8 best toy storage solutions for keeping playroom clutter at bay
After the umpteenth time of stepping on a piece of Lego, or fighting with a book pile that now resembles a game of Jenga, you may find yourself scouring the internet for some decent toy storage. Wouldn’t it be lovely for your child to take responsibility for their own toys and belongings?
Well, a good place to start is by putting some savvy storage solutions in place. And the good news is, many of the designs on the market look so good they can go in any room in the house – music to the ears for those not fortunate enough to have a separate playroom that you can shut the door on.
We found some of the best looking toy storage options on the market, and with the help of our four-year-old reviewer, we gave them a thorough testing.
As these nifty storage solutions could end up anywhere in the house, style really was high on the list, but with style has to come substance so they’re also fit for purpose.
We were looking for the right size products that allow children to play independently, which means no stiff openings or heavy lids to lift.
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Just like the toys our children possess, toy storage is likely to get a lot of handling so we needed sturdy solutions. Your toy storage might also move from room to room, so portability garnered extra points too.
The best toy storage solutions for 2021 are:
Best overall – Boori tidy toy box: £149, Boori.com
Best stylish solution – Avery Row large quilted storage basket: £40, Avery-row.com
Best for easy clean up – Play & Go world map storage bag: £32.99, 1two.co.uk
Best cute storage – Rice elephant storage basket: £56, Kidly.co.uk
Best for toddlers – Gulliver toy organiser: £128, Gltc.co.uk
Best for Instagrammable design – Sass & Belle sweet dreams basket: £25, Sassandbelle.co.uk
Best budget buy – JoJo Maman Bebe striped canvas storage cube: £12, Jojomamanbebe.co.uk
Best storage set – OYOY storage box round set of three multi: £51, Oyoylivingdesign.co.uk
Boori tidy toy box
Best: Overall
After 20 minutes of assembly time this tidy toy box from Australian nursery furniture brand Boori was ready for action. Multifunctional products are a godsend for parents as they save space and money in the long run – we were delighted to see this is not just a toy box but a bench too, and just the right size for our four-year-old tester to take a well earned rest. Unlike most toy boxes, the internal toy box is like a drawer and can be pulled out easily as it’s on wheels, meaning no heavy lids for kids to lift (the wheels work well on wooden or tiled floors, but are a little trickier to use on carpet). The box itself is sizable so all matter of toys can inhabit this space, and it’s not too deep so children can play independently. We love the two-tone style, and the quality is second to none, using premium timber with child-friendly paint. The almond bench top is also very tactile, with a wonderfully smooth finish. There’s a three-year guarantee which is testament to the quality, but we think this’ll be around in the family home for much longer.
Buy now £149.00, Boori.com
Avery Row large quilted storage basket
Best: Stylish solution
Lounge, dining room or nursery... quite frankly this large quilted storage basket from Avery Row is so easy on the eye that you’ll want one in every room in the house. But with style meets substance; at 42cm high this basket is roomy enough to store plenty of your child’s clutter. Made from 100 per cent organic cotton percale, it’s soft to the touch and wonderfully lightweight. We also love the mustard lining which is detailed on the practical handles too, adding a pop of colour.
Buy now £40.00, Avery-row.com
Play & Go world map storage bag
Best: For easy clean up
Do you ever wish those toys strewn across the floor would just disappear? That’s how it felt when we first used the Play & Go world map storage bag. Picture dollies, cars and building blocks, all swiftly cleared away with just one pull of the black cords, which was even managed by our somewhat independent four-year-old tester. Measuring an impressive 140cm in diameter, the storage bag offers double the fun, as it’s also a play mat with a reversible design; one side is a world map, then on the flip side there’s a simple star design. Made from a cotton canvas fabric it feels incredibly durable, and is wonderfully portable too, but best of all we love how it makes the endless chore of tidying up a doddle.
Buy now £32.99, 1two.co.uk
Rice elephant storage basket
Best: Cute storage
This elephant storage basket proves that storage doesn’t have to be boring. Made from seagrass and raffia, like a real-life elephant it’s pretty big – 40cm at the widest point – therefore accommodating plenty of toys, books or even blankets. Due to its composition we did worry it might be a little flimsy, but it offers a rather sturdy storage solution. Handmade in Madagascar, this friendly chap adds a natural touch to any space and we love the elephant features, complete with trunk, big ears and a tail!
Buy now £56.00, Kidly.co.uk
Gulliver toy organiser
Best: For toddlers
Grab yourself a screwdriver (and a spare half an hour) and you’ve got yourself a swift toy organiser from Great Little Trading Company. The Gulliver is the perfect home for toys and books, as there are plenty of different sections to fill up. It’s the perfect size for our tester to pack and unpack independently, yet it’s small enough to live anywhere in the house. You can also buy additional storage baskets to place in the middle and complete the look, although for the time being our tester likes this space to hide her dollies. It’s great quality, and it’s so heavy there’s no fear of it toppling over.
Buy now £128.00, Gltc.co.uk
Sass & Belle sweet dreams basket
Best: For instagrammable design
Belly baskets are filling our Instagram feeds, and this attractive toy storage option makes a pretty place to stow your child’s bits and bobs. Sass & Belle has a huge range of beautiful baskets, and we love how it has a child-friendly touch with this adorable smiling face while staying stylish. Woven with seagrass, it has a diameter of 35cm, so there’s quite a bit of room to store toys, though we were dubious of cramming too much in as we didn’t want to tamper with the seagrass and cause it to fray. Keep their bedroom tidy with this basket and your little ones are sure to have the sweetest of dreams.
Buy now £25.00, Sassandbelle.co.uk
JoJo Maman Bebe striped canvas storage cube
Best: Budget buy
This canvas storage solution feels like a Mary Poppins bag – it just kept on giving as we managed to squeeze in an abundance of toys in this 38cm cubed space! Available in navy, pink or neutral, the design of the basket is simple yet timeless, and the nautical theme is topped off with rope handles, which not only finish the look but allow it to be easily transported. For £12, this offers plenty of storage for little spend.
Buy now £12.00, Jojomamanbebe
OYOY storage box round set of three multi
Best: Storage set
They say three’s a crowd, but not when it comes to storage – you can never have too much. Effortlessly cool, we think this set is great for keeping the lounge spick and span without compromising on style. In three sizes (small, medium and large), the largest being 32cm tall with plenty of space for toys, there’s a faux leather branded tag on each lid for easy access. We were impressed with how sturdy the cardboard is – demonstrated well when our four-year-old tester decided to sit on the biggest one.
Buy now £51.00, Oyoylivingdesign.co.uk
The verdict: Toy storage
While it may be the most expensive of all the toy storage we reviewed, Boori’s tidy toy box is well worth the money; not only is it a beautiful bench and toy box all in one, but it’s so well made that it’ll store childhood toys for years to come – plus it’s stylish enough to live in any room in the house. For portability and creativity, Play&Go’s world map storage bag comes highly praised too.
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