Stylish Kids Toy Storage Ideas: 33 Clever & Chic Toy Storage Ideas

(Image credit: Future)

By Lotte Brouwer 2020-09-30T11:23:23Z

Looking for some cool kids toy storage ideas to help banish mess and keep clutter at bay?

Whether you're looking for cleverly disguised toy storage ideas – like the below wardrobe that's shaped like a dolls house, smart window bench storage for your kid's room and even storage disguised as oversized Lego pieces – or open shelving ideas to display favourite toys and books, we've got you covered.

The below kids' rooms all have one thing in common: fabulous toy storage. We're big fans of the bespoke, built-in solutions, but there are easier looks too; like the pail-inspired bucket storage on pegs, and wall-mounted wood crates for displaying books and action figures. We've found some very upmarket pieces (hello wardrobe of dreams at Andrew Martin), as well as more affordable options from IKEA. Cool, minimalist open shelving from Utility Design is ideal for homework nooks and arts & crafts spaces.

And don't just limit the storage to kids' bedrooms; you'll want to integrate some toy storage around the house too, like Herringbone Kitchens achieved with a clever window seat design in a kitchen corner – perfect for stashing away toys and colouring pencils when they're not in use.

Ready to get inspired? Below are the best kids toy storage ideas from the Livingetc archives...

1. Creative shelving

Interior designer Katharine Pooley made a feature out of the shelves in this little boy's bedroom, giving them a fun shape, and a contrasting colour.

2. Custom made

Built-in storage is given a fun twist, with sloped cupboards that create un-even shelves for toys.

3. Stacking storage

Elaine Penhaul, director of professional home staging company Lemon and Lime Interiors suggests stackable storage boxes. "Help a child to organise their own storage and it could save you a lot of tidying time!"

toy storage ideas which can stack on top of each other

Read Also: Sharing Kids Room Ideas

4. Art display

Interior designer Naomi Clarke made these bright yellow cupboards with built-in picture frames to hide the toys, meaning you can put the children artworks into the frames from inside the cupboards for an ever evolving look.

toy storage ideas with cool cupboard fronts

She even stored a full sized table tennis table in the yellow unit on the right of the image that slides out from under the stairs.

toy storage ideas with art on the cupboard doors

5. Moroccan-inspired

We love the Moroccan-inspired look in this children's bedroom, with a daybed that's fitted into the wall, with built-in shelving and drawers for maximum storage.

toy storage ideas custom joinery — Get the look: The headboard was custom made, upholstered in a fabric from Lulie Wallace. Wall lights are from Urban Electric.

6. Grouped by colour

Books in this bookcase are arranged by colour, popping against the charcoal background, and the cupboard doors hide art supplies. Colouring pens and pencils in glass jars are also grouped by colour, making a fun and colourful display.

toy storage ideas that are grouped by colour coordinated

7. Integrated

A built-in cabin bed is a clever way of making use of an awkward sloping ceiling. Open shelving on the outside offers a stylish display area for books and ornaments, while trundle drawers under the bed offer a place for toys and clutter.

toy storage ideas built in around the bed — **Get the look:** The cabin bed is a bespoke design by The London Joinery Company, price on request. The walls are painted in Farrow & Ball’s Calamine estate emulsion, £43.50 for 2.5L. Find a sheepskin rug, £160, from Celtic & Co.

8. Cubby holes

This children's bedroom features a walk-in storage room with cubby holes. The baskets are used to store all sorts of different toys. Meanwhile the window bench features open shelving to display books, encouraging kids to pick up a book.

toy storage ideas with a mezzanine level and cubby holes

9. Under stairs snug

Interior designer Naomi Clarke transformed the under stairs space in this basement into a little fairy house chalet – for the children to store their favourite soft toys and to be used as a little snug area!

See Also: Desk ideas for kids

10. Zig-zag

The zig-zag storage was made bespoke.

toy storage ideas which are asymmetrical with zig zag edges

11. Crate display

Simple wooden crates were mounted onto the wall to create some fun shelving for books and toys. The wall is coated in blackboard paint, so the kids can get creative.

toy storage in crates — **Get the look:** The sofa is a Fifties Danish design from a vintage shop. This is the Rocker chair by Charles and Ray Eames for Modernica at SCP. This is the Favourite Things pendant by Chen Karlsson for ENOstudio at The Conran Shop.

12. Bucket storage

This light-filled space in the basement is shared by two youngsters. We love the pail-inspired bucket storage.

bucket shaped toy storage — **Get the look:** Find similar storage buckets at The Original Canvas Bucket Bag Company.

13. Seat storage

This clever storage bench from Cuckooland features easily accessible pull-out drawers for quick toy retrieval and quick tidy-ups. Better still, it's sturdy enough to sit and stand on, making it a multi functional furniture piece.

toy storage ideas which you can also sit on

14. Alcove bookshelves

Clever bespoke bookshelves by Blakes London make the most of an awkward sloped ceiling.

15. Window seat

Drawers are ideal storage for children's bedrooms, and can be created relatively easily under beds or window seats.

toy storage ideas built under window seat — **Get the look:** Window Seat Fabric from Jasper Michael Smith.

16. Statement storage

Arched open storage, painted in red gloss paint, makes a powerful and vibrant statement. Fun for displaying favourite items.

toy storage ideas in bold colours — **Get the look:** this is the Playhouse cabinet by Scarlet Splendour Vanilla Noir.

17. Hidden storage

Concealed behind chalkboard doors is oodles of storage space.

toy storage ideas behind chalkboard doors — **Get the look:** The pendant shade, left, is from Pipii. The wire pendant, right, is from Oliver Bonas. The carpet is by Carpetright.

18. Built-in storage

This daybed features handy trundle drawers for toys and clutter, while the built-in book shelves face inwards, creating a cosy reading nook. This cosy corner also doubles up as a guest bed for sleep-over parties.

toy storage ideas built around the bed — **Get the look:** The floorboards are painted in Cornforth White modern emulsion by Farrow & Ball.

19. Storage on wheels

Cute wooden boxes on wheels keep things accessible. Elaine Penhaul, director of professional home staging company Lemon and Lime Interiors says: "One of our favourite toy storage hacks is to buy a chest or box on wheels. Toys are infamous for wandering all over the house, so it helps to have a box you can bring with you as you hunt them down. Another great hack is to buy shoe holders that hang from the door and use them house smaller items – such as arts and crafts supplies or small figurines. This allows you to organise these items while keeping them hidden and out of reach of younger children."

toy storage on wheels — **Get the look:** Shelves and accessories, all IKEA

20. Art supply storage

MInimalist open shelving with fitted basket-style storage keeps everything handy and within reach, ideal for in kids' art spaces.

arts crafts and toy storage — **Get the look:** This is the strong system in white, from £72 from utilitydesign.co.uk

See Also: Desk ideas for kids

21. Lidded toy storage

Lidded tub storage slots into a wall mounted wood frame. The lidded storage keeps all the little knick knacks out of sight, creating a calm and tidy space.

accessible labelled and organised toy storage — **Get the look:** This is the Trofast system from IKEA

22. Corner storage

Make the most of a corner of their bedroom or playroom with a corner cupboard, like the Alba Modular Storage from Great Little Trading Company, www.gltc.co.uk

See Also: Kids Play Room Ideas

23. Dollhouse storage

This striking dollshouse-shaped cupboard from Andrew Martin features a stunningly detailed facade, and hides a rail and drawers inside.

dollhouse shaped storage for kids room — **Get the look:** The bed is upholstered in the theatre fabric in midnight, £85 per square metre from Andrew Martin. The dollhouse storage is £2,950, also from Andrew Martin

24. Keep it natural

In Let's Play House: Stylish Living With Kids (Lannoo Publishers) by Joni Vandewalle, wooden book ledges and a matching wood clothes rail create a rustic look in this kids bedroom.

25. Toy display

This bookcase from Cuckooland has handy cubby doors for hiding clutter, while shelves can make a fun display of treasured books and toys.

26. Basket storage

This play room window seat features drawers for hiding toys away, and there’s basket storage too for on the book shelves.

27. Hallway library

This landing features book shelves with kids’ books that they can share and swap.

28. Staircase storage

This staircase leads up to children’s bedrooms. Designed by X+Living, it was given a playful design, zoning this area as part of the children’s space.

29. Mondrian inspired

Bespoke open shelving is painted in contrasting primary colours, inspired by Mondrian. We love the way the shelves meet the desk, creating one piece of furniture. Black handleless drawers offer chic storage.

custom built in toy storage with bold colour palette

30. Window seat storage

This stylish window seat by Herringbone Kitchens features built-in storage, ideal for family spaces.

toy storage built into window seat in living room and kitchen

31. Dutch house style

A gable-topped model house in artfully conceals a wardrobe.

dollhouse shaped toy storage in the bedroom — **Get the look:** This is the Stars wallpaper by Cole & Son. The house children’s wardrobe was made by Freeman & Whitehouse. Find a similar bed at Ikea.

32. Shoe storage

Bespoke cabinetry features shelves for shoes, with hidden storage above for messier items. Painting the back of the shelves in a plum colour gives a pop of colour against the white background.

shoe and toy storage with minimalist design

33. Multi-functional

This storage box is sturdy enough to stand on and doubles up as a step – handy for reaching taller shelves, or reaching the bathroom sink.

toy storage box in kids room — **Get the look:** Trapeziod plinth, £195, and circus shelf and train-shaped storage all from Blue Almonds, bluealmonds.co.uk

Lotte Brouwer

Lotte is the Digital Editor for Livingetc, and has been with the website since its launch. She has a background in online journalism and writing for SEO, with previous editor roles at Good Living, Good Housekeeping, Country & Townhouse, and BBC Good Food among others, as well as her own successful interiors blog. When she's not busy writing or tracking analytics, she's doing up houses, two of which have features in interior design magazines. She's just finished doing up her house in Wimbledon, and is eyeing up Bath for her next project.