The Best Way to Store Toys
Toy storage can be a complicated issue in some households, because the toys should be within easy access of the children who play with them. This often means they must be in a bedroom or main part of the home. The best storage systems allow for toys to be both easily accessed and picked up. The receptacles for storing them should be both attractive and functional. A number of options available for toy storage are fairly inexpensive.
Baskets
Baskets work for toy storage. They are attractive for use in a living room or family room. Small pieces of games or toy sets can easily be corralled into baskets, and larger items like trucks and dolls can be stored in larger baskets that are often kept right on the floor. Matching the baskets to the room's decor makes them even more attractive, thus camouflaging the toys when not in use.
Some storage units made for living rooms and/or family rooms feature "cubbies" for use as DVD or CD storage. Sliding baskets full of toys into these cubbies instead makes for an aesthetically pleasing means of storing toys while keeping them easily accessible.
Toy Box
Toy boxes are a tried and true method for toy storage, but these work best in a family room or child's bedroom, because the decor is most often conducive to a juvenile theme. High-end toy boxes are made of wood and have heavy lids that may be secured with latches to keep them safely raised. Less expensive but perfectly functional toy boxes are made of heavy plastic, which is very easy to keep clean. A wipedown once a week with a disinfectant cleaner will keep the toy box looking new.
Some toy boxes come cleverly disguised as toys themselves and may be found in the shape of a football, soccer ball or dollhouse. These are fun to use as decorative pieces in children's bedrooms, as they lend themselves to a decorating theme while stealthily hiding away the toys.
Plastic Bins
While not particularly attractive, plastic bins with lids work perfectly well for storing toys. Whether clear plastic or a solid color, they effectively house toys that would otherwise be strewn all over a room. Most of these plastic bins will stack neatly one atop another, and some are specially designed for sliding underneath a bed. These help keep the room neat and tidy and the toys easy to find.
