A Professional Organizer’s Guide to Conquering Playroom Chaos

A recent shared room project to help contain & organize books and toys

Playroom & Toy Organization

If you’ve ever struggled to contain your kiddo’s toys, stressed about friends stepping on a lego, or been unable to get your kid’s to clean up their spaces - you’re not alone. This is such a common struggle, and it doesn’t always come with a guide book! I’ve seen so many homes where toy’s took over - turning our peaceful spaces into battery operated chaos - and I’ve been able to come up with some great and effective long term solutions. My playroom and toy organizational solutions help make things easier to find, store, and cleanup. They increase creativity and free play time because kid’s are able to find what they need or visually see toys they never knew they had. Organizational systems in playrooms and with toys can help kids learn how to take care of their things and clean up after themselves. Organized toys and organizational systems will make cleanup time a breeze and allow for less overwhelm when it comes time for the Christmas & birthday gifts.

Read on to learn how to tackle toy clutter, create organizational systems for toys, and what my top recommendations are for creating a toy storage area that will grow with your kids.

My Go To Playroom System

Click on the picture to see what this playroom looked like before!

Decluttering Playroom Toys

Before you organize, decluttering is essential. I prefer to go through toys without kiddos present, but this may depend on your child! I know some may be devastated to find certain things missing, but for the most part, parents tend to have a pretty good idea of what their kids play with and what could be tossed, donated, or re-homed without much notice.

If you do decide to go through toys with your kids, make sure to talk to them about re-homing or donating items they no longer use but are in good shape. This can be a great motivator and tool for teaching them empathy & sharing. Often, this is a lesson even us adults need to learn! If you aren’t using something in your home, there’s a high likelihood someone else could benefit greatly from your item.

A good rule of thumb for decluttering is that if it hasn't been used in the past six months, it’s unlikely to be used in the future. The exception of this would be seasonal items (think outdoor summer toys or Christmas books). If you want to keep the item for a younger sibling or sentimental purpose, make sure you have a separate place to store things. Items kept in a playroom should be frequently used! If you aren’t 100% sure about decluttering an item, try boxing it up and storing it in the garage or a closet for a few months. If you or your kids haven’t missed it, it can probably go!

These are go-to playroom and toy organization items I would recommend to just about anyone! Click on the photo for product links.

Implement a Long Term Storage & Organization Solution

Now that you’ve decluttered, it’s time to organize and contain. Begin with sorting your kid’s toys - you’re going to want to group like items with like into larger categories like games, puzzles, pretend play, building toys, cars and trucks, dolls, etc. Usually one ‘miscellaneous’ toy bin is necessary to contain those random items and party favors that your kid’s are currently playing with! Hint: if a ‘miscellaneous’ bin begins to overflow, it’s time to declutter it again!

Once toys are sorted, it’s time to contain. Containment is essential in implementing a long term storage and organizational solution for toys. When it comes to playrooms or bedrooms or living rooms where toys may be, I tend to use the same product setup over and over!

Start with a cube unit or two - it all depends on how much space you have. Make sure to measure before you order! I like to use cube units that fit 13” cube bins. These will make up your primary toy categories. Each cube bin will be labeled with a bin clip - I recommend black bin clips with chalk markers unless you’re ready to invest in a label maker. Larger bulky items or books can sit directly in the cube units spots.

For additional storage, consider adding clear bins or baskets to the top of your cube unit. If you have toy kits like lego sets, puzzles, or games, I like to use labeled zipper pouches for space saving containment.

A system like this is built to last and grow with your family. Even once toys are no longer used, it can continue to store family games, shoes, accessories or electronics. My only other recommendation? A couple large baskets with lids. These are perfect for concealing stuffed animals, bulky toys, or doing a quick clean up when your mother in law stops by unannounced :)

Need help setting up an organizational playroom solution and want something a little more custom? Check out my virtual organization and in-person options to help contain the chaos!

On occasion, product recommendations contain affiliate links. Blue Heron Home only shares and promotes products they have personally used and loved.