How to Organize Toys in the Living Room

Learn how to organize toys in the living room with these simple ideas!

Wondering how to organize toys in the living room and feeling overwhelmed? I understand. We have never had a playroom and have used bedrooms and the living room for toy organization. In our first home, I had three little kids and small bedrooms. It made sense to use the living room for the toys. However, I did not want to feel like I was sitting in a playroom. Can you relate?

The struggle is real for moms. We want the relaxing beauty of a living room but also need practical solutions for toys. During our time in that home, I learned some simple tips to help keep the toys organized.

Learn how to organize the toys in your living room when space is limited.

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6 Tips to Organize Toys in the Living Room

Declutter the toys.

Before you start setting up systems, you need to remove what is not needed. Honestly, kids get overwhelmed with too many options anyway. Get all of the toys out that you need to store in the living room. Sort them by type. Then remove what is broken or not needed.

If there are toys that your child no longer plays with, consider donating or storing for later if you plan to use the toys for future kids.

Use simple storage solutions for the toys.

When my kids were younger, we had an ottoman that had three cube bins in it. It held toys that my kids could easily pull out to play with. We also had a basket of books and a play kitchen. Since I knew the play kitchen was going to be in the living room, I chose one that blended in with our decor (similar to this).

There are tons of different ways you can store things by using the following systems.

Be wise about what toys you allow in your home.

If you have limited space, you do not need to fill the space with a rocking horse. Before you purchase ask yourself if the item will be well played with and if it will be easy to store.

Encourage family members to respect your decision with this too.

Start a toy rotation.

If you decluttered the toys and still are struggling to fit things in your living room, consider using a toy rotation. We have done this before and would keep some of the toys in bins in the bedroom closet. Then I could pull these out and rotate them every so often. It would provide something new and exciting for the kids.

Establish a rule for cleaning up.

Having regular clean-up time is essential when you store toys in the living room. Otherwise, you will feel overwhelmed. A good rule is to say that when your child is finished playing, they need to clean up. This is going to take training. At first, you will have to help them clean up. Over time, it will get easier. It takes repetition.

I do want to say that there have been times, I have left a “mess”. While it appeared to look like a mess, I could tell it was something they were going to come back to play with, so we left it for a day or so. As a mom, you can usually tell when your child is finished playing or if they are going to return to the scene.

Remember, this is just a season.

I know we hear this as moms all of the time but it really is true. The time of having little kids is such a short period. Eventually, the toys become less in your home or they are easier to store in bedrooms. Give yourself and your kids some grace. Embrace simple systems and cherish this short period of time.

Ready to start to declutter? Get the printable list of 86 items to declutter starting now plus regular tips. Grab it here.