Children have a habit of making their presence known by spreading their toys all across the house, among other things. So before you know it, it can start feeling like you’re living in a nursery. That’s why you need to incorporate some hidden toy storage ideas to be able to easily put away your little ones’ play things so that they are out of sight when they’re not being played with.
These toy storage ideas are the much needed clever solutions to that playful mess all kids tend to leave behind. They will allow you to store their toys in an organised, orderly fashion once your kids go to bed but still have easy access to them when your little ones get up in the morning again. All the while still having a neat, tidy and aesthetically pleasing home that you can enjoy, too.
1. Utilise space behind doors
When looking for storage solutions for small spaces, utilising every little nook and cranny is the way to go. And that includes spaces and areas you might usually overlook – like the little gap behind the door.
‘Don’t forget to utilise the space behind doors,’ says Victoria Fearnley, founder of Surrey Decluttering and APDO (Association of Professional Declutterers & Organisers) member. ‘Although more often used for shoes, these pockets would be great for dolls or action figures too.’
Some super slim shelves for the wall like these ones from Amazon would be perfect for a spot like this one.
2. Contain toys in one room
While wanting to hide toys out of sight in the majority of the house is more than understandable, it’s also important for your kids to have a space of their own where they and their toys can roam a bit more freely. Your children’s room is the perfect place for that. And centring the majority of their toys in this one spot is a clever and easy way to keep them relatively hidden when guests come over.
‘Sometimes it’s easiest keeping all of the toys in one room or area, still in an organised fashion but contained,’ says Siân Pelleschi, owner of Sorted! and APDO president. ‘It’s important to recognise that, while you may be the adult in the house, it’s also still a child’s home and they need to feel as if they have a space that belongs to them also.’
3. Use multifunctional pieces of furniture
Much like when it comes to small living room storage ideas, investing in multifunctional pieces of furniture that double as storage will make your life easier in the long run. Whether that’s a storage ottoman that you also use as a coffee table and a footstool or a sofa with built-in storage, all of that extra space is the ideal destination for your children’s toys when they’re not in use.
‘Using furniture that has built-in storage is a great way to save space and utilise what would otherwise be unused,’ Siân says.
Victoria agrees, ‘By buying and using clever furniture that doubles up as storage you will be able to hide away some of the toys. Think sleek drawers under the bed, seating with lift-up bases and tables with hidden compartments.’
There are even specialised pieces of furniture designed with built-in hidden toy storage like the Lovevery Playshelf. ‘The Playshelf from Lovevery makes for simple organisation in a modern birchwood design,’ says Gabrielle Felman, Lovevery director of child development. ‘The open shelving in the front displays the optimal number of toys at a time while built-in hidden storage allows for easy cleanup (and less clutter), making it the perfect spot for additional toys to live until they’re called upon again.’
4. Dedicate cupboard and drawer space
Putting your kids’ toys away in a dedicated cupboard or drawers of a sideboard might not be the most ground-breaking of ideas but it’s effective nonetheless.
‘If you have younger children, toys may migrate to areas close to the kitchen, as that may be where you can keep a better eye on them. In this case, allocate a cupboard or add a storage cube or box for the toys that are to be played with in this area,’ Victoria suggests.
Siân agrees, as long as you label everything, ‘Cupboard spaces are best if you’re going down the route of hidden and out of sight – but always label clearly as not everyone will always know what lives where.’
5. Invest in storage baskets
Wicker baskets are without a doubt the most stylish storage solution you could add to your home. And storing your children’s toys in these chic storage units, whether that’s on open shelving or elsewhere, means you can basically hide them in plain sight.
‘Use solutions like wicker baskets,’ says Laura Haddy, founder of Clear the Chaos and APDO member. ‘These can be beautiful yet functional. Or use a large laundry basket for soft toys, adding a natural and cosy look to the room.’
But even if you have a cupboard in which you can store the toys, it’s still useful to add wicker baskets into the equation. ‘If you have a cupboard or chest, then you can store your toys there, bringing out what you need into a basket. But remember, children engage with their toys when they have less to distract them,’ says Mel Carruthers, founder of More Organised and APDO member.
Add to basket
As already mentioned, slim floating shelves are the perfect solution for behind-the-door storage. And you can't go much slimmer than the 10 centimetres of these Amazon shelves.
Storage boxes might be the most obvious and practical but they make themselves look quite obvious. Instead, we love storage baskets as they effortlessly combine practicality with style. And this Dunelm basket is only £12!
The Playshelf from Lovevery is not only the ideal toy display for a Scandi-style children's room thanks to its birch finish, it's also equipped with hidden storage space at the back for the toys you want out of sight.
The striped Beatrice ottoman from Dunelm is both practical and nice to look at as it provides hidden storage while sporting one of the biggest home decor trends - deckchair stripes.
A slim wall-mounted bookcase can be utilised not only for your little one's reading material but also for smaller toys. And it can easily be installed and concealed behind the doors. This design from Amazon is both classic and minimalist.
As Laura says, you can utilise a wicker laundry basket for hidden and chic toy storage. And this design from La Redoute is particularly stylish and it comes with a handy lid and handles.
Now you can reclaim your hope from the grasp of your children’s mess while also respecting your kids’ space and play needs.
