Kids are so much fun. They don’t know yet that their drawing is better or worse than another person and if they do, they don’t care. Their newness to the world brings a different perspective to adults which they never thought about.
Making a space just for them means toys can be everywhere. So here are some cute ideas for keeping the toys contained and both parents and child alike happy.
35. Chalkboard
I am a high school teacher and I can tell you that even at sixteen, kids like chalkboards. This “electronic free” area is the creative idea of Parents Magazine and I couldn’t agree more with this cute space.
After all, there are shelves, regular paper with holder, frames and everything you need to have a great time being creative.
36. Pull Out Storage
I like this one because Shanty 2 Chic gives you a step by step on how to create this storage area. I like that you can pull the drawers out and that each has a label so you know what goes where.
We have something similar but without the labels and our girls just end up shoving random stuff (I have even found socks) in the holding area. I might need to change up to this system.
37. Car Holders
My husband has a lot of stuff from his childhood, one of them being his toy car collection. I think it helps that his younger brother was seven years younger. Anyways, his car collection is stacked in a box. Yes, it is contained but there are so many cars it takes a while to dig for them.
Here are some cuter, more organized ways to tackle the car mess.
A. Magnetic Holder
These magnetic holders are perfect for storing cars and it looks super cute. I think the kids would have a great time putting their toy cars on the magnets just for the effect.
B. Parking Garage
This car garage is so cute and would be super easy to make. Simply take a crate and add some PVC pipe to the box, hot gluing them in. They can park their cars in a place that is safe and secure. Added bonus? You can see what cars the child has!
38. Girl’s Reading Nook
This girl’s reading nook is so cute. She has a nice area to read and surrounding her is plenty of space to put things away where they need to go. The heart above the right tall shelves is a super cute way to keep picture mess at bay as well.
I still recommend the labeling of the containers though.
39. Seating Area
This one is similar to the one that I posted above but I feel like this one tailor to older kids better. Essentially it is one that you can grow with.
It is big enough that kids and their friends can talk and even sleep there if they need to. Plus, you can store quite a bit as well.
I highly recommend I Heart Organizing’s page if you’re looking for cleaning and organizing tips all throughout your home!
40. Stuffy Holder
When I was a little girl, I had a stuffed animal holder similar to this; however, mine was much more boring and not nearly as fancy or cute. I love the use of the tulle!
There is a step by step tutorial on how to do this over at Shady Tree Diary.
41. Take It Outside
I really like this idea because it keeps toys that should be outside, well, outside. It gives them a place and makes it easy for kids to get to so they are not having to run in and out.
To see more on this idea, head over to Domestic Charm.
42. Not So Sure
I like this one because there are so many things going on here. The wood makes it look very clean but you have larger storage compartments combined with smaller ones. There is more wood in the last one that doesn’t require a storage container.
This is obviously for an older child who enjoys woodworking. Super cute and super organized. To see more, head over to Ikea, the storage guru, and check it out.
43. See Through and Written Down
I like this because it keeps papers contained. I’ll be honest, I probably need this as well. Even being “paper free” I still have a ton of papers that line my desk every day.
I also like that it’s color-coded. If you had a little one who couldn’t read, it would be easy to tell them “Put they crayons in the purple box”. Genius!
The Organized Momma did well on this one.
44. American Girl
American Girl is a big thing with my ten-year-old and since we are moving soon, she and I are working on how we will decorate her doll area.
I love this because it doesn’t take over a whole wall and there are even dividers. All it takes is some shelving and the stuff to fill it- which, for us, there are no worries there!
45. Car Storage
I almost think the little green car is a right of passage and the color of it does not matter. This family obviously had a little one who loves their cars as much as my husband does!
And any car person- young or old- needs a good garage. How cute is this mini garage? With sliding curtains, it is perfect to be covered up. One Crazy House did a great job with this one!
46. Hidden
I think this is outside but I absolutely love this idea. The child could almost brush the stuff into the toy box, it could be closed up and no one would know the difference.
I like it so much that if my husband and I build a house, I will probably have him add this because even though we have older children, we do have younger nieces and nephews and one day (fingers crossed) we will have grandchildren.
This idea came from Canny Living but could easily be made when building a house or a patio.
47. Under the Bed
My daughters have a triple bunk bed for when their friends come over. The middle bunk is off to one side and the girls have created a play area underneath it but the smallest bunk holds storage similar to this.
It is such a great idea for a place to store toys and what-not when otherwise it would just collect dust bunnies.
48. Coloring Books
This coloring book area is just perfect. I don’t think coloring books should go in the same area as regular books. They have a different purpose.
The idea might also be good in a room where you know kids will be often and might get bored. It gives their little hands something to do.
49. Nook
I love this little nook area. The shelving, similar to the one seen in the bathroom post, is super easy and can be moved around when needed.
The bright color of the table makes this area super kid friendly as well and the clips up above that let the child show off their work, is both cute and creative.
Heck, I might want this as a work area! Apartment Therapy wrote this post that shows you a guest room turned into a kids area. Check out the difference. It’s pretty amazing!
50. Reading Nook
I love this little reading area. You have a futon so the child can choose to sit or lay, lots of books to chose from and the cutest lighting I have seen so far this post.
This is definitely an area that most kids would come to wanting to read or be read to. I could see lots of snuggles and reading happening in this little organized area.
51. School Stuff
This is something I actually started several years ago. I am one of those mother’s who keeps a lot of what their child has made. The reason for this is that I wonder what I made as a child and now my kids do not have to wonder.
I started saving stuff when my oldest was four and my baby was two. Originally their stuff was in the same big box that had become super heavy. Now their stuff is individualized and organized by their grade level.
52. Stuffed Zoo
I’m in love with this stuffed animal zoo. How cute is it to have them all in their own place but making a child want to put their toys away in the zoo.
For my girls, the only part would be convincing them that they are better off in the zoo than in their bed!
For this picture, there is a full tutorial on how to make the zoo. Check it out on BuzzFeed.
53. Kitchen
I like this kitchen setup and feel it is almost better organized than mine is! The child has everything organized from fruits and vegetables to their sugar and cookbooks.
If you teach them young, they will be clean as adults too. Giving them a place to keep all of their items is great. Now they need to give the little one a broom, dustpan and vacuum.
54. Fine Art Gallery
If we have a hallway in our house this is something that I want to do. Featuring my daughters, nieces, nephews, and other little ones’ artwork is something that will make them proud. It would make me happy as well to make them happy.
I had something similar in my classroom and I put up the artwork of a little one who spent time with me after school. Shout out to And Next Comes L.
55. Theater and Reading in One
This area is perfect because there is a place to read and it looks like they could also make it a theater and do plays.
It looks fairly simple and the pillows make it a nice reading area. The curtain rod makes it nice to be able to change and prepare for the plays.
56. It’s All in the Picture
I Heart Organizing came up with this one as well and I love how they chose to use pictures instead of words.
I pointed out earlier that it is important to instill the need to clean up after themselves at a young age. Having pictures instead of words helps a little one to be able to put things away without having to ask where it goes.
57. Closet Organization
I can remember when my daughters were little, they had a ton of clothes. That was the main thing we needed storage for.
I chose this picture by Neat and Pretty because I remember the pain. I especially like the storage above the rack because this is an area that can easily get messy.
The toys make me smile as well because I have so many great memories with little toys like that.
58. For the Older Child
Eventually the baby that could wear the clothes in the closet above turns into a teen. If they are anything like my (soon-to-be) teen, they will need an art station similar to this.
As a matter of fact I will probably save this for her because she will need her own art area. This is nice because it uses mason jars and the holders that we already have in the garage. It looks easy to make and the clipboard area is perfect to keep drawings.
Conclusion
Children are so much fun and teaching them to keep their area clean and organized from a young age is crucial. Giving them a space that both they and you are proud of is one way of ensuring that this will happen.
I hope you have found some inspiration to keep the good fight going!
How can we improve it?
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