9 Best Ways to Organize Toys and Clutter in a Kids' Playroom

The kids' playroom is a fun space where imagination runs wild—but without proper organization, it can quickly become an overwhelming mess. The key to maintaining a clutter-free and functional space is to create systems that are easy to maintain and encourage kids to take part in the process. 

Below, we’ll explore effective ways to keep toys organized, minimize clutter, and make the playroom look a bit more tidy. 

Declutter and Sort: Get Rid of the Junk

The first step in organizing any space is to get rid of unnecessary items. A cluttered playroom is often filled with broken toys, outgrown items, or things your child no longer plays with. Decluttering not only frees up space but also makes it easier for kids to find and enjoy their toys.

How to Declutter Effectively:

• Sort into categories – It starts with simple sorting into keep, donate, and throw-away piles. 
• Broken or incomplete toys? Toss them! – If puzzle pieces or game parts are missing, it’s time to say goodbye.
• Has it been played with in the last 6 months? – If the answer is no, consider donating it to a child in need.

It can be a good lesson to go through some of the organizing with your child and let them choose toys to donate or toss. But, if your kids are anything like mine they'll decide they want to keep almost everything! Plan for a follow-up declutter session when the kiddos aren't around. 

Use Shelves, Bins, and Bags to Organize the Space

There is no one surefire product that is going to fit all the toys in your space. Most likely you'll need to use a combination of organizational approaches to cover the wide range of toy sizes and shapes. Get creative to group items of similar sizes in a similar way. 

Organize with Bins or Baskets

We organized the smaller and medium-sized toys in baskets and shelving from Target. With two shelves we can fit 12 baskets giving plenty of options to organize into categories. 

Our bins are categorized with coloring books, puzzles, dolls, building blocks, monster trucks, and more. 

Organize with Storage Bags

Toy storage zipper bags are another great way to organize smaller items or things like puzzles that have pieces that need to stick together. 

In some of our baskets, we're using Lunanoo toy storage bags and mesh bags to keep puzzles, lego sets, and certain items organized together. 

You can also find our toy storage bags on Amazon!

Use Shelving to Maximize Space

Shelving especially comes in handy with smaller spaces when you're looking to get toys off the ground. 

If your child has a growing number of books consider these wall bookshelf sets. We just put these up in each of the kids' rooms where they can keep favorite books. These may not fit the entire collection, but it's a nice way to have the favorites close by. 

Create Toy Zones for Different Activities

A well-organized playroom has different zones for different types of play. This helps kids find their toys easily and keeps different activities separate. It's a simple concept that starts with keeping like items together. But also think about the type of activity. 

Ideas for different zones:

• Reading nook – A cozy corner with books (and maybe stuffies) for your child to relax and enjoy their favorite books.
• Building zone – A space with a play mat and low shelving for Legos, blocks, and magnetic tiles.
• Pretend play area – A dress-up rack with costumes, a toy kitchen, or a dollhouse.
• Arts and crafts – A child-sized table with organized bins for markers, paper, and coloring books.

A small tent with fairy lights can serve as a reading nook, making it an inviting spot where kids naturally gravitate toward books instead of screens.

Utilize Wall Space for Storage

Many playrooms lack floor space but have plenty of unused wall space. By going vertical, you can maximize storage while keeping things accessible.

• Wall-mounted shelves – Store books, stuffed animals, or puzzles.
• Pegboards – Hang baskets for small toys or art supplies.
• Hanging shoe organizers – Perfect for storing Barbie dolls, action figures, or small stuffed animals.
• Magnetic strips – Attach to the wall to store toy cars or magnetic letters.

We set up a pegboard that acts as the craft/art station to hold small bins for crayons, markers, colored pencils, and tape. We also made this a space where the kids can show off their artwork. 

Rotate Toys to Keep Things Exciting

Studies have shown that having fewer toys can enhance kids' cognitive and neurological development. Too many toys in a space can overstimulate kids and reduce the concentration or focus on a single toy.

Rotating or putting away toys is a great way to balance the clutter and your child's focus. Encourage kids to pick 10 to 15 'current favorites' and store the rest out of sight.

3-4 months later you can reintroduce "old" toys to make them feel new and exciting again. If your child has 20 stuffed animals, keep 10 in the playroom and store the rest. Every few months, swap them out to make old favorites feel special again.

Use Multi-Functional Furniture

Furniture that doubles as storage is a game-changer in small spaces. Consider some of these options for your playroom:

• Ottomans with hidden storage – Store puzzles or board games inside.
• Toy chests that double as benches – Great for seating and toy storage.
• Tables with built-in drawers – Ideal for Lego or arts & crafts storage.

A bench with pull-out bins underneath can store train sets or stuffed animals while providing extra seating for storytime.

(Try to) Make Clean-Up Time Easy and Fun

Kids resist cleaning up when it feels like a chore, so do your best to make it quick, easy, and even fun.

Tips for Making Clean-Up Time Easier:

• Set a timer – "Let’s see if we can clean up in 5 minutes!"
• Make it a race – "Who can put away the most toys the fastest?"
• Sing a clean-up song – A fun way to turn tidying up into a game.
• Use a Color Sorting Challenge – "Put away all the red toys first!"
  
• Playing the "clean-up race" with a reward like a bedtime story choice can motivate kids to tidy up quickly.

Labels to Promote Independence

Labels help kids know exactly where things belong, making it easier for them to clean up after themselves. This can be a great option if you're not using clear containers. 

Labeling Ideas:

• Pictures for toddlers – Use images of toy cars, dolls, or blocks.
• Word labels for the older kids – Helps reinforce reading skills.
• Color-coded labels – Use different colors for different types of toys.
  

A bin with a photo of dinosaurs makes it easy for younger kids to put their dinos in the dino-bin without parental intervention. 

Keep Everyday Favorites Accessible

Toys used daily should be stored at kid-friendly heights, while seasonal or less-used items should be stored higher up.

For instance, you can have an accessible basket with favorite dolls or cars within reach, but store seasonal toys (like summer toys) on higher shelves.

Stay Vigilant, Stay Consistent

No organization system sticks unless it’s consistently maintained. Regularly check what’s working and what needs adjusting.

Ways to keep your organization system working:

• Do a quick clean-up before bedtime – Help the kids form a habit of cleaning up daily.
• Declutter every few months – Outgrown or broken toys? Time to go!
• Adjust storage as kids grow – As play habits change, so should the system.
  

Final Thoughts

Organizing a kids' playroom doesn't have to be overwhelming. With the right storage solutions, a little creativity, and simple habits, you can create a space that is fun, functional, and easy to maintain. Good luck organizing the space!