Let’s be honest, small living rooms are not uncommon in the UK, even in homes with children. A small living room and children also brings with it a problem: how to store children’s toys in a small living room? Luckily, there are some useful tips for storing small toys in the living room that will help you store them easily and make your living room less cluttered.
Even in the most convenient circumstances, toys can be difficult to store and hide. Add to that a small living room, and it becomes even more challenging to keep the room organized and practical for both adults and children. But these toy storage tips designed specifically for small apartments will make it easier to achieve.
“If toys need to be stored in the living room, it’s important to have an organised system that makes them easy to store and put away without making the space too cluttered,” says Sian Pelleski, founder of Sorted! and president of APDO (the Association of Professional Sorters and Organisers).
Sian Pelleski is the founder of Sorted!, a cleaning and storage service for homes and offices in Cheshire, and the current president of APDO (the Association of Professional Organisers and Organisers). With Sorted!, she hopes to eliminate the stress and frustration that can sometimes come with everyday life, whether at home or at work.
One of the best ways to avoid clutter in a small living room is to purchase furniture with built-in, hidden storage systems. This applies whether or not you have toys that need to be stored and hidden.
“Use multi-functional furniture – benches or stools with internal storage compartments that can be used as seating or coffee tables,” says Sian. “Many ottomans and poufs can be used as storage bins for small toys.”
Craig Hoaro, owner of A Tidy Mind London and APDO member, adds: ‘Choosing a coffee table with built-in storage, or placing baskets and bins underneath, can provide extra toy storage without compromising on style.’
Another great way to solve a small living room storage problem is to make the most of vertical space. Place shelves and/or storage systems as high up on the wall as possible.
“Remember to make the most of vertical space and consider installing floating shelves at different heights to store toys, display books or decorative items,” says Craig. “Wall-mounted bins or baskets are also useful for storing toys so they’re off the floor but within reach.”
Victoria Fearnley, founder of Surrey Decluttering and APDO, continues: “When it comes to wall storage, try to make the most of the height of the room by installing built-in bookcases that reach to the ceiling or placing baskets on low cabinets. Keep books and other adult items on the top shelves and toys on the lower ones. Use boxes or baskets to hide things away so the living room still feels like a living room even after the kids have gone to bed.”
Another option is cube storage systems, as these common designs are very popular in homes with children. “Cube storage systems are extremely versatile and can be placed almost anywhere, with the option of adding bins or baskets,” says Laura Haddy, founder of Clear the Chaos Ltd and a member of APDO.
When filling shelves and storage areas, one of the best ways to organize scattered toys is with storage baskets. Not only are they beautiful and stylish, but they also complement the overall decor of the living room. The best way to hide toys is to choose an aesthetically pleasing storage solution that will hide them from view.
“Make sure your storage solutions visually match your living room decor to maintain a cohesive look,” says Sian.
“Choose storage solutions that complement the aesthetics of your living room to keep it neat and stylish while still providing ample storage,” adds Craig. “Decorative baskets can be strategically placed throughout the room to complement the decor while still providing practical storage.”
A popular storage option in the bedroom is to use the space under the bed and use low cabinets or drawers to store things. However, if there is space under the sofa, you can also use it in a similar way.
“Use space you don’t usually think about. Store toys under the sofa in flat, wheeled baskets. These boxes can be easily pulled out when needed,” suggests Sian.
Just as you can use the space under the sofa, you can move it away from the wall a little and install a narrow storage cabinet or console table for storing toys in the resulting gap.
“There are areas that I generally recommend keeping tidy, but when you’re working with a small space, you want to make the most of any storage space you can. Behind the sofa is an area that’s often overlooked. Using narrow shelving and bookcases behind the sofa can help make use of these often overlooked spaces,” explains Sian.
Craig agrees: “This often overlooked area can be used for toy storage by placing narrow cabinets, shelves or baskets. It’s a clever way to use space that might otherwise go unused.”
One of the most fun, versatile and eye-catching toy storage solutions is to use pegboard.
“Pegboards are another versatile option as they can be outfitted with baskets, racks and hooks to hold a variety of toys,” says Craig.
Sian continues: ‘Consider using a pegboard with hooks to hang toys, especially items like cars, action figures or soft toys.’
The reason why a corner sofa is one of the best options for a small living room is that the corner of the room is often one of the most underutilized spaces. So, you can place a corner sofa in one corner and a corner shelf in another to make the most of the space.
“Consider using corner shelves or storage cabinets to utilize spaces that would normally go unused,” says Craig.
As mentioned earlier, the key to achieving adequate storage in a small space is to make the most of often forgotten and underutilized spaces. The space behind the door and the door itself are such an area.
Craig suggests, “Over-the-door organizers that are typically used to store shoes can now be used to store small toys so they are easily accessible and neatly organized.”
Laura from Clear the Chaos Ltd adds: ‘Make use of those walls – narrow bookcases behind doors would work too.’
A corner shelf can be freestanding or mounted to a wall. But if space is at a premium, a wall shelf like this one from Amazon is not only practical, but can also add personality to a corner.
Under-bed storage boxes and baskets can also be used to store things under your sofa. These clear storage boxes and baskets from George Home allow you to see exactly what’s inside at a glance. What’s more, it’s very affordable at just £9.
Even though plush toys are lightweight, they take up a lot of space. But you don’t have to worry about that if you put them in this over-the-door organizer with a mesh insert.
The craft board is really fun and very funny. The kit includes a variety of accessories, so you can create your own exclusive pegboard according to the needs of you and your child.
Wicker storage baskets are perhaps the most stylish and beautiful storage solution. But they can often be expensive. However, this sea grass basket from Dunelm is a real find: only £12!
Not only is this John Lewis coffee table super stylish, it also offers plenty of hidden storage space when the tabletop is raised.
If not only the living room but the entire house is too small for a playroom, you can use other rooms to store children’s toys.
“Dedicating a specific corner or area in your living room to toy storage will help keep things tidy,” says Craig Horo, APDO, owner of A Tidy Mind London. “You can use a rug or storage bin to clearly mark this area.”
Implementing the toy rotation principle is another way to solve the toy storage problem, which consists of simply reducing the number of toys stored.
To avoid clutter, keep only a few toys in the living room, store the rest elsewhere and rotate them regularly. This keeps the space fresh and the toys more appealing. As children grow, it is also important to clean up after their toys, store them in a balanced manner and maintain balance. Craig explained.
As mentioned earlier, furniture with hidden storage is one of the best storage solutions for small spaces.
In the end, these are just some ideas. Every family is different, so please personalize it to suit your individual needs.
Sara Hesikova has been Ideal Home’s content editor since June 2024 and a news columnist since July 2023. She is now also a certified furniture training expert at Ideal Home and has tested 80 different sofas to date.
She graduated from the London College of Fashion in 2016 with a BA in Fashion Journalism and initially worked as a writer and editor for niche fashion and lifestyle magazines such as Glass and Alvar, before moving into interior design, collaborating with titles such as 91 Magazine and writing for luxury bedding brand Yves Delorme, among others.
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