Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Toy Storage that Works for Me!

As a mom, I would LOVE to fill my children's room with storage solutions from Pottery Barn Kids. However, in real life I have to think more down to earth...


So here is my blog about toy solutions for the financially realistic :-)

How do you turn a milk jug into toy storage???

Just takes some scissors!

The handle actually makes them quite handy for carrying around.
My 2 year old is quite coordinated with them.
*Tip* it's easier to wash them out after you cut them.


See? They're great for sorting small stuff!
But lets face it... they're not your most attractive toy solution.


I got this dollhouse at Goodwill for $2.50.
It was 1/2 off toy day. Although even $5 still would have been a remarkable price.


The milk jugs fit really nicely in this dollhouse.
(I bought this dollhouse to hold toys, not really to play with)


It holds a lot!


Plus, I painted it to look more like the dollhouse from
Pottery Barn Kids... :-) Not only because the paint was in bad shape, but also because I wanted it to be neutrally painted (so not to imply that my son couldn't play with a dollhouse.) We also have a neutrally colored play kitchen.
Check out the laundry basket. Not the prettiest thing, but I don't know a mom in real life that doesn't have a laundry basket of toys somewhere.


In our old house, it held all the "kid mess" in the living room including diapers.
There are also toys hidden behind curtain number 2! Our entertainment center had open shelves, so I just strung a piece of fabric on a ribbon and nailed the ribbon right to the furniture.


This is my daughter's old room.
Underneath that pretty quilt on the left is one of those really ugly workshop shelves that screws together, and then a big box of toys. On the wooden shelf I have Easter baskets I got on clearance with smaller things like play jewelry. Those pink buckets under the end table are actually adorable trash cans that I got on sale for $1.50 each! They also hold toys.


When my son was little, I just kept his clothes in this shoe organizer on the back of the closet door. His stuff was too small to fold anyway. Just be sure to buy the organizers that are clear or mesh so you can find what you're looking for.
But the real secret to getting rid of kid clutter???
REALLY GET RID OF IT!!!
This is the pile I made for Goodwill while tidying our toys for this post!

You know you have too much kid stuff, so purge while you sort! Be honest and get rid of the stuff they don't play with. You can do it!

Our laundry room giveaway winner will be posted later today! For now, I'm off to play group!

21 comments:

Wendy said...

Thanks for linking up to the party! You've got some great ideas!

Cheryl said...

I love the idea of using that dollhouse for books-- adorable!

Meredith said...

The get rid of it tip...really is the best!

Pam said...

Can I borrow the organizing bug that bit you and gave you this fever? I love your blog!

Sarah said...

I found your blog too late for the laundry powwow, but would love to join you for February. Have you announced February's theme? I love your site. It is so FUN!

Local Girl said...

That dollshouse is lovely, your daughter must love it!

RN and OSHP said...

Love the dollhouse! I love over the door shoe bags too. I have one in my laundry room and one in my kitchen pantry for little odds and ends. They are great!

The Masked Mommy said...

Sarah- February's theme is closets! And feel free to continue posting links at will until Mr. Linky comes down!

Sarah said...

That is awesome that it is closets. My husband and I are trying to decide whether to sell our house or not. Besides the obvious, he was wondering why I was so anxious to have a decision. I wanted to make a decision because if we weren't going to put it on the market, I didn't want to be stressing out about the closets. Well, I guess I'll be tackling them anyway! Thanks for the motivation.

frillsfluffandtrucks said...

I hear you on getting RID of stuff! Before Christmas I got rid of six paper grocery bags of toys--my children NEVER noticed!!! Yikes!

~ Sarah

Unknown said...

Quite a list of great ideas! Love the dollhouse, great job painting.

Julie said...

Great job on the dollhouse!

Jennifer said...

Thanks for the ideas! I need all I can find because we just moved to a new home and the game room upstairs is turned into a huge play room! I am so excited. I have also turned the linen closet into storage to hold all of their homeschooling supplies. Now I just need to figure out how to organize it which doesn't come easy for me.

Hideaway Girl said...

I totally agree - Purge, Purge PURGE! Kids these days have way too much stuff, and it's true, they never even know when it's gone. Out of sight, out of mind.

Laurel @ Ducks in a Row said...

Great tips
-Laurel

Shop Without Money Sisters said...

Yesterday I pulled a ton of milk jugs, Sunny D containers and a peanut butter jar out of the recycling bin before it went out last night. After I finish my filing cabinet, I'm moving on to the toys!

LuLu said...

Yep I need to go through their toys and get rid of the ones we are really done with, thanks for the motivation. your ideas are great.
LuLu

Jennifer said...

Those are some great tips and your very creative!! I love the dollhouse idea!

the smiling fat girl said...

i love your ideas. you are so cool. thanks for the suggestions.

Astrid in Bristling Acres said...

Oh wow! I love that doll house that you turned into a storage unit. Brilliant! (and it looks so pretty!)

Jen @ tatertotsandjello.com said...

I HAVE that same dollhouse. What a great idea and transformation. Great ideas!

Thanks!

Jen