18 Toy Organization Hacks Moms Swear By
Any mom knows how quickly toys can take over your home. One minute you have a tidy living room, and the next it looks like a toy store exploded. Sound familiar?
If you’re constantly tripping over blocks, stepping on Legos, and losing small pieces, it’s time to get your toy situation under control. Luckily, there are some brilliant toy organization hacks that moms swear by. Try these tips before the chaos takes over your house!
1. Declutter Regularly
The first step to staying on top of toy organization is to declutter on a regular basis. Go through your kids’ toys every few months and get rid of anything they no longer play with. This could be broken toys, outgrown toys, or just toys they’ve lost interest in.
When decluttering, be ruthless! If your child hasn’t played with a toy in the last 6 months, it’s time for it to go. Donate or sell items in good condition, and toss anything that’s broken beyond repair.
Decluttering not only keeps your home tidier, but it also makes it easier to organize the toys you do keep. Less stuff means less to sort through and find a home for.
It’s a great opportunity to give toys away to younger kids in your family or social circle. Or you can donate them (as long as they’re still in good shape).
2. Use That Vertical Space
One of the best toy organization hacks is to make use of your vertical space. Shelves, cubbies, and hanging storage can all help you maximize the space in your home.
Instead of letting toys pile up on the floor, invest in some sturdy shelving units. You can use these to display your kids’ favorite toys while keeping the rest neatly stored away. Cubbies are also great for organizing smaller items like blocks, cars, and action figures.
For stuffed animals and other larger toys, try using hanging storage like hammocks or nets. This gets them up off the floor and frees up valuable play space.
3. Use Clear Storage Containers
When it comes to toy storage, clear containers are your best friend. Not only do they keep everything neatly contained, but they also allow your kids to see what’s inside.
Clear plastic bins, baskets, and boxes make it easy for your little ones to find the toys they want to play with. No more digging through a jumbled mess! You can even label the containers so your kids know where to put things back.
Another benefit of clear storage is that it helps you stay on top of what you have. You can quickly see when a container is getting full or if there are any toys that need to be rotated out.
4. Label Everything
As your kids get older and start playing with more complex toys, it’s important to have a system in place for keeping everything organized. That’s where labeling comes in!
Use clear bins, baskets, or boxes to store toys, and label them with the contents. This makes it easy for your kids to know where to find (and put away) their favorite toys. You can even let them decorate the labels to make it more fun.
Labeling isn’t just for toy storage, either. Use it to mark the locations of different toy zones in your home, like a “cars and trucks” area or a “dress-up” corner. This helps your kids know where everything belongs.
5. Rotate Toys
Another genius toy organization hack is to rotate your kids’ toys. This involves putting some toys away for a while and then swapping them out with other toys they haven’t played with in a while.
Rotating toys has a few benefits:
- It keeps your kids engaged and interested in their toys, since they’re not always playing with the same things.
- It prevents toy clutter by limiting the number of toys out at any given time.
- It makes it easier to organize and store toys, since you’re not dealing with a massive collection all at once.
You can rotate toys weekly, monthly, or even seasonally, depending on your family’s needs. Just be sure to put the toys you’re putting away in labeled bins or boxes so you remember what’s in storage.
6. Designate Toy Zones
Instead of having toys scattered all over your home, create designated toy zones or play areas. This could be a playroom, a corner of the living room, or even just a section of your child’s bedroom.
Establishing these toy zones serves a few important purposes:
- It keeps toys contained in one area, preventing them from taking over your whole house.
- It makes it easier for your kids to clean up, since they know where everything belongs.
- It allows you to tailor the space to your child’s interests and developmental stage.
When setting up toy zones, be sure to include plenty of storage solutions like shelves, bins, and baskets. This makes it easy to keep the area tidy and organized.
7. Involve Your Kids
As much as we’d love to, you can’t do all the toy organization work alone. It’s important to get your kids involved in the process.
Teach your little ones how to put their toys away properly, using the storage solutions and labeling you’ve set up. Make it a fun, collaborative activity by letting them help choose where things go.
You can also encourage your kids to do regular toy clean-outs with you. Have them sort through their toys and decide what they want to keep, donate, or toss. This helps them take ownership of the organization process.
When your kids are invested in keeping things tidy, they’re more likely to maintain the organization system you’ve put in place. Plus, it’s a great way to instill responsibility and life-long organizational skills.
8. Try Multi-functional Furniture
Multi-functional furniture can be a game-changer for toy storage, especially when your space is limited. Look for pieces that serve dual purposes, like ottomans with hidden compartments, beds with built-in drawers, or coffee tables with storage underneath.
These options allow you to tuck toys out of sight while keeping them easily accessible when needed. For example, a bench with storage is perfect for a playroom or bedroom. It provides a spot for your kids to sit and read or play while hiding toys neatly inside.
Similarly, a storage ottoman in the living room can hold board games, stuffed animals, or Lego sets while blending in with your decor.
Combining style and functionality helps you maintain a clean, clutter-free home without sacrificing convenience.
9. Create a Toy Rotation System for Holidays and Birthdays
Toys tend to pile up quickly around birthdays and holidays. To avoid overwhelming your home with new items, establish a toy rotation system specifically for these occasions. Before a major gift-giving event, work with your child to clear out older toys they no longer use. This makes room for new additions while keeping the collection manageable.
You can involve your child in the process by letting them “trade” old toys for new ones. For every new item they receive, encourage them to donate or give away at least one toy they’re done with. This keeps clutter at bay and teaches them about sharing and giving to others.
10. Utilize Under-Bed Storage
When you’re short on space, don’t forget about the area under the bed. This often-overlooked spot is perfect for storing toys that may not be in daily use, like puzzles, board games, or out-of-season stuffed animals.
Invest in under-bed storage bins or rolling containers for a quick and easy solution. Clear bins work best so you can see what’s inside without digging through everything. Label each bin to make finding and putting away toys even easier.
This hack works especially well in kids’ bedrooms, as it keeps toys organized and out of the way without taking up additional floor space.
11. Keep Small Toys Contained
If small toys like action figures, doll accessories, or Lego pieces are constantly getting lost or scattered, it’s time to contain them! Use smaller bins, divided organizers, or even craft boxes to keep these items neatly stored.
For Lego lovers, consider getting stackable storage drawers or containers with compartments for different colors and sizes of bricks. Doll accessories can be stored in a clear plastic case with dividers, while action figures fit nicely in labeled shoe boxes or small baskets.
Keeping small toys contained not only prevents them from getting lost but also makes cleanup much faster and easier for your kids.
12. Make Clean-Up a Game
Let’s face it: kids don’t always love cleaning up their toys. But turning it into a game can make the process more fun and engaging for them!
Set a timer and challenge your child to see how many toys they can pick up before the timer runs out. Or create a scavenger hunt where they have to find and put away specific items (“Find all the red blocks and put them in the bin!”).
You can also set up a reward system where consistent cleaning earns them points toward a small prize or treat. Making cleanup time enjoyable helps your kids take ownership of keeping their spaces tidy without it feeling like a chore.
13. Establish Daily Cleanup Routines
Rather than waiting until the mess gets overwhelming, establish daily cleanup routines to keep things manageable. Set aside a few minutes at the end of each day for your kids to tidy up their toys and put everything back in its place.
Make it part of their bedtime routine or do it together as a family activity after dinner. Consistency is key! When cleaning up becomes a daily habit, it prevents toys from piling up and makes your organization systems easier to maintain over time.
14. Designate a “Lost and Found” Bin
Let’s be honest – there will always be random toy pieces that don’t seem to belong anywhere. Instead of letting these stray items clutter up your home, designate a “lost and found” bin for them.
Whenever you come across something that doesn’t have an immediate home (like a puzzle piece or a doll shoe), toss it into the lost and found bin. Once a week or so, go through the bin with your kids and return the items to their proper places. This keeps loose pieces from taking over while giving you time to figure out where they belong.
15. Rotate Books Alongside Toys
Bookshelves can get just as cluttered as toy bins if you’re not careful! To keep things manageable, consider rotating your kids’ books alongside their toys. Select a small collection of books to display on the shelf each month and store the rest in labeled bins or boxes elsewhere.
Rotating books keeps reading fresh and exciting for your child while preventing shelves from becoming overloaded. It also gives you a chance to regularly reassess which books they’ve outgrown and might be ready to pass along or donate.
16. Use Hooks for Dress-Up Clothes
Dress-up clothes are another toy category that can quickly become messy if not properly stored. Instead of stuffing costumes into a box or drawer, hang them on hooks! This makes it easier for your child to see their options and keeps costumes wrinkle-free and ready to wear.
Install hooks at your child’s height on the back of their bedroom door or on an open wall in their play area. You can even add a small shelf nearby for accessories like hats, wands, or masks. This setup turns dress-up into an organized (and adorable) corner of your home!
17. Repurpose Everyday Items for Storage
You don’t need fancy storage solutions to keep your toys under control – sometimes everyday items work just as well! Repurpose things like shoe organizers, mason jars, baskets, or even an old toolbox to organize smaller items like cars, art supplies, or figurines.
A shoe organizer that hangs on the back of a door is perfect for storing Barbie dolls or little action figures in individual pockets. Mason jars can hold crayons, markers, or tiny building blocks while doubling as cute decor on shelves. Get creative and think outside the box!
18. Have a Plan for Outdoor Toys
Don’t forget about outdoor toys! Balls, jump ropes, and chalk can easily pile up on patios or in yards if they don’t have a home of their own. Use large bins, crates, or even laundry baskets to corral outdoor toys in one designated spot near your yard or garage.
If you have space in your garage, install hooks on the wall for items like bikes or scooters to keep the floor clear and organized. Having a dedicated spot for outdoor gear helps ensure everything stays in good condition when not in use – and makes it easier to grab what you need for playtime outside!
Last Updated:
Read This Next
