The Best Toy Storage, According to Organizing Pros and Design-Minded Parents

Crate & Barrel offers a similarly versatile cube-style bookcase in three-, five-, six-, eight-, and 12-cube permutations, and in a range of stylish options for the shelves from natural wood to a midnight blue. Like the Kallax, the cube shelving can fit a wide range ofbaskets or binsand be used for anything from books to abox full of Legos. The Crate & Barrel unit has a sleeker look with a thinner profile to the shelves and an oak-wood base, but is notably sturdy and long-lasting.

Ikea’s Trofast toy-storage system is another popular choice: Both Lyons-Porter and Morahan recommend it for how adaptable it is. The Trofast is essentially an open dresser that you can fill with three different sizes of drawers — slim, double-height, and triple-height. Morahan says this gives you the ability to better store toys of various sizes in the same unit, because you could have a row of slim drawers that she says are ideal for Legos or other building toys above a row of deeper ones for stuffed animals. Lyons-Porter calls the storage drawers “perfect for categories of items that are ‘grab-n-go’” and notes they “can easily be labeled with a picture of the item or words.” TheTrofast linealso includes lots of other units, depending on what your space may require.

If you prefer keeping toy clutter behind closed doors,Mustardoffers versatile and colorful locker-style options in four sizes and 11 hues, from ashorter consoleto afull-height cabinetthat can function as a wardrobe. My kids have theLowdown style in sagein their room, and we use it to store baskets full ofdress-up clothes, boxes of beads, and miscellaneous toys that would otherwise get lost under theirbunk bed. They like decorating the magnetic surface with funny phrases spelled out with alphabet magnets, and the top is a handy surface for stacking books. Mustard also offers its ownbasket,magnet, andhangersets, which you can get in coordinating or contrasting colors.

Professional organizerRolanda Lokeyrecommends these modular storage shelves that come in various sizes, starting from an eight-cube unit (shown here) toone with 25 cubes. As she explains, it’s a great option for “parents who do not have space for a separate playroom” because the unit comes with doors for each cubby that are detachable. This, Lokey says, “allows parents to combine function and design by designating certain spaces on the shelf for concealed storage and others for displaying vases, art pieces, or books by just removing the doors.”

Ikea also offers an array ofwall-mounted systemsthat create efficient storage and display options and can be arranged in many permutations to fit the room. “We store books, photos, baskets, completed Lego sets, tchotchkes, everything! And we’ve used them in playrooms, bedrooms, offices, and hallways,” saysAbby Clawson Low, a graphic designer and art director based in Dallas and a parent of three boys. “The wall-mounted shelving systems are great because they are secured to the wall, they don’t sit on the floor taking up floor space,” adds Low of why she leans toward this system over the cube shelves above. “Seeing that extra floor space underneath gives a real sense of openness to a room” — and can be used for baskets or other floor storage.

Lokey says it’s important for parents to consider their child’s emerging habits and organizing preferences when choosing toy storage. “Some kids are great at putting things away, while other children are often still developing the basic habit of tidying,” she explains. The latter group, she says, “may be less inclined to use storage products that require opening and closing boxes or returning items to labeled shelves.” She recommends this unit to anyone with very young children who are just learning the concept of organization or parents of kids with special needs. Its “color-coded, open bins in primary colors are great for teaching kids how to sort and categorize while using foundational skills they are likely learning as a part of their primary education,” Lokey says. For anyone looking for a bit of a twofer, she also likesthis similar stylethat combines three open bins with a rolling chest.

Lokey also pointed us toward this organizer that has a bookstore-like display area on top, open shelving in the middle, and a pullout chest at the bottom, explaining that “combo bookshelf–toy storage solutions work very well for confined spaces.”

Patty Morrissey, an organizer certified in the KonMari method, likes this ten-drawer rolling cart for sorting Legos by color. “The long, shallow drawers make it easier for kids to find the exact pieces they’re looking for when building their own creations,” she explains.

Lyons-Porter’s favorite Container Store bins are multipurpose ones that come in four different sizes. “They’re translucent, easy to access, sturdy, reasonably priced, fit great in a cabinet or on an exposed shelf, and are perfect for little hands,” she says.

Hay Color Crates, which come in a rainbow of nice-looking colors, are a great option for toys with many small pieces. They’re “lightweight, recycled, stackable, nestable, and collapsible,” says Lexi Mainland, an editor, writer, and parent of two. In my own house, we keep extras of these in the closet and can also pull them out to contain the pieces of projects in progress. You can also buylidsandwheelsfor the medium and large sizes if you want to create a storage side table or rolling cart.

Muuto’s Restore Binsare a beautiful, modern storage container that can be used all over the house. “They’re soft but very sturdy,” says Liz Libre, co-founder of Lewis, a line of textiles for home and kids, of the pliable but structured baskets that are made of recycled plastic bottles. “We have used these for books and toys on shelves as well as the floor. We have three under our coffee table, one with Legos, another with wood blocks, and another with Magna-Tiles. They get pulled out when friends and neighbors are over and slide right back under after,” describes Libre.

If you are putting multiple types of toys in a single basket or bin but want to keep them separated, Weinstock offered a pro organizing tip of getting “see-through reusable produce bags to keep inside the large bins.” They can help keep like with like while all living within the same larger basket. For example, described Weinstock, “a set of large animal toys, balls for a toy gumball machine, and soft baby blocks.”

While technically alaundry basket, this sturdy lidded bin from Connected Goods can serve double duty as toy storage. “We have had three in our living room for ten years, holding all sorts of toys anddress-up clothes,” says Libre. “The natural material looks great in any room and does the necessary job of concealing the mess.”

Another tall basket option that Schrier recommends for stuffed animals or large balls, the Bisgo Storage Bin can hold — or hide — a lot. Echoing Lokey, she says it’s great for younger kids who find that “drawers are not necessarily user-friendly” because the open top allows them “to drag and dump” their toys when it’s time to put them away.

Editor’s note:The Bigso storage bin is currently unavailable, but we’ll let you know if it comes back in stock.

Swoop Bags are a versatile storage option that can be used both indoors and out. A sturdy, weatherproof nylon-poly-blend cinchable bag, the solid-colored bags come in three sizes:mini,medium, andlarge. “When you’re ready to play, you just un-cinch the bag. When you’re ready to clean up, you cinch it back up,” says Mainland. The bags come with a strong cord, so you can also hang them up on wall hooks for an easy-to-grab option that keeps toys off the floor.

For another bin that parents won’t mind looking at, Sylvana Ward Durrett, a co-founder ofMaisonette, recommends this pom-pom adorned one from Pehr. “When you’re done using them for your kids, they’re perfectly appropriate for your apartment as well,” she says, making them more worth the investment. Plus, the bins are foldable, so you can easily tuck them out of sight should you ever need to store your storage.

Weinstock recommends West Elm’s seagrass baskets, another natural material that offers structured storage. “Since my son has more cars than I know what to do with and I want to keep my living room/playroom looking nice, these are a great solution that can house a lot of toys,” she says.

My 7-year-old likes to keep books, trinkets, markers, and notebooks close at hand while up in her top bunk, so to keep detritus from collecting in her bed, we use thiswall-mounted canvas organizer, which hangs behind the headboard. The pockets expand out enough that she can put a few chapter books in a single pocket, and she likes that she has private storage that’s inaccessible to her younger sibling. The organizer comes in multiple shades of canvas, and you can specify anumber of pocketsand horizontal orverticalorientation, depending on the space you have available.

Organizer Mary Cornetta, the founder ofSort and Sweet, uses these nautical baskets at her own home to clean up when playtime is over. “Any toys that they dragged out to the main living area get thrown in,” she explains, so they can easily be returned to where they belong.

Editor’s note:The Container Store’s storage bin is currently unavailable, but we’ll let you know if it comes back in stock.

This hammock essentially functions as a shelf to keep favorite teddy bears and other stuffed animals off the floor and on display. It comes recommended by Abramovici, who says “kids can think of it as a game to toss toys into the hammock — motivating them to clean up.” Wall-mounted storage like this, she adds, gives “parents more control over which toys can be in play at any given time, since all the toys aren’t at kids’ reach.”

Keepingarts-and-crafts suppliestidy can be its own special challenge. One of our favorite all-around options for corralling art stuff, recommended by Weinstock in ourguide to organizing art supplies, is a rolling cart. Winter is also a proponent: “A lot of people do artwork in the kitchen or in a different area, and some parents don’t want their kids having access to the Play-Doh or to have art supplies everywhere,” she says. Her favorite rolling storage is the Container Store’sthree-tier rolling cart. To organize it, Winter suggests using magazine holders orbook binsfor coloring pages and paper and Mason jars for crayons, markers, and colored pencils, though the Container Store sellsdifferent containers,pegboard attachments, andcompartmentsfor the cart, as well as anart-themed bundle, if you prefer stuff that matches. There’s also a“large” version of the three-tier cartand ataller four-tier modelthat you might consider if you are storing an extra-large stash of supplies or supplies for more than one kid.

For keeping track of tinier items, professional organizerDaniel Loyasays a box like this is “essential for keeping all of the small odds and ends off of the floor.” It consists of three layers that can be divided into ten compartments each, but the partitions used to divide the layers are removable and adjustable. The layers conveniently snap onto each other, making it easy to repurpose one elsewhere if you don’t need all three. A handle on the top makes it easy to transport.

One of Winter’s favorite ways to organize art supplies like markers, crayons, and colored pencils is to use a lazy Susan, like this one that she recommends. “Kids like it because they can just grab whenever they want and start coloring,” she says. It comes in two sizes: a nine-inch diameter with three sections and an11.5-inch diameterwith five sections and slightly taller sides.

In my house, this larger caddy option is key to keeping markers, kid scissors, and Sharpies organized and accessible for my 5- and 7-year-olds. Though it lives on their art table, they often bring the entire caddy to the floor for projects that need more space. The dividers are removable, so depending on the supplies you’re holding, you can create larger and smaller compartments.

“For art supplies for a bigger kid, I love apegboardover a desk,” says Weinstock. “This way, the most-used art supplies can be super accessible and you can create an inspiring work area.” Keeping a pegboard organized could be challenging and frustrating for a younger child, but the versatility allows older kids to arrange supplies and objects they want to display in their own way.Ikea’s modular Skådis lineofferstwo sizesofwall-mounted boardsin three colors, afreestanding model, a range ofhooks,elastic cords,small containers, and a fewpremadebundles.

Bath time comes with its own set of toys, which is why you might want to get something for the bathroom. “This adjustable bath toy caddy fits most tubs and keeps toys and bath essentials contained and within reach while in use,” says Lokey. “When bath time is over, the organizer can be removed and stored in a closet or on a shelf, making it super-convenient for shared bathrooms.”

Editor’s note:KidCo’s bath-toy organizer is currently unavailable, but we’ll let you know if it comes back in stock.

If yourbath-toy collectionleans more minimal, Lalo’s wall-suction bath-toy bin is a great smaller option to keep toys out of the tub and off the floor. The basket-weave sides allow water to drain from still-wet toys, and the bin is made of nontoxic plastic and available in two colors, white and sage green.

For older kids who play sports, ball bins and equipment organizers can make life easier, according to Lokey. She says storage like this open rack will make it easy to spot what you need, allowing parents “to quickly assess when it’s time to purge outgrown bats, damaged racquets, deflated balls, and other items kids no longer use.” Another benefit of a sports rack is that it can be used by adults for organizing their own gym gear, as Strategist contributorAlex Olivopointed out.

Whether you’re using bins, shelves, or boxes, nearly all the organizers we spoke with recommended labeling your storage so kids know where everything goes. Morahan says labeling “really helps kids get excited to put things away in the right spot.” Cornetta prefers chalkboard-style stickers so labels can be erased and rewritten when kids grow out of certain toys. For younger kids who aren’t reading yet, try drawing a picture on the label or sticking on aPolaroid photo.

Winter is a fan of using clip-on labels for bins and baskets, like these from the Container Store. She likes writing out labels in big block letters, adding that it helps with letter recognition.

For those who want an especially uniform look to their labels, this battery-operated thermal-printinglabel-makerfrom Brother is a top pick among many professional organizers we’ve spoken to. It has a QWERTY keyboard for easy typing, a print-preview window so you can check your spelling, and a variety of fonts, symbols, and frames. Usingdifferent colors of tapefor printing labels will let you color-code, too.