SPACE!!! Am I right?
One of the reasons that Tricia and I are moving, is because we're in desperate need of space. And really not just any space, but play space. I never could have imagined the amount of toys that a human who has only been on the earth for 2 years could accrue. Seriously- it boggles my mind.
I was always that person who always said "I'll never allow my child's things to monopolize my home."
Let me just say, that if I could go back in time and slap myself- I would.
His things are ALL OVER THE PLACE. There's no controlling the amount of square footage that they take up.
That being said, I have tried to be creative with some of the ways in which we store his toys. In our next home, we will have a large basement. This basement will be used as a full fledged playroom: a space that can be comfy and toy-filled and messy, but ALSO a space that I can walk away from at the end of the day and retreat to my adult, neat and cozy family room.
But UNTIL THEN...
Let me show you how I have managed to keep his toys under control without completely compromising my decor and taste.
1. A Buffet or Sideboard
The piece of furniture above is a piece that I purchased off of Wayfair. I was in desperate need of something to store all of his medium to small sized toys. But I needed something that wasn't just shelves, because I wanted to be able to close the doors and have all of the toys totally disappear. Below is what it really looks like inside.
The same idea applies to the next piece of furniture I'm about to show you.
2. TV Console
TV consoles are magical when it comes to hiding toys, assuming you buy the right one. Similar to the sideboard above, this was purchased off Wayfair and purchased with the intent of needing to hide toys.
As you can see, this piece is used to hold books, blocks and some of Rowan's favorite toys that are small or have a bunch or parts that would scatter otherwise. It's a great way to keep those toys organized.
And when all else fails...
3. Baskets!
I got these baskets from HomeGoods. They're a savior. Its a quick and easy way to keep things together, while also adding "decor" and texture to your home.
There are a ton of options of true "Kid's Storage", but I find that using "adult-styled" furniture and baskets are a better way to honor your kids, let them have their space and their toys, but it won't mean that you have to entirely sacrifice your home. Because let's be honest, parenting = sacrificing.
Happy Storing!