REAL SPACES
Five Pro Organizer Tips for Playroom Organization
by Jill Viglione, CPO from Embrace Your Space
January 22, 2024
PORTLAND OR
Rooms often have a dual purpose. This family’s living room also serves as a children’s play space. Moving the sofa forward creates a separate area hidden from view with more storage for large toys and books. Repurposing a divided bookcase creates the perfect spot for toys. Placing the children’s play tent and kitchen in opposite corners of the room provides areas for imaginative play. Simple design changes transform this space to be functional, comfortable and sophisticated.
BEFORE
AFTER
CREATE PLAY ZONES
To make a fun and happy place for your children, start by creating separate zones for each type of play. Zones can include dress up, crafts, music, reading, games, and cooking. Establishing zones based on your children’s interests will inspire them to engage with those toys. It also makes it easier to pick up when they are finished at the end of the day.
SORT AND CATEGORIZE
Gather all toys and sort them into categories such as games, dolls, puzzles, vehicles, and LEGOS. Toys can also be sorted following Montessori principles such as fine motor development, stacking games, musical instruments, and construction games. Choose categories that work best for your children based on their ages and learning styles.
REDUCE AND REHOME
Are there any toys or books your children have outgrown or simply no longer enjoy? Assess toys and decide whether they should be kept, stored as keepsakes or donated. Having fewer toys encourages focused play and makes tidying up quicker. Lastly, remove any miscellaneous items that belong in other places.
FURNITURE AND CONTAINERS
Playrooms with simple systems are easiest to maintain. Choose storage furniture that can hold multiple bins that are within your child’s reach. Add a comfy chair for reading and a small table with chairs for arts and crafts. Use containers without lids to make toys easily accessible and easy to put away. Having everything in its place creates a peaceful and balanced space.
Even the most organized playrooms get messy. Let the kids play and pick up at the end of the day.
Cube storage stores six categories of toys including puzzles, dolls, baby toys, cars, musical instruments, and blocks.
The kitchen play zone presents a fun zone for the kids to cook and keeps the play food in one area.
FIVE PRO ORGANIZER TIPS TO ORGANIZE THE PLAYROOM
1. Arrange furniture first to create the best layout and flow for a play space.
2. Identify toy containers with labels that have images rather than words.
3. Create a toy rotation system to keep toys fresh and “new”
4. Play a “race game” or “counting game” to make pickup up toys fun.
5. Put away toys at the end of each day as part of your children’s daily routine.