Space is valuable, especially when you’re left with less room as families expand.
Every parent at some point gets sick of clearing toys from every surface coming to the realisation that they need to invest in some proper toy storage
Whether you have an actual playroom requiring full organisation, toys taking over shared family areas or children’s rooms requiring some dedicated storage. It doesn’t matter if you have huge rooms or limited space - toys, books and other children’s treasures (we won’t call it clutter - need storage to stop them from taking over the entire house.
From traditional toy boxes to storage units, baskets, shelves, crates or something more interesting. There are countless options available depending on your needs. Do you want toys on show? Or hidden out of sight? Easily accessible for little ones? Or do you need furniture with longevity for slightly older kids?
We’ve pulled together the best for every scenario, space and budget below so you can store everything in its place and reclaim your space. And your clean floor.
See our favourites below
Best baby play mats for a fun and stylish play space
Best teething toys for babies to soothe sore gums
Best baby monitors: Audio and video devices to keep your little one safe
Best baby nursery furniture sets
Best double buggies for babies, toddlers and twins
Best babies and children’s mattresses UK for a great night’s sleep
IKEA Kallax Shelving Unit in White
It’s impossible to talk about children’s toy storage without mentioning the Ikea Kallax unit. Always a favourite option for parents it has looks, practicality and versatility as well as being budget-friendly.
Have toys on display or update with baskets, inserts, crates or containers to personalise the look – there are countless upcycling hacks and styling ideas online - it’s a brilliant option to keep clutter at bay for any room in a family home.
Delivered flat pack they’re easy to assemble, can be wall-hung or floor-standing and come in a selection of colours, sizes and materials.
Buy now £29.00, IKEA
Liewood Weston Small Storage Crates in Oat
Liewoods’ lightweight stackable storage crates are addictive.
Designed as toy storage they’re also ideal for organising, well, anything. Bathroom shelves, kitchen cupboards, hats and gloves, the ultimate in space savers they can be wiped down and folded flat when not in use.
The small size is best suited to small toys, colouring pens and Legos. But they’re also available in medium and large and come in a plethora of calm, muted colours which are very pleasing to the eye when all stacked together in a cupboard or on display in their own right.
The handles will appeal to younger kids making them easy to carry too. Another versatile option with great longevity. £11 for a pack of two.
Buy now £11.00, Scandiborn
Lidded storage basket
Keep a lid on toys - literally - in one of these delightful lidden storage baskets from H&M. It’s an ideal solution for a shared family room where you’d like to reclaim adult space and banish toys out of sight at the end of the day.
The handles make it easy to move around the house and the premium, classic look will never date – ideal post-toys as a laundry basket or for other storage too. Available in a variety of sizes which also look great as a group set.
Buy now £49.99, H&M
Boori Tidy Rotating Bookshelf
Boori products are always beautifully made and well thought out and this brand-new piece of designed-for-children storage is no exception, easy to put together (it’s delivered flat pack), it’s a unique rotating kid-height book and toy shelf that children will love to play with as well as pull books and toys from. A brilliant way to display all of their favourite stories and treasures while great from a design point of view – so children and parents are happy. Crafted from sustainable wood, it’s available in two-tone white, a soft pink or pale blue and has castor wheels meaning it can be easily rotated – meaning it is better suited to a hard floor for best ease of use.
Buy now £121.50, Boori
Djeco Geometry Seat Toy Box
A truly modern toybox, this graphic, fully collapsible cube is an ideal secret space for little ones to stow small toys and objects as it also functions as a sturdy seat when the lid is on making it work for its price.
Also cute as a bedside table or used within the IKEA Kallax unit giving it a bold makeover, these toy boxes are available in a range of designs and themes so you can choose one to suit your child’s space.
Buy now £15.00, Kidly
Bellybambino Natural Lion Basket in XL
The most charming, fun, child-friendly toy storage baskets we’ve seen – a focal point in themselves these hand-woven seagrass pieces prove that toy storage definitely doesn’t have to be boring.
Owner and designer Helen tests each style on her own children for feedback with only their favourites making it to market! It’s no wonder the baskets are now the proud recipients of several awards in the parenting and nursery design world. It’s hard to choose a favourite (we were almost tempted by the cherry and rainbow designs) but the lion is just so unique and special we couldn’t not include it.
The baskets are available in a range of designs and sizes starting from £10.99.
Buy now £69.99, Oxygen Boutique
Mustard Made The Lowdown in blush
Slick and stylish, Mustard Made’s Lowdown metal locker is an ideal option for school-age + children if you want to invest in great quality storage with longevity.
The sharper corners make it less suitable for toddlers but it works well as a unit to stash toys for younger children and is then equally at home in a teenage bedroom or adult workspace with its modern industrial look. The bright colours (there are 10 rainbow shades to choose from) are also an easy way to give any room a makeover.
Arriving flat-packed, it’s super easy to put together – the instructions and video are both simple to follow - the inner shelves are adjustable in height, the unit can be attached to the wall for safety purposes and comes with keys to lock it all up at the end of the day, a fact older children will love as it allows them a bit of independence and privacy (you can always keep hold of the spare key).
Buy now £245.00, Urban Outfitters
Le Toy Van Toy Storage Box
Classic toy boxes seem to have gone out of favour in recent years with more parents opting for space-saving, easy-to-move or fold-down bags, crates and basket storage but we love Le Toy Van’s charming, traditional handcrafted wooden chest for keeping the floor mess-free. It’s a multi-tasking product with its child-safe, soft-closing lid doubling up as a bench seat or shelf. The neutral finish means it will work in any room and the embossed lettering gives it a luxury look. It would make a lovely, special gift for a new baby’s nursery or first birthday gift too. It’s delivered flat pack but easy to assemble.
Buy now £74.95, Harrods
GLTC Gulliver Toy Organiser
The Gulliver toy organiser is award-winning for a reason. It’s the ideal option for storing a selection of different favourite toys, books, comforters and trinkets all in one, easy-to-reach for little people place.
Keep favourites on display with less frequently played with (or less easy on the eye) items packed away into storage cubes at the back, a great way to encourage tidy-up time. Delivered flat pack, it’s easy to assemble thanks to clear instructions, sturdy with safety being foremost for little ones – curved edges all round - and fits neatly into any corner or could work as a bedside table. A perfect option for a small children’s room.
Buy now £80.50, GLTC
Zara Kids’ Drawer Shelves
Easy to assemble, these shelves offer a premium Scandi light wood, almost bespoke playroom look at a more reasonable high street price. The perfect height for toddlers and younger children, the three levels of open drawers encourage children to select toys to play with and tidy away independently, they’re more likely to play with what they can see and reach. An ideal option for storing prettier toys that you’d like on display, it also makes a beautiful, practical piece of nursery furniture for storing baby clothes, soft toys and changing accessories.
Buy now £99.99, Zara Home
Hay Maxim Stripe Box Large Red
Designed to elevate your home storage solutions with a pop of colour, this large striped box by Danish new-millennium homeware brand Hay offers a touch of modern sophistication. Crafted from recycled plastic, the vessel measures 26.4 x 35.5 x 20.5cm.
Buy now £85.00, Couverture & The Garbstore
Aykasa Maxi Crate
You’ll likely have spotted these faux-industrial, pastel-hued storage crates all over social media. Beloved for their sleek practicality, Aykasa offers an extra-large maxi crate in a variety of calming hues for all your toy storage needs. The stackable box measures a sizeable 60 x 40 x 22cm.
Buy now £19.50, Kidly
Verdict
In terms of affordability and versatility, you can’t get much better than investing in some form of IKEA Kallax unit as your entry-level savvy kids toy storage solution. There are so many ways to personalise and reuse it.
It’s also hard not to become obsessed with Liewood’s stackable crates. They make any playroom look Instagram-ready in pretty pastel muted shades. A stylish solution for organising tiny trinkets and toys children often love to collect.
