Maximizing A Playroom for Maximum Fun!

Today's guest blogger is Holly Blakey, our Brand Ambassador and professional organizer at Breathing Room Organization + Styling. All photos are courtesy of Holly.

Recently, I was contacted by a new client named Sarah Lit who needed help with her kids' playroom area. If I could sum up this project in one word it would be REAL. This is a real family with six kids, with real toys, real spaces, and real fun.

I loved that before I visited for the first time Sarah didn't attempt to tidy up for me - instead she showed me their real life. This is so important to see because it helped me understand how they use the space every day, which allowed me to create systems that would work for them over the long haul. The goal was to create beautiful systems in their under-stair play storage area and their general kids area. Because even though it was key to make practical, long-lasting solutions, it was also important to make them nice to look at.

So - six kids + limited space + lots of fun toys = the need for some organizing creativity. I knew maximizing vertical space would be important, but first and foremost, a good edit would be key. Luckily, Sarah (and even her sweet kiddos!) were totally game to help me load up some donation bags!

First, we went to work taking everything out and sorting through it all. Anything damaged, rarely used, or in multiples was donated or recycled. (Big credit goes to the Lit crew - this is HARD work.) Second, I sorted it all. (Yes, each LEGO brick, LOL Doll tiara, and Polly Pocket set.) Sorting helps you see the amount of each category so you know what kind of storage you need. Then, I gave it all a good clean out to remove any smudges, marks, or sticky stuff.

Now for the products! Here were my priorities when designing the space:

Maximizing vertical space = utilizing stacking bins.
Eliminating bulk = removing big game and puzzle boxes, and swapping them out for vinyl pouches.
Accessibility for kids = Clear containers and labels; these not only help you see what you have, but also make it easier for kids to find what they want without dumping out the entire bin.
Easy clean up for everyone = no lids! Really, lids prevent kids (and sometimes mom) from cleaning up in the moment.
Visual cohesion = pick a color theme and limit yourself to 3 materials (such as natural fiber + clear acrylic + white metal).

Tip: know your kids. If you have a sorter who likes to organize LEGO, create a system that fosters that. If you have "tossers" (like my daughter), make life easier on yourself and go with open bins where all the LEGO/doll pieces can intermingle. Even knowing your own "mom organizing threshold" will help you create systems that work for you!

For crafts, which are usually in most playrooms, we used a large cart that could be easily rolled out of the closet and used next to a table. Other accessories helped create sections in the cart for all the various craft supplies: paper, stickers, origami paper, paints, etc. (And kids love this!)

Tip: for organizing crafts, use products that can easily be removed and wiped down.

We all have big toys, so I get asked about them a lot. For huge trucks or dollhouses, there's no easy answer, unless you have a closet you can put just big toys. Otherwise, it's good to remember that these gigantic toys are part of a sweet time - and soon enough your kids will only want small gadgets anyway.

Tip: You can use large wall hooks to hang big toys, or get hamper-size bins (seen below) to at least make your space look a little tidier.

For the kids' bookcase where more toys are stored, a few simple changes were all that was needed:

Newer, sturdier bins
Labels
Rethinking the placement of a few items
And of course, some editing

A place for everything and everything in its place!

So there it is - a REAL playroom. Thanks to the Lit family for making it REAL fun, and thanks to The Container Store for providing my favorite playroom products - all linked below!