Do you find yourself stepping on blocks and toy cars scattered all across your living room floor?
I do ALL. THE. TIME.
It’s the daily life we’ve come to expect with a toddler and a house with limited space for a playroom.
But you don’t have to be stubbing your toes on musical snails or stacking cups, and you don’t have to resign to never entertaining again because your living room resembles a mine field.
There are plenty of ways to create hidden toy storage solutions for your living room even when you have a small living space.
Here are some super creative and easy ways to store all those toddler and baby toys that tend to clutter up your living room!
Hidden Toy Train Table
My daughter loves toy trains. Our local library has a toy train table for all the kids to play with, and on multiple occasions I’ve come home and found she’s stashed a toy train or two in her diaper bag.
But now my baby will be a clepto no more with this hidden toy train table—an awesome idea from Kim Six Fix
This table is super easy to build (according to my husband, who’s building it as I type) and makes a great stylish coffee table for your living room.
With the removable cover it’s great as a hidden train table or just a place where you can throw toys in quickly for a fast clean up.
Related: How To Keep Your Kids (And House) Organized!
Hidden Books For Stylish Toy Storage
If you want to completely hide any and all evidence of stuffed animals and board books, these next few ideas are for you.
If you have a bookshelf in your living room, try this hidden storage trick of using old books to great a nifty hiding place!
Check out your local flea market or antique shop, or even raid your attic, and make your own DIY storage container for all your kids’ toys using books!
Use Baskets and Bins
Photo by Bungalow Design; Houzz.com
Of course, you don’t have to even make your own toy storage container—you can just use baskets and bins that go with your decor! Wicker baskets are great for a farmhouse-styled living room, and two-toned and geometric patterned baskets are perfect for modern-styled homes.
For more ideas on how how to use baskets to contain clutter, check out How to Declutter Your WHOLE House in Just ONE Afternoon
Use An Armoire Or A Sideboards For Stashing Toys
Decorative living room furniture, like armoires or sideboards, are perfect for storing kids toys and keep clutter at bay. Turn a rustic armoire or dresser into a toy storage cabinet, or use a sideboard to house board games, electronics, or bins for smaller items.
You might also like: The Best Hacks To Keep Your Car Clean & Organized
Decorative Chalkboard Toy Cabinets
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If you have any cabinetry in your living room, why not update it and also made it kid-friendly at the same time?
Chalkboard is in right now, and by painting your cabinets with chalkboard paint you also provide a fun place or them to draw (that’s NOT walls or furniture!).
Just wipe down their scribbles (or keep them because they really are so stinkin’ cute) whenever you’re tidying up. You can even style the tops of the cabinets with some greenery, vases, and candles to still keep your living room feeling like an adult space.
As for the inside of the cabinets? Well, of course that’s a perfect place to organize all toys that litter your home.
Contemporary Kids Desk Storage
Source: Pinterest
If you’ve got older kids or want to have a fun craft corner for your toddler but can’t seem to find the space, I’ve got you covered.
You can create a hidden craft corner right in your own living room, and these ideas are perfect for both modern and traditionally-styled homes. A closet makes a great craft nook, as does a fold-down desk that’s perfectly kid-sized like this one.
Or—if you REALLY want to hide and contain the art supply mess—you could even create a stylish hidden desk that blends in with the rest of your decor. Perfect for storing all the glitter, paints, markers, and paper your kids leave strewn all over the living room!
Curtains To Cover Up Toy Clutter
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Sometimes you just need to find a place in your living room to quickly store toys. And it doesn’t even have to be completely organized, just a space for kids to stash all their stuff for an easy pick up.
If this is the solution you’re looking for, then try using curtains! I love this idea to hide an eyesore when you’re entertaining, and it’s so easy to do!
Furniture With Hidden Storage
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There are tons of storage furniture options out there, and it won’t be hard to find pieces that go with your decor. Try an ottoman or a bench that doubles as a toy chest, or a coffee table that has room for storing books or blocks.
Built-in Storage Benches For Storing Toys
If you have the time and patience, then perhaps creating a custom built-in for your living room is just what you need to provide extra store storage.
Built-in benches with toy boxes are great for little kids to access and allows them to help get their toy and put them away on their own. Adding shelves are also perfect for storing puzzles and books and keeping everything in order.
So, just because you don’t have room for a playroom doesn’t mean your living room has to be covered in toys 24/7. I hope these ideas help you find the solution that’s right for your home!
