input on important features to look for in these items and the kinds of products they use in their own homes.

• We analyzed the market and tracked down the most popular toy organizers, narrowing the field based on elements like size, material, durability and value. Since many of us are parents ourselves, we relied on our experiences with our own children and their toys.

• Because no two homes are alike, we conducted extensive market research, scouring external forums, reviews and message boards to see how these toy organizers worked for a variety of families.

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Best Toy Organizers

What to Look for in Toy Storage

The right toy storage ultimately depends on your own needs, as well as those of your child. “The solution you use totally depends on your child’s age, the amount of toys you’re dealing with and the amount of storage space you have available,” says Brenna Peyton, owner and lead organizer of One Organized Girl. “The younger your child is, the more simplistic the system should be and, as they grow and learn, the system should, too.” However, there are certain factors to keep in mind as you shop. Look for these elements.

• Size. If space is limited, Peyton recommends measuring the area where you’ll put your storage solution to make sure it will fit. “For super tight spaces, a system may have to forgo form and instead be heavy on the function,” she says. “The amount of space you have should also guide the volume of toys there are as well.” Goldson says that it’s OK for larger items to sit out. “Just pick the space for it to live and make sure it’s put back at the end of the night,” she says.

• Versatility. It’s ultimately more cost-saving to choose an option that you can use for years. “When you’re looking at storage furniture, you want something that can grow with your child, is versatile enough to work in multiple areas of your home and is well made,” Peyton says. “The super cute princess storage bin shelves and systems are great when they’re four, but realize that when they’re nine, the child is going to want something more grown-up.”

• Durability. There are a range of fabrics and materials for toy organization, but you’ll want to choose wisely. “You want to make sure the storage solution is durable so it can hold up over time,” Goldson points out. Plastic, wood and canvas are all durable options to consider.

• Adjustability. Not every storage solution is adjustable, but it’s a nice feature to have. “If you have a shelving system, being able to move the shelves to the height you want them at can help customize your organization,” Goldson says.

Goldson also recommends revisiting the toys you’re storing on an annual basis. “Kids outgrow toys quickly, but they also accumulate toys quickly,” she says. “When you’re deciding what to purge, make sure your kids are involved in the decision making if they are old enough.” Once you decide which toys you no longer want to keep, they can be donated or tossed, depending on their condition.

About the writer:
Korin Miller is a freelance writer who’s written dozens of health features for The Bump. She specializes in commerce, wellness and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Women’s Health, Forbes, SELF and more. Korin is a mom to four kids, ranging in age from 1 to 10 years old. She has a master’s degree from American University and lives by the beach.