Where Style Meets Play

If you have young kids, chances are your living room occasionally looks more like a toy store explosion than a cozy gathering space. But the good news is, you don’t need a playroom to keep toys under control — with a few smart strategies, your living room can be both kid-friendly and adult-approved.

Before you do anything…….define the play zone. Where do you want to keep the toys? Designate a specific spot in your room for toys, even if it’s just a corner. Now use something to visually separate the space like a rug, a shelf, or even a small table if space allows. This visual separation will help your precious little one know where playtime happens and where it doesn’t.

Next, choose your storage tools. When choosing, think form and function. For example, storage ottomans are great for quick clean up and extra seating. If you chose a book shelf for separation, consider a shelf that allows for cube storage. These are an excellent resource for keeping toys organized but also for hiding the mess that comes along with them. If you want to quickly erase the play room vibe when you are entertainjng…..find a rolling shelf to store toys. This will allow you to roll the play room away in a matter of seconds.

Before you begin organizing into your chosen storage solution, take a moment to get rid of stuff. Let go of things or toys that haven’t been touched in a while, things that are broken, or things that have lost their luster so to speak. I always did this before my kids birthday and Christmas when we had an influx of new things coming. Routine cleaning and declutterring allows you to get rid of the junk and the broken while keeping the things that your kids are focused on at the moment.

When my kids were little they had a space in the living room until they were walking and talking independently. At that point, we moved all the toys into their rooms. They would bring stuff into the living room each day, but everything was returned to their room at the end of the day.. this is the key to managing the chaos….at the end of each day, clean up and return everything to its proper place.

Once you have determined your space and storage solution, establish a routine for clean up to ensure everything is put away properly at the end of play time. As with any storage solution, if it’s not a system you are invested in and willing and capable of maintaining, it is simply going to be a source of frustration.

If you don’t have the square footage for a designated toy space, find creative storage solutions that accentuate your design. For example, I use these baskets under my church pew to hide extra comforters for my bed. If I were still in that stage of life, I could easily store some of my kids toys here.

I also use this “things” box to store small board games and decks off cards. I wouldn’t have the milk can sitting on top if these were things we used often.

Finally, the end tables in my living room double as tables and storage spaces. Each opens up to storage spaces that are used to store various things that would just clutter a shelf in a closet IF I had one.

Becoming a parent does not mean you have to give up the style and eye appeal of your living space. Your living room doesn’t have to be a toy battleground. With the right systems in place, you can find that magical balance between kid fun and adult relaxation.