10 of the best toy storage solutions

1. Ikea Kallax Shelving Unit, £60

If there was such a thing as a quintessential children’s toy storage solution, the Ikea Kallax Shelving Unit would be it – meet any bunch of parents and, chances are, at least a few of them have this glorious unit in their home.

A total chameleon, with the use of clever draws, storage baskets and add-ons, the same unit can look completely different in one house to another.

There are 7 sizes to choose from, depending on your space – from a small and boxy 2x2, a tall 4x2 to a towering 5x5.

The beauty of Kallax is in its adaptability, whether you want toys on display or hidden, you can configure it exactly how you like.

Head to Pinterest for ideas on how to level-up your unit – you can use it as a room divider or even turn smaller units on their side, pop a cushion on top and create a space-saving bench.

Available from: Ikea

2. Kidkraft Star Wooden Table and Chairs, £129.95

Banish kid clutter and gain a cute place for them to play in one fell swoop with this brilliant Kidkraft Star Wooden Table and Chairs.

With 2 seats and 4 well-sized storage bins, this sturdy piece is the ideal place for eating, games and arts and crafts, plus the containers will hold everything you need for all your activities.

It’s an investment piece, especially compared to the Mr Men Toy Box and Bench which comes in at £49.99, but it’s bigger, well-designed and we can see this as a playroom staple for many years.

We’re also major fans of the cute, gender-neutral star cut-outs, which give it a premium vibe.

Available from: Kidkraft, Amazon and Wayfair

3. Mr Men Toy Box and Bench, £49.99

Repeat after us: I can have a home free from toy clutter – especially with the help of clever storage solutions like this innovative Mr Men Toy Box and Bench.

A convertible design, it has 3 uses; a storage unit, a bench and when you slide the backrest over to the front, it transforms into a table and chair where kids can draw and play.

The Mr Men design is a big hit with adults and kids alike and the gender-neutral colour is a bonus. The price is also fabulous in comparison to others in the market, including the Kidkraft Star Wooden Table and Chairs, £129.95.

Make throwing toys into this box a game and your child’s bedroom will be ship shape in a jiffy.

Available from: Argos, Amazon and Kiddy Products

4. Sunny Safari Dress Up Storage Station, £99.99

Rather than squishing your costumes into a storage bin after every play session, make a feature of them with this Sunny Safari Dress Up Storage Station.

Perfect for a bedroom or playroom, there’s no doubt this is a luxury purchase reserved for those with space to play with, but the hand-carved, hand-painted rack will make a beautiful addition to any room.

It comes with 4 cute animal-themed hangers, there’s a handy storage unit at ground level (great for all those dress-up accessories) and it’s guaranteed to encourage little ones to delve into a world of imagination.

Available from: Amazon

5. Homfa Children’s Wall Shelves, £38.99

Storage solutions can be as attractive as they are useful and the Homfa Children’s Wall Shelves proves the point beautifully.

With 4 tiers that can hold at least 25 books, or a combination of books and small toys, these simple, elegant shelves will make a feature of your children’s favourite reads and the wall-mounted design will save on floor space, never a bad thing.

An alternative to a more traditional bookcase, like the Harriet Bee Makenzie, both products are virtually the same in price and both are seriously chic.

Homfa scores top points for its pared-back, open design, which makes it easy to find books and it’s also has a great lifespan for its price, as it’ll last your child well beyond the baby years.

Available from: Amazon

6. Harriet Bee Makenzie Bookcase, £45.99

It’s the cute tipi design of the Harriet Bee Makenzie Bookcase that really sold it to us; this modern piece of furniture will be a charming addition to the corner of a playroom or child’s bedroom, in fact, it’s stylish enough to fit in any room of the house.

Fill it with books, display your best-looking wooden toys on it, pop a plant on the top shelf; it’s as much a decoration piece as a storage unit.

Marginally more expensive than the Homfa Wall Shelves, it does take up floor space, but it’s a smart, long-lasting unit that will give any room an easy style update.

Available from: Wayfair

7. Ikea Ps Fangst, £4.50

The second Ikea product on our list, the Swedish homeware mecca really is the one to beat when it comes to budget-friendly children’s storage solutions. A simple, straightforward mesh hanger, what the Ps Fangst lacks in aesthetics it makes up for in storage space and usefulness.

It can be suspended in the bathroom, the hallway, the wardrobe, on a freestanding clothes rack, or your child’s bedroom, and it can be filled with everything from soft toys to clothes, or accessories like gloves and hats. The only limit is your imagination!

With 6 compartments to fill, it has a serious amount of space for its price tag, which comes in at under £5 – a total bargain.

Available from: Ikea

8. Play & Go Colour Storage Bag, £29

Anything multi-purpose is a big tick for us and these Play & Go Colour Storage Bags are a little dash of genius. A storage bag and playmat, simply spread it out to play on and when your little one is finished, pull the drawstring to gather up the toys and turn it back into a bag, which can be hung out of the way.

It measures a decent-sized 140cm in diameter, is made from 100 per cent cotton, is available in a number of trend-led prints and comes with 3 washable pens, so your child can doodle on the mat as they play.

The price tag is high-end for a storage bag, but it’s also the biggest and smartest we found.

Available from: Kidly and Amazon

9. Djeco Seat Toy Box, £12.50

Restoring a sense of order in your home is child’s play with this fun Djeco Seat Toy Box, a practical dual-use storage solution that can be stuffed full of toys then used as a seat for reading or playing.

At just £12.50 it’s a mid-range price for a storage box, but it’s use as a seat bumps up its value-for-money ratio. Plus we’ve fallen big-time for its colourful geometric print, which will look stylish in any room and doesn’t scream “I’m bursting with toys”.

It’s sturdy, it folds down for compact storage and it’s also rather roomy.

Available from: JoJo Maman Bebe, Tickety-Boo and Crafts4Kids

10. Lego Storage Brick, £25.89

Anyone who’s tip-toed across a dark bedroom and stood on a piece Lego knows the importance of good storage for it.

Children will love this giant Lego Storage Brick, which is designed to stack with others and is available in many different sizes and vibrant colours.

Keep Lego toys sorted and organised in each box, so there’s no need for a 30-minute rummage before play begins. It’s not the cheapest storage option on the block, but it is an efficient, playful and neat way to store Lego.

And who knows, they may like the design so much they tidy up willingly (we can dream!).

Available from: Amazon