When Mariel approached me about joining the OSSS team again this year, I was a bit hesitant because we had just broke ground on our new home a month prior, and I knew my time would be stretched thinner than usual during our build. I asked if she’d mind if I threw in a few house building posts throughout the year, and she graciously agreed. My post today on toy storage for the living room or elsewhere, is a tad bit on the selfish side for two reasons. One, our drywall is hung and being taped as I type, so I really need to get my interior game face on and decide what’s going to happen in each room. I’ve had ideas swimming around my mind/Pinterest for literally years, but now it’s go time! My second selfish reason is getting help from all of you! I’d love to hear your input, favorites, I-would-never-do-that-agains, and any other tips and tricks you’ve pocketed over the years.
My focus today- children’s toy storage.
Here’s a little info on it. Our toy/bonus room is directly over our garage and is 450 square feet. We have one closet, a wall for our TV, (we don’t have one downstairs, this will be our only one) two entrances to the room, and lost of windows! We have a huge east-facing window, and then four south-facing windows. I LOVE all the windows and gorgeous natural lighting that comes with them, but I do have to say they take up a lot of wall space! I don’t think I’d change them at all, but maybe something for you to think about in your own home design. Toy rooms usually require a lot of storage, and our lack of wall space is really limiting toy storage! I’ll just have to get creative with toy storage ideas, and get rid of a lot of stuff we don’t need. I’m really hoping to be more on the minimalist side of things when it comes to “stuff” in our new home.
So here’s what the room looks like now, and some of my thoughts on what I’d like to have happen here. Ever since we framed our toy room and installed the windows, I’ve been drawn to images that make great use of the perimeter of the room. We will have a TV on the north wall, and then seating by that, so I want to leave a lot of the middle of the room open for that, and I do have four boys (and one VERY active little girl) so my kids will need room to be kids.
How to tackle toy storage for the living room and MORE:
This view is looking into our toy room from the main double door entrance just off of our stairs. I’ll go into more detail on the other walls, but here’s what I’m thinking for our east wall (the big window wall).
Oh Eight Oh Nine
A book nook area is a must for me and my kids! I have a book addiction, and probably need to purge before we move in, but books will be very plentiful in this room, and actually every room in our house! I love the shelving that allows the books to face forward. Kids are much more inclined to pick up a book if they can see the inviting cover.
Les Petits Gazette
I love how there are three different versions of books shelves here, but once again the covers all face forward. I might just have to try out all three versions. I love the diversity of each display.
Here’s our south wall in the toy room. This is the wall with all the windows. You can kind of see the beautiful trees outside. It almost feels like you’re in a tree house in this room, and I LOVE it!! We bought our lot from my in-laws, and bless their souls, they planted trees (and put a white fence) all along our corner lot 20 years ago. We have gorgeous established trees that are probably one of my favorite things about our new home! I enjoy them outside, and through the windows as well.
Amazon
Along this wall we’ll have a swing in between our four windows. I hope it works there! We were going to put it in the corner on this wall, but it would take up prime wall space. This way, you’ll have a gorgeous view out the windows while swinging, and it would kind of be wasted space anyway, so why not? I’m hoping to be able to fit some low shelving for storage/window seats along these bottom windows, but we’ll see how the swing works with all of that. This is the swing we ordered. There are so many fun swings available these days, but my budget won’t work with most of them. That’s why I was thrilled to find this swing on Amazon for about $70. It has great reviews, and I really do love the look of it!
Better Homes & Garden
I absolutely love the look of these wall mounted cubbies. They’re up off the floor, white, clean, simple, and can hold a lot of toys, books, games… you name it!
I’m sorry I don’t have a TV image to show for this section. That’s my husband’s job. I’m just hoping and praying that he’ll come to his senses before we actually buy the thing, and not purchase one that will cover the ENTIRE wall! What is it with guys and their TVs?!? I guess I did win the battle on no TV downstairs in our main living area, so I probably I can’t complain about his choice- gigantic or massive!
House of Turquoise
I do have these fun pictures of unique seating however. I am planning on one couch, but I’d like to do some fun seating to go along with the couch. Maybe something like THIS TOY STORAGE POOF, THIS set of two poofs PLUS a table, or something like THIS low-profile cover with an insert?
Elin Blomberg
Something like this might work well over in the reading nook area. It looks adorable, and REALLY comfortable, but I’m not sure how well it would hold up with four boys. I am interested to see how all my Pinterest ideas pan out. They all look great on screen and picture perfect, but maybe many of them aren’t so practical? I’m excited to try most of them out though. I’ll let you know how they turn out.
Amazon
And because we almost have a full basketball team (well with baby sister we do have five, but she’s not quite a reliable team member just yet) we have to have an indoor hoop. We’ve had this one at my in-law’s house (where we are currently living) for a year or more now, and it is awesome!! I holds up to anything and the closet door it’s hanging on is still in tact. This will go on one of our double doors at the main entrance.
Reality Daydream
Again, I love the idea of using outer wall space for “stations”. How cute it this wall-mounted secretary desk from Reality Daydream? I love that it folds up and can act as decor, but pulls down to be so very functional! She has the entire how-to on the blog.
Young House Love
Young House Love is also using the perimeter of the room for an art desk, and art display. I LOVE the cork board look!
A Pop of Pretty
I have been waiting to use this idea for truly years now! I’ve seen a lot of images similar to this one, but just haven’t had the place to use it. I love how A Pop of Prertty uses the Ikea rail and pots for storing art supplies. I’ve learned if they’re easy to get to, and easy to put away, they get used a lot more often!!
Quiet Corner
These cuties won’t hang on a wall, but they’re a kids’ toy storage idea too adorable not to post!! I need to get crafting so these two can join our art supply storage parade.
This is just a second shot of our north and west walls showing our second entrance to the toy room. This entrance is closer to all of our kids’ rooms, so they can easily go from toy room to bedroom in just a few short steps.
One more element that I really want to make sure and incorporate into our toy room (and actually every room in our new home) is fun, meaningful quotes. I hope they’ll inspire my kids, but I know I need them just as much, if not more. Here are a few favorites I’ve seen lately.
Castle and Things
CA Printable
Now, I have one last area to address- flooring!
Wayfair
I have this Cashe Hill Oak Laminate flooring (in honey) from Mohawk picked out for now. My husband and boys are all fighting me on hard flooring in the toy room. They think they need carpet for wrestling and what not! I think we need something easy to clean up! I told them they could have a big soft rug under the couch and seats, but they’re not convinced that’s enough. So, I’m curious!! What do you all recommend? What do you have, or which would be your first choice for a toy room flooring – hard or carpet? Maybe I’m wrong in my thinking and my boys will all thank you convincing me we need carpet.
I cannot tell you how helpful this post was for me! I hope you found something useful as well. I feel like I’m ready to tackle this toy room and make it what I’ve been dreaming of, and what will work for my kids. Thanks so much for letting me spill my ideas on you today. I will certainly keep you updated and post the finished product as soon as it’s done. And let me know YOUR thoughts on toy room must-haves and have-nots.
Check out these posts too:
Everything you Ever Wanted to Know About Food Storage Planning, and Children’s Bed Book Storage: Sewing Tutorial