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We hate to say it, but now is the time to put away your bathing suits and sandals, along with your beach toys, beach umbrellas, and all the other summer stuff that’s been piled up outside your door. Transitioning back to the real world in September can feel like an overwhelming challenge, especially if you don’t have enough closet or basement space to store all your stuff. So this week, we’re sharing some essential home organization tips to make the transition a little easier. It’s Organize Your Space Week at The Strategist.
As much as parents try to avoid hoarding too much stuff, kids’ things, especially toys, tend to pile up quickly. Keeping Legos, stuffed animals, and Hot Wheels under control and finding ways to organize them so your kids can help clean up can be good for everyone’s health. As Kadi Dulude, owner of cleaning and organizing company Wizard of Homes, explains, “It’s important to teach kids to be neat and organized—not only to make your home more comfortable, but to help them become responsible adults who care for their space and respect their surroundings.”
Katie Winter, a professional organizer and mother of three, says children as young as 2 can start getting involved. “Give them little tasks, like picking up all the blocks,” she said. “Being specific helps them get used to participating.” Another way to control clutter is to “be intentional about putting away toys that are no longer played with, that are broken, that are damaged, that are no longer played with, or that will never be played with again,” says organizer Tanisha Lyons-Porter, a mother of three. Toys that kids keep, however, need to go somewhere.
To find the best ways to organize kids’ toys, we asked a dozen professional organizers and design-minded parents for their recommendations. Their suggestions range from storage furniture and shelves to storage bins, baskets, and carts, so there’s something for everyone and all types of toys.
Many of our experts swear by IKEA because it offers affordable storage systems and shelving for organizing toys. Four of the organizers we spoke with—Boston-based professional organizer Colleen Morahan, Natalie Schrier, founder of Cut the Clutter, and Tova Weinstock, owner of Tidy Tova—recommended the Kallax Cube shelving unit because it’s versatile, has a clean look (in a good way), and fits into any existing decor. “I typically recommend stacking eight bins horizontally so you can put larger toys on top. You can dedicate one or two bins to books, one to puzzles, and the rest to larger toys,” says Weinstock, who also suggests placing bins on the bottom to organize smaller items. “This system works really well because little kids can reach everything and see what they have,” Weinstock adds. For those who need a bin, Lyons-Potter recommends the Kuggis bin; This size is perfect for the Kallax cube.
Crate & Barrel also offers equally versatile cube-shaped bookshelves, available in three-, five-, six-, eight-, and 12-bay configurations, with a variety of stylish shelf options, from natural wood to navy blue. Like the Kallax, this cube shelf can accommodate a variety of baskets and containers to store everything from books to boxes of Legos. Crate & Barrel has a sleeker look, with narrower shelves and an oak base, but it’s still very sturdy and durable.
Another popular choice is IKEA’s Trofast toy storage system, which Lyons-Porter and Morahan recommend because it’s so adaptable. Trofast is essentially an open chest of drawers that can be configured with three different sizes of drawers – narrow, double and triple. This gives you more flexibility to store different sized toys in one compartment, says Morahan, as you can have one row of narrow drawers for Legos or other building blocks, and another row of deep drawers for soft toys. Lyons-Porter calls these drawer organizers “perfect for on-the-go items,” noting that they can be “easily labeled with pictures or text of the item.” The Trofast range also includes a number of other models, depending on your space requirements.
If you prefer to hide your toys and odds and ends behind doors, Mustard offers versatile cabinet options in a variety of sizes and 11 colors, from low-profile consoles to full-size cabinets that double as walk-in closets. My kids have several sage-colored storage cabinets in their rooms, where we store baskets of fancy clothes, boxes of beads, and assorted toys that would otherwise be stuffed under their bunk beds. They love decorating the magnetic surface of the cabinet with fun phrases spelled out using letter magnets, and the top can be used to store books. Mustard also offers basket, magnet, and hanger sets in your choice of matching or contrasting colors.
Professional organizer Rolanda Lockey recommends these modular storage units, which come in a variety of sizes, from eight-section (pictured) to 25-section. She explains that they’re “a great option for parents who don’t have the space to create a separate playroom,” since each section has removable doors. “This allows parents to use some of the shelf space as hidden storage and the rest of the space to display vases, artwork, or books by simply removing the doors,” says Lockey.
IKEA also offers a number of wall-mounted systems that provide efficient storage and display options and can be arranged in a variety of combinations depending on the size of the room. “We store books, photos, baskets, Legos, knick-knacks, you name it! We use them in playrooms, bedrooms, offices, and hallways,” says Abby Clausen Lowe, a Dallas-based graphic designer and art director and mother of three boys. “Wall-mounted shelving is great because it attaches to the wall and doesn’t take up floor space,” Lowe adds, explaining why she prefers this system to the cube-style shelves shown above. “The extra space underneath gives the room a real open feel” — and can be used for baskets or other floor-mounted storage.
Loki says it’s important for parents to consider their children’s evolving habits and preferences when choosing a toy storage space. “Some kids are very good at organizing, while others are often still developing basic cleaning skills,” she explains. The latter, she says, “may be less inclined to use storage devices that require opening and closing boxes or arranging items on labeled shelves.” She recommends this cabinet for young children learning to organize or for parents of children with special needs. Loki says, “Open storage bins that are color-coded and primary colors are great for teaching kids to sort while building on basic skills they may be learning in elementary school.” For those looking to kill two birds with one stone, she also likes this similar style that combines three open storage bins with a rolling storage cabinet.
Lokey also told us about the organizer, which features a bookstore-style display on top, open shelves in the middle, and a pull-out drawer at the bottom, explaining that “the bookshelf and toy combination is perfect for small spaces.”
Patty Morrissey, a KonMari-certified organizer, loves this cart with 10 bins for sorting Lego by color. “These long, shallow bins make it easy for kids to find the bricks they need when they’re building,” she explains.
In addition to the storage boxes that can be used in conjunction with the larger storage systems mentioned above, many experts also told us about some individual storage box options that might be a good choice for those who don’t need an entire set of furniture. It’s no surprise that many professional organizers love The Container Store and its own line. Winter’s favorite products are the brand’s shoe and sweater boxes: “Every organization project I do starts with these,” she says. “Ninety percent of the toys fit in there.” Winter especially likes how they stack. “They have lids, so you can use the vertical space by stacking them on top of each other,” she explains, adding that the boxes will fit on almost any shelf you already have in your home. For larger spaces, The Container Store sells both boxes at wholesale prices, making them more affordable.
Lyons-Porter’s favorite trash can from The Container Store is versatile and comes in four different sizes. “They’re translucent, easy to access, durable, affordable, perfect for a cabinet or open shelf, and super easy on little hands,” she says.
Hay Color Crates come in a rainbow of colors and are great for storing small toys. “They’re lightweight, recyclable, stackable, nestable, and collapsible,” says Lexi Mainland, an editor, writer, and mother of two. At home, I keep extra colored hay bins in my closets to store toy parts we’re working on. If you want to make a side table or storage cart, you can also buy lids and wheels for medium and large Hay Color Crates.
Like IKEA’s Kallax series, IKEA’s extensive line of Kuggis storage boxes is also a big hit with the organizers and parents I spoke to. “We use these collapsible boxes to store all of our craft and art supplies. They’re affordable, low-maintenance, and they hide the clutter inside,” says Weinstock. In Lowe’s home, “we use them to store tools, extra extension cords, my stamp collection, Legos, LEGO bricks, our stash of instant noodles, party supplies, and everything in between.” Their versatility and aesthetic make them perfect for any room in the house: “They have a perfectly round little cutout in the front that I love to see. They look so pretty. Form and function!” enthuses Lowe.
Muuto Restore Bins are beautiful, stylish storage containers that can be used throughout the home. “They’re soft but super sturdy,” says Liz Libre, co-founder of Lewis, a home and baby textile brand. Made from recycled plastic bottles, these bins are flexible but still sturdy. “We use them for books and toys on shelves and on the floor. We have three under the coffee table: one for Legos, one for building blocks, and one for magnetic tiles. We take them out when friends and neighbors come over, and then push them back in,” Libre describes.
If you have multiple toys in one basket or container but want to keep them separate, Weinstock offers a pro organization tip: Buy “multiple clear, reusable plastic bags to put in a larger container.” This keeps all similar items in one large basket and separate from each other. For example, Weinstock describes “a collection of large stuffed animals, gumballs, and soft baby blocks.”
While this Connected Goods Laundry Basket with Lid is technically just a laundry basket, it can also double as toy storage. “We’ve had three of these baskets in our living room for 10 years for toys and clothes,” says Libre. “The natural material looks great in any room and provides a much-needed cover for clutter.”
Another tall bin that Schrier recommends is the Bisgo Storage Bin, which can be used to store stuffed animals or large balls. The Bisgo storage bin can hold (or hide) a lot of things. She agrees with Loki that these bins are ideal for kids who are “difficult in drawers” ​​because the tops are open, making it easy to “drag and drop” toys when they need to put them away.
Editor’s note: The Bigso storage container is currently unavailable, but we’ll let you know as soon as it becomes available.
The Swoop Storage Bag is a versatile storage bag that can be used both indoors and out. Made from a durable, weather-resistant nylon-polyester blend, this solid-color organizer is easy to zip up and comes in three sizes: mini, medium, and large. “When you’re ready to play, simply unzip the storage bag. When you’re ready to put away, simply zip it back up,” says Mainland. The storage bag comes with a durable rope that’s great for hanging on a wall hook for easy access and keeping toys from scattering across the floor.
Want another trash can that parents will love? Maisonette co-founder Silvana Ward Durrett recommended this pom-pom-adorned trash can from Pehr. “They’re also perfect for your apartment after you’re done with the kids,” she said, making them an even better investment. Plus, these bins are collapsible, so you can easily put them away when you need to put things away.
Weinstock recommends West Elm’s seagrass baskets, another natural material that provides structured storage. “My son has more cars than I can handle, and I wanted a nice-looking living room/playroom, so these rings were a great solution and hold a lot of toys,” she says.
My seven-year-old daughter loves to keep her books, knick-knacks, markers, and notebooks within easy reach when she sleeps on the top bunk. To keep her bed from getting cluttered, we used a canvas wall organizer that hangs behind the headboard. The storage box’s pockets are large enough to fit several chapters of books in one pocket, and she loves having her own private storage space that her younger siblings won’t see. This storage box comes in a variety of canvas colors, and you can choose the number of pockets, as well as horizontal or vertical orientation, depending on the size of your room.
These toy boxes and storage bins feature images of various animals like camels, dragons, owls, pandas, and more that are sure to please animal lovers. Genius’ Nicole Abramovici and organization and storage expert Christina Giaquinto both rave about them. “I’m a firm believer that storage systems should be functional as well as beautiful, and these boxes do just that,” she says, adding that the boxes are “very sturdy and great for organizing toys.” The little animals also serve as visual cues, reminding kids that these are the places to store toys like stuffed animals.
Storage expert Mary Cornetta, founder of Sort and Sweet, uses these nautical-style baskets to clean up after playtime. “All the toys that kids bring into the living room go in there,” she explains, making it easy to put them back where they belong.
Editor’s note: Container Store warehouses are currently unavailable, but we’ll let you know if they become available.
This hammock is essentially a shelf that can hold your kids’ favorite teddy bears and other stuffed animals on the floor. “Kids can use this as a game, throwing toys into the hammock, which motivates them to clean up,” recommends Abramovici. She adds that wall storage like this “gives parents more control over what toys are available to play with at any given time, since everything is out of reach.”
Keeping arts and crafts neat and organized presents its own unique challenge. In our guide to organizing art supplies, Weinstock recommends one of our favorite versatile art supply organizers: a cart. Winter is also a fan of this option: “A lot of people do their crafts in the kitchen or other spaces, and some parents don’t want their kids to have access to Play-Doh or have art supplies scattered around,” she said. Her favorite rolling storage device is a three-tier cart from The Container Store. To organize these items, Winter suggests using magazine racks or book boxes to store coloring books and paper, and Mason jars to store crayons, markers, and colored pencils, but The Container Store also sells a variety of containers, pegboard toppers, and cart dividers, as well as an art-themed set if you prefer to coordinate items. If you have a lot of storage space or are storing items for multiple children, you may want to consider the “large” version of the three-tier cart and the taller four-tier model.
If you want to pick a specific color, need a specific size, or are looking for other accessories for your cart, you can also check out IKEA, Michael’s, and Target, which all have similar rolling carts. Senior editorial strategist Jen Trolio uses the Lexington cart from Michael’s Simply Tidy to store her kids’ art supplies, with a matching lid that limits the height of the top items but looks neater and allows other items to be stacked flat when the cart isn’t in use.
Professional organizer Daniel Loya says that to keep small items within easy reach, “you need boxes like this to keep all those little things tucked away and off the floor.” It has three layers, each of which can be divided into ten compartments, and the dividers used to separate them are removable and adjustable. The dividers snap together conveniently, making it easy to use one of the layers for another purpose, even if all three are not needed. There’s a handle on top for easy carrying.
One of Winter’s favorite ways to organize art supplies like markers, crayons, and colored pencils is to use a turntable, like this one she recommends. “Kids love this coloring table because they can pick it up and color whenever they want,” she said. The turntable comes in two sizes: One is 9 inches in diameter and has three compartments; the other is 11.5 inches in diameter and has five compartments with slightly taller sides.
In my home, this large storage box is a key piece for keeping items like markers, kids’ scissors, and Sharpie pens within reach of my 5-year-old and 7-year-old. While the storage box sits on their art desk, they often move it to the floor when something needs more space. The dividers are removable, so you can create larger or smaller compartments depending on what you’re storing.
“For older kids, I like to use a pegboard on their desks,” says Weinstock. “This keeps frequently used art supplies within easy reach and creates an inspiring workspace.” Keeping a pegboard neat and tidy can be a daunting and tedious task for young children, but the versatility of a pegboard allows older kids to arrange their supplies and objects however they want. IKEA’s modular Skådis collection includes wall-mounted pegboards in two sizes and three colors, a freestanding pegboard, a set of hooks, bungee cords, small containers, and several ready-made ties.
Bath time is never complete without toys, so you might want to invest in some bath toys. “This adjustable bath toy organizer fits most bathtubs and makes it easy to access toys and bath supplies,” says Loki. “When you’re done showering, you can remove the box and store it in a cabinet or on a shelf, making it easy to organize, even in a shared bathroom.”
Editor’s Note: The KidCo Bath Toy Storage Box is currently out of stock, but we’ll let you know if it comes back in stock.
If you have a more minimalist bath toy collection, a great option is the Lalo Wall Mounted Bath Toy Bucket, which is compact enough to keep toys from falling into the tub or onto the floor. The bucket has a wicker construction, making it easy to drain wet toys. The barrel is made of non-toxic plastic and is available in white and slate.
At my house, we store bath toys in Tubtrugs, which are made of a soft rubber material. “They’re durable, and their rounded shape is perfect for small corners in the home,” says Libre, who also recommends this style. “We also use their larger bins for sports equipment,” she adds. These bins are portable and can be used indoors or outdoors for everything from gardening to Lego storage.
For older kids who are into sports, ball boxes and equipment organizers can make life easier, Loki said. She says storage options like this open organizer make it easy to find what you need, allowing parents to “quickly determine when it’s time to put away unused bats, broken rackets, deflated balls, and other items that kids no longer use.” Another benefit of a gym organizer is that adults can use it to organize their own sports equipment, according to Alex Olivo, a writer for Strategyist.
While it requires more planning and installation, Trolio has found the Gladiator modular wall system to be very useful for organizing sports equipment in the garage. (If you like its industrial look, it could just as easily be used indoors in a storage room or laundry room.) Her family uses mesh and wire baskets to store soccer balls, cones, bike helmets, and beach toys, and over the years she’s used a series of hooks to hang everything from scooters, kids’ plastic lawn mowers, and balance toys to pogo sticks, pedal bikes, and sleds, adjusting the setup as her kids get older and their belongings and organizational needs change.
Whether you use bins, shelves, or boxes, almost all the organizers we spoke with recommend labeling storage areas so kids know where everything is. Labeling “really gets kids excited about putting things back,” says Morahan. Corneta prefers chalkboard-style stickers so that when kids outgrow certain toys, the labels can be erased or rewritten. For younger kids who can’t read yet, try drawing on the labels or attaching Polaroid photos.
Winter likes to use clips to hold containers and baskets in place, like these tags from The Container Store. She likes to write the words in all caps, saying it helps with letter recognition.
For those looking to give their labels a more consistent look, this battery-powered Brother thermal printer is a top choice for many professional finishers we spoke to. It features a QWERTY keyboard for easy typing, a preview window for easy spell checking, and a wide range of fonts, symbols, and borders. Print labels using multi-color ribbons for color coding.
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Each product is independently selected by our (meticulous) editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission.