With the holidays upon us, our kids are about to be inundated with a ton of new toys. And that can feel overwhelming from an organizational point of view. But the new items don’t have to end up strewn all over the house. These toy storage solutions will help with all the most common kids’ items like Lego bricks, Barbie dolls, slime, Mini Brands, Tonies characters, and more.
Because each toy is different in size and scope, and maybe our children have different obsessions, like they have a ton of Hot Wheels cars or Little People figures, we’ve found the best storage solutions per toy type to work for you and your household.
We can get through this together.
More from CafeMom: 16 Trendy Toys From 2024 That Make for Perfect Christmas Gifts
Containers for Small Toys
$21.99
from
When it comes to small toys like Mini Brands or Little People, the key is keeping all the small parts together. TikToker @nattiejopo likes clear hard-shell zipper organizers because you can see what’s inside but they’re protected. But you can also use clear zipper bags like @sairasteelman or plastic tackle boxes like @penguinshallwaddle did.
Larger Toy Shoe Rack Storage
For toys that are on the larger side, like playsets and bigger vehicles, TikToker @kaymherman keeps them on a shoe rack. The bonus of this type of storage unit is that it’s short enough for children to use to then clean up and organize the toys themselves.
Stuffed Animal Baskets
There are a few ways to store stuffed animals to help keep them from ending up all over the house. TikToker @hanelaine just keeps them in a large basket since she has a small house and three kids. Or like @ashleyy.guy, you can buy something similar to what many stores have — essentially large cages made from elastic rope that hold the toys in place but are still easily accessible to children. And as @playroominspo suggested, you can keep them all in a bean bag that doubles as seating when the toys aren’t in use.
Lego Mat & Bag
Kids love to dump their Lego bricks all over the ground to find the pieces they need. But @the_drews_design has a hack for that. She found that Amazon sells a toy storage basket that comes with a built-in mat. The toys can be dumped all over the mat during play and then when it’s time to clean up, you just fold the mat back into the basket with all the toys inside.
This would also work for toys like Hot Wheels or Matchbox cars.
Separate the Lego Sets
For older kids who like building Lego sets over and over again, you can keep the pieces organized in individual zippered bags like TikToker @lifewithlainee does with her kids’ sets. These bags from Amazon have mesh pouches on the front to store the instruction books.
More from CafeMom: 17 Hacks for Lego-Obsessed Kids
Acrylic Doll Shelves
TikToker @danielleeilers organized her child’s Barbie dolls with acrylic wall shelves from Amazon. Each one held about 10 dolls standing up, so the shelves double as a cool display. And, as her daughter gets older, she can use the shelves for other items, too.
Organize Doll Accessories
As for organizing doll accessories, like shoes and outfits, TikToker @xnimrod_ uses a photo organizer case. The larger container comes with 16 inner cases that can be used to sort all of the accessories and keep them handy without taking up a ton of space.
Toy Car Garage
This toy car garage from Amazon is the cutest way to encourage kids to pick up their own toys. TikToker @heybrittinirae said it works wonders in her house. “My kids love lining up and parking their cars,” she said. The garage can fit up to 40 cars and it looks great as a display piece as well.
Over-the-Door Organizer
If you don’t have room to add shelves or other types of stationary displays, you can also use over-the-door hanging storage devices. TikToker @itsjessicap4me used one like this storage bag from Amazon that holds up to 60 toy cars. You can also buy hanging storage with removable zipper bags. TikToker @lifewithlainee uses those for dolls and pretend play toys because the children can take the bags they want to use and stick them back up once they’re done.
Shrink Board Game Space
Board game boxes can take up a lot of room, so TikToker @mrs.happygilmore tosses the boxes and instead puts the boards and all the pieces into individual mesh bags. You can also use plastic file boxes like @lifewithlainee does.
But if throwing the boxes away is too much, you can just store the boxes more effectively with a pan organizer like TikToker @brookes_buys or use a hanging closet rack like @stephanieboothhome instead.
Tonies Display
Since Tonies figures are magnetic, TikToker @laurenmeadows_ used that to her advantage when figuring out how to store them. She stuck small metal disks to a lazy Susan and then simply stuck the Tonies to each disk. Simple and effective while doubling as a display piece.
Sports Basket
For bulky sports toys, like balls and soccer nets. TikToker @mjbarragan repurposed a wire laundry basket by taking out the liner bag. She then added some simple S-hooks on the side to hang the kids’ helmets. Genius and easy to store outside or in a garage.
Magnetic Tile Wall
If you kids have a ton of magnetic tile toys, consider getting a magnetic wall decal to store the tiles. That’s what TikToker @byaprilannee did for her child who homeschools, and it’s a great way for the kid to have a play area that doubles as storage.
Slime Palette
Using a divided plastic box like @slime.acct.comp, you can put different slimes (or even Play-Doh or Silly Putty) into each compartment to create a slime palette. It gives the child options, contains the mess, and as long as it has a tight lid, the slime will stay good.
Art Cart
Keep all of the kids’ art and crafting items on a rolling cart like TikToker @_saramorrison does. Most of them have shelves that can fit smaller organizers (like magazine holders for construction paper). And because it can move, kids can roll it over to the table, but it can be stored out of the way when not in use.
*Psst: if you choose to purchase an item from this post, CafeMom.com may receive a small cut. Each item and price is up to date at the time of publication; however, an item may be sold out or the price may be different at a later date.
