5 toy storage solutions for families living in condos

When children reach a particular age, parents often find that hallways become busy parking lots for Hot Wheels and the living room turns into the valley of the dolls. With toys strewn everywhere, your home can quickly start to feel less like a sophisticated adult abode and more like a pre-school. So in order to preserve your home’s mature aesthetic (and your own sanity), try a few of the different toy storage solutions listed below.

NOTE: Finding a place for toys becomes especially complicated in condos, as space is more limited. Parents are challenged to find creative toy storage alternatives that boast optimal efficiency and take up minimal space, all while being accessible to children.

1) Let your furniture do double-duty

Cut down on clutter and free up some floor space by opting for furniture pieces with built-in storage, such as ottomans, benches, beds, and couches. Make your own storage bed by replacing the mattress in a trundle bed with a drawer organizer!

2) Put it in writing

In a condo, labels are your secret weapon to keeping toys organized. Stamp bins and boxes with clear, concise labels or with pictures if your child is still learning to read. Ultimately, the labels will serve as a reminder that everything has a place and will make clean-ups faster and easier. While chalkboard labels are cute, they tend to get wiped off, so for this project stick to printed labels or paper and marker.

3) Start a toy library

Having all of your child’s playthings out at playtime can result in an overwhelming avalanche of toys, so to avoid a toy takeover in your condo, create a mini-library from which only a certain number of toys can be checked out at once. And when your child is finished with those toys and wants more, they must return their current toys first, thus encouraging them to tidy up.

4) Less is more

One of the easiest solutions to cutting down on condo clutter is getting rid of excess belongings. And much to the chagrin of your children, toys are not exempt from this rule. Frequent toy purges are a good way to evade any build-up in a small space.

While your children may not be eager to part with their beloved toys, the sour experience can be sweetened with a gentle reminder that getting rid of old toys can make way for new ones.

5) Put everyday household items to good use

Different household items can become multi-purpose when it’s time to put toys away. Don’t be afraid to try new things and get creative with toy storage, from keeping dolls in an over-the-door shoe organizer to parking toy cars on a magnetic knife strip.

Stick to these toy storage tips for a cleaner condo and a more organized play time!