Organize Messy Playroom Toys With These Simple Hacks
As a parent, walking into your kids’ playroom only to be greeted by toys strewn absolutely everywhere can be incredibly frustrating. No matter how often you ask or remind them to clean up their mess when they’re done playing, it seems inevitable that their playroom descends into chaos again in no time.
Stepping over and on toys or trying to find a specific toy in the clutter is an exercise in futility. The disorganization actually leads to kids becoming even more frustrated themselves when they can’t find the toy they want to play with.
If this all sounds too familiar, don’t lose hope! With some effort and commitment to getting organized, you can absolutely whip even the messiest playroom into shape once and for all. This article will provide simple but effective hacks for decluttering, setting up, and maintaining an organized toy collection and play space.
Step 1: Be Merciless in Purging and Donating Unused Toys
The very first step is to commit to going through every single toy in the playroom. We mean every one – pull them all off shelves, out of bins, empty toy boxes, the works. Gather everything into one big pile in the center of the room.
Then, be absolutely merciless about sorting through and purging toys. Anything broken beyond repair or missing major pieces gets tossed out immediately. Pay careful attention and check toy parts – sort through bagged Lego pieces, look for missing board game elements, ensure puzzles have all their pieces. Broken and incomplete toys just add to clutter.
Next, go through and pick out all the things the kids have simply outgrown or lost interest in. For younger children, this may be baby toys or toys meant for ages they’ve surpassed. For older kids, they may have moved on from certain toys or characters they were obsessed with when they were younger.
If you’re finding toys that haven’t been touched in months or toys your kids simply aren’t interested in anymore, get rid of them. Be realistic about what gets actual playtime – if it’s just gathering dust, thank it for the memories and move it out.
For any toys the kids have outgrown but are still in perfectly good condition, consider donating them so that other children can enjoy them. Local charities, churches, daycares, or second hand stores are often grateful for donations of gently used toys, books, and games. This clears space and clutter for you while also doing a good deed.
Going through this purge process is an investment of time up front, but the payoff is huge. Taking away broken and unused toys leaves you with only the tried-and-true favorites to organize – this automatically eliminates a lot of clutter and disorder.
Step 2: Invest in Storage Bins and Baskets to Categorize Toys
Once you’ve narrowed down to the keepers, the next step is investing in storage bins, baskets, shelves, and organizers to properly categorize and contain toys. This is essential for an organized system.
Get a variety so you have options. Look for bins and baskets in different sizes – some large for bigger toys and some smaller for little pieces. Bins with lids are ideal for containing small loose parts. Clear or mesh bins allow kids to easily see contents.
For common toy categories, have designated bins. For example, have bins or baskets just for:
- Lego, blocks, and building toys
- Cars, trucks, and vehicles
- Dollhouses, dolls and accessories
- Stuffed animals and soft toys
- Balls and outdoor toys
- Art supplies and crafts
- Board games and puzzles
- Action figures and mini toys
Customize according to your kids’ toy collection. The key is to consolidate like items into their own bins so there is a spot for everything. This prevents toys ending up scattered all over.
Label bins clearly so kids know exactly where to find and return toys when they are done playing with them. Use words and pictures/icons so even young children can match toys to the right containers.
Having a spot for everything streamlines clean-up time. Kids can quickly dump toys into their proper bins rather than leaving them strewn around the room.
Step 3: Strategically Set Up Different Activity Zones
Don’t just set up row after row of storage bins against the wall. Be strategic in setting up different zones and activity stations throughout the playroom space.
Carve out areas for different interests and activities. For avid readers, create a cozy reading nook with a colorful rug, pillows, and shelves for books within easy reach. Set up an arts and crafts station near a table stocked with scissors, crayons, markers, glue, paper and other art supplies.
Build an area just for building blocks, Lego sets, and other construction toys with bins and flat surfaces for building. Use a colorful rug or tape on the floor to define the building zone.
In the pretend play area, use shelving and bins to neatly store all dollhouses, dolls, clothing, doll beds, and other accessories so they can be easily accessed and played with. Rugs can define “rooms” for dollhouses.
Think through how your kids like to play and set up the space accordingly. Having designated zones for all their different interests will make independent play easier and cleaner. They can easily rotate between stations without having to pull out all the toys at once.
Use area rugs, shelves, tables, and other furnishings to help delineate the different zones and activities. This organization system will cut down on clutter and also make clean-up time much easier.
Step 4: Get Buy-In with a Consistent Clean-Up Routine
The best organized playroom can still get messy if there’s not a clear system and routine for cleaning up at the end of playtime. Get the kids invested in keeping the playroom clean by implementing a daily clean-up time.
Pick a consistent time each day when playtime ends – perhaps before dinner or at the end of the day. Set a timer and clean-up song to alert the kids it’s time to clean. Allow enough warning so they can start wrapping up play before the timer goes off.
Turn it into a game by challenging them to race the clock to get all toys back into their proper bins before the buzzer. Offer incentives and rewards for successful clean-up cooperation.
For younger kids, clean up alongside them and make it fun by sorting toys together. Use lots of praise for every toy properly put away. Consider a simple sticker chart – after so many successful cleans, they earn a bigger reward.
Consistently reinforcing this tidy up time teaches kids to take responsibility for their messes. They’ll be more willing to maintain organization when there is an established routine.
Step 5: Optimize Storage in Small Playroom Spaces
If your playroom is on the smaller side, get creative with using every inch of space efficiently. The key is looking for vertical storage space and multi-use furniture.
Mount shelving on the walls above regular shelf height to expand storage upwards. Have canvas cubes or open cubbies to corral toys. Sturdy wall-mounted bookcases can add storage and display.
Look for storage ottomans or trunks with seating lids – they can hold toys and also serve as seating. Toy chests on casters can easily be moved around.
Use hanging organizers on closet doors or hang an over-the-door shoe rack for tiny loose parts like Lego and doll accessories.
Under window ledges, install shelving built up from the ground to fully utilize vertical room. Add hooks along walls to hang toy bags and backpacks.
Simply stacking colorful storage bins and baskets helps provide storage while adding visual appeal. Labels and photos remind kids what goes where.
With a bit of creativity, you can make the most of every square inch for an organized playroom, even in tight spaces. The key is looking up, down, and all around for storage possibilities.
Conclusion: Organization Pays Off Long Term
With upfront effort and commitment to implementing these toy organization hacks, you can whip any playroom – even the most catastrophically messy ones – into shape once and for all. Yes, it will take an investment of your time to purge, purchase organizers, and set up the space. But the payoff is huge.
Taking the time to properly organize toys into logical categories and zones drastically cuts down on time spent searching for misplaced toys and cleaning up clutter. Kids can actually stick to cleaning up because there are set places for their toys to live.
You’ll also find kids are able to play more creatively and independently when the space is clean and toys are neatly organized. Limiting toy overload stops the room from feeling so overwhelming.
Most importantly, you will finally be able to walk into the playroom without tripping over a mess or getting stressed by chaos! Maintaining organization just takes consistency in upholding the clean-up routine.
By putting in the effort to tame the toy clutter, both you and the kids will benefit from a calmer, saner play space. Give these tried and true playroom organization hacks a try for a home your whole family can enjoy.