We have lived in our tiny house for over two years now! As a family of five, it definitely has its challenges at times, one of which is how to store toys without a playroom.
One half of our tiny house is our living room, laundry room, closet, storage, and playroom all in one. Our daughter even sleeps in a loft bed in the same room! While it can be hard to keep things organized and tidy at times, we have found that we really don’t mind tiny house living.
There are some fantastic benefits to living in a tiny house. When it comes to toys for our children, we have learned to be minimal and practical, and only keep a few things on hand. In fact, we are rarely bringing new toys into our house.
If you have to store toys without a playroom, don’t fret! There are so many great solutions to make your space and home still tidy and cozy without a dedicated space for toys. In fact, I would make the argument that there is no reason for kids to have a separate playroom.
Children want to be around you, doing what you are doing! They want to play alongside you as they make discoveries in this world. Here are my top tips on how to store toys without a playroom.
Let’s check them out…
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Declutter And Inventory The Toys
When it comes to the toys that you already have your children or are bringing in, make sure that you are selective. A huge part of creating functional toy storage without a playroom simply comes down to intentionality.
While marketing all around us says that children need certain toys, we know that throughout history children have never needed lots of toys to foster their creativity and intellectual growth. Children often enjoy your hairbrush or the box a toy came in more than their toys themselves!
The first step to store toys without a playroom is to look at your toy inventory. How many toys do you have in your house? Which ones get played with? How can you downsize your toy collection to only things children play with?
Throw away anything broken and donate toys that are no longer played with. Then downsize again so that your toys are very minimal.
We like to only have open-ended toys on hand. Examples would be blocks, dress-up clothes, baby dolls, animal figures, and drawing pads. These are items that can be used for make-believe and creative play in various ways.
Books, puzzles, craft supplies, board games, and music/audio players like a Yoto are great to keep on hand as well.
In our house, we only have a few toys out each day, and we can store all of them in three small containers. If you don’t live in a tiny house like us you may want to keep a few more toys on hand. But remember, keep it simple.
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Toy Rotation
Once you have downsized, consider setting up a toy rotation schedule. This keeps your children’s toys fun and fresh to them. Take one-third of the toys and store them where they are accessible to your children.
Then take the other two-thirds and find a hidden storage area to store them, like a basement closet. In a few weeks’ time, rotate out the toys they have been playing with and replace them with the toys hidden away. Then do it again with the last third a few weeks later to form a rotating schedule.
Toy rotation is a wonderful way to keep your toy pile small and simple when you store toys without a playroom.
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Living Room Storage Ideas
If you store toys without a playroom, you are probably keeping most of them in the living room, and maybe a few in the child’s bedroom. To keep your living room functioning well and remain a cozy and relaxing area for your family, store the toys out of sight (but not necessarily out of reach).
Ideas include various baskets and containers. This could be a trunk in the corner, or wicker baskets on the bookshelf, which is what we do.
Another option is to utilize your wall space and store things vertically on a peg board or install wall shelves. Toy hammocks are another great option as well.
Consider purchasing multipurpose furniture for your space as well. An ottoman that opens up to store blocks, a couch that can fit rolling bins underneath it, or side tables with drawers for toys. Think of the creative ways you can store toys in your living room!
Remember to look around you and utilize all the spaces. Do you have a small closet under the stairs you aren’t using? Perhaps the space behind a door could fit a small living room storage table. Everyone’s space is so unique, so examine yours carefully.
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Additional Tips To Store Toys Without A Playroom
When you start organizing your decluttered toys, organize them in bins and label everything! It took me forever to purchase a label maker and I regret it. Labeling things helps everyone in the family keep things organized, especially toys.
Consider having specific toys for specific times of the day. If you need your toddler to be entertained while you homeschool another child, have fun toys for them that they only get during that time. Keep them in a special area that only you can access. It will keep the toys exciting and rewarding!
Lastly, store craft supplies in a specific area. If you tend to keep your crafting items by your toys, consider making them something special. Only bring out the craft supplies when your child specifically asks for them, or you are doing a structured activity.
When you store toys without a playroom be sure to limit the toys your children have and have access to. Keep things simple, more structured, and more organized by being intentional and creative with your space!
Which of these tips on how to store toys without a playroom will you be implementing? I’d love to hear in the comments below!
Kelsey at GoodPointGrandma
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