10 best toy storage solutions
If your home is overwhelmed with an abundance of toys, books and games, then you need to reclaim it back from the children’s clutter with these storage solutions that’ll work just as well in a child’s bedroom as it would in a playroom or even the living room.
It’s worth considering in which room of the house the storage will be used, and for how long you would like the storage to last.
While there may be lots of bright, cheery designs featuring favourite characters available, these can quickly date, fall out of favour, and might jar if your living room is also the playroom.
We tested these with the help of an impartial two and a half year old who has a keen sense of playfulness. Where appropriate, her verdict is also included.
If an item arrived flat-packed, we’ve included the time it took to make with a manual screwdriver (and the not so helpful assistance of a toddler).
Regain a sense of order with our round up of chic, versatile and playful products that don’t compromise on fun or durability.
Flexa play shelf unit: £80, The Baby Room
Available in a range of pastel colours, these shelves from the Danish kids’ furniture company Flexa are smart and stylish. The three-shelf flat packed unit took 30 minutes to build and assembly was straightforward; we were very impressed with their sturdy quality. At only 22cm deep (and 60cm wide by 75cm high), they won’t dominate a room but will hold plenty. There’s a really pleasing matt finish to the wood and they’re so neat and chic they’d look good in any room in the house. Top marks for longevity – these will last throughout childhood and beyond.
Great Little Trading Company book storage cart, Mr Fox: £40, Great Little Trading Company
A joyful little storage solution, our two-and-a-half-year-old tester loves wheeling her books from room to room in this, requesting stories from "Mr Fox" and being able to easily flick through the front covers and pick the book she wants.
Simple to assemble (it took 15 minutes), it’s very well made and robust, wheels along pleasingly and has a chunky rope for little hands to pull on. Also available in a cat and a bunny design, as well as hearts or stars.
Jo Jo Maman Bébé canvas storage cube: £12, Jo Jo Maman Bébé
Simple and straightforward, this storage cubes come in six different pastels, navy and mustard and a stripy designs. It’s big (38cm by 38cm by 38cm), folds flat when not needed, and is very reasonably priced. We’ve used it to hold a good deal of presents, but it would also work as a laundry bag or tucked under a bench. The rope handles feel strong; the only minor downside is the painted stripe in the fabric has scuffed easily. A smaller 30cm cube is also available, currently on sale for £5.
Ikea fritids/stuva toy storage with wheels: £50, Ikea
No round up of storage solutions would be complete without including dear old Ikea. This toy storage with wheels is part of the new fritids/stuva range of kids’ storage and furniture, designed to fit the height and motor skills of a typical three year old. It certainly appealed to our young tester – she loved pulling the drawer front out and putting things inside.
It took just over an hour to assemble and the quality is as you’d expect from Ikea – absolutely fine. It works well both on its own and as part of the larger range, and can be ordered with a blackboard front; a nice touch.
Lego eight-stud red storage brick: £24.99, Amazon
A fun piece for any Lego fans, this giant brick will hold plenty of Lego bricks (or anything else you fancy), as it measures 18cm high, 25cm wide and 50cm long. Robust and bright, it can be stacked with others for a super-sized Lego build and available in 15 colours.
Mode NYC grey storage box: £119, Room To Grow
This huge toy chest comes with a carry handle at each end – which is definitely a two-person job to do as it measures 80cm (by 40cm wide and 42cm high). It took nearly an hour to make and could do with a spare pair of hands for a couple of the steps, but once made it’s nicely finished and neatly and securely fits together to make a very solid and long-lasting piece of furniture. Style-wise, it could easily last through to adult life. Our two-and-a-half-year-old tester loved playing in it, and with the soft-close hinged lid, there was no fear of trapped fingers.
Pehr & Petit Pehr pom pom storage bin: £39, Nubie
Stylish and beautiful but on the pricey side, this storage bin is made from hardy 100 per cent cotton canvas and is covered with bright pom poms which have been sewn by hand. It’s so versatile we think it could work in any room, for any age, and thanks to its size, it neatly fits in Ikea’s ubiquitous Kallax squared units.
It’s definitely worth steam ironing the inside, as Pehr recommends, to stiffen it up and make it look crisper. And it sponge cleans easily. It’s also available in other colourful designs and bigger and smaller sizes too.
Play & Go colour my toy bag: £29, Kidly
We love anything multi-purpose, so these play mats from Play & Go are just the ticket. Spread them out to play on, then when finished gather the drawstring and they turn into a storage bag that can be hung on the back of the door, out of sight.
Measuring 140cm, they’re substantial and made from a thick 100 per cent cotton, so feel soft but hardwearing. The one we tested came with three washable pens and our young tester loved scribbling on it (her designs have easily washed out), and other designs and prints are available.
A Place for Everything two toy storage globes: £25, A Place for Everything
An inventive and interesting solution, these toy storage half spheres can either be screwed into the wall (above a desk, perhaps, to store craft bits in, or next to a toy kitchen to handily keep play food in), or clipped together and hung from the ceiling if wall space is tight.
Measuring 29cm in diameter, they’re a decent size and the opening is plenty big enough for little hands to reach through.
Jo Jo Mamam Bébé white step stool storage: £29, Jo Jo Mamam Bébé
A firm favourite with our two-and-a-half-year-old tester, this piece of storage has the added bonus of giving her the ability to climb and reach such things as the sink or the loo. The stool’s storage capacity isn’t huge (it’s only the top section, not the full depth), but it’s fine for holding bath toys or hiding current favourite toys.
It took 25 minutes to assemble, and the flat-packed pieces and parts were clearly labelled. It’s proved to be very stable, has nice grooved detailing, but is slippy when wet and the lid can slam shut if not careful.
Verdict: Toy storage solutions
We found it hard to single out one product as they all give good storage, just in different ways, but for longevity and quality (let alone the fact they’re so pretty and chic), the Flexa shelves get our vote. Also highly recommended are Great Little Trading Company’s fun Mr Fox book storage cart and the straightforward canvas bags from Jo Jo Mamam Bébé.
