Our playroom storage hacks with IKEA

** This is a paid partnership with IKEA.**

As much as I love Christmas and the looks on the children’s faces on Christmas morning as they tear open their toys, by the time New Year comes around I am always filled with a sense of dread when it comes to finding a home for all of the new toys! We are fortunate to have a playroom for the children and yet with four of them, three of whom are very much into their toys, what was once a lovely spacious room suddenly feels a whole lot smaller. This year we decided that it was time to up our storage game and thanks to IKEA, we did just that.

As you all know, we are huge fans of IKEA (and not just because of the meatballs…) and in every room of our house you can find IKEA furniture, toys, soft furnishings and wall art. So when we decided to increase our playroom storage we knew IKEA would have everything we needed for long lasting quality and affordable prices. We’ve been sharing our top storage hacks for the playroom!

1. The more storage the better

I think the older I get, and the more “stuff” we accumulate,  the more I realise the value of good storage! Where as I once loved open spaces and a less is more approach in our home, these days I am all about practicality and making sure everything has a home, and we have several of the KALLAX storage units to prove it!

With us already having a KALLAX unit in the playroom we decided to switch things up, get rid of the girls very large dolls house, and add a second unit to the room. Having 32 storage squares made a huge difference and the great thing about the Kallax units, available in a choice of finishes, is that they are both practical and stylish at the same time.

2. Add a little colour!

The thing I love the most about IKEA KALLAX storage units are the accessories, with a great range of storage boxes, baskets and drawers to fit. With our units being in the playroom I always like to add as much colour as possible and IKEA have some gorgeous new additions to the range with DRONA boxes in  pink multicoloured patterns, stylish greys, and blue florals.

I love that at £3.50 per box they are so affordable and can always be replaced should your decor change in the future. Although the boxes are made from fabric they have sturdy sides and an insert in the bottom to hold even heavier toys and games. They also have a really handy flap feature for pulling the boxes out of the unit easily.

3. Label your boxes

With units like these it can be difficult for the children to locate toys when they need them and the worry is that they’ll simply get down every box until they find what they’re looking for! We created some labels on the computer together which the children loved doing, printed them out and then cut and stuck them to each box. Another lovely idea is to use photos on the front of each box to show what’s inside, or fabric pens for a more permanent alternative.

We’ve found that since adding labels to our boxes it makes a big difference in that not only can the children find their toys but it helps with keeping the playroom tidy by knowing which toys go in which box. At the end of each day the children have no excuse not to put their toys away and it saves me a huge job!

4. Rotate the boxes

Another good tip I’ve learned along the way is to rotate the boxes every couple of weeks so that the toys in the boxes at the top where they can’t be reached are played with just as much as the toys in the bottom. We find that when the children realise we have rotated the boxes they get so excited about old toys and it just keeps their interest and means that toys last for much longer too.

At the same time, I’ve learned the hard way that any messy toys (think slime, kinetic sand, paints, etc) should always go in the top boxes out of reach! If you’ve ever scrubbed glow in the dark slime from a cream carpet you’ll feel my pain!

5. Find new ways to play!

One thing I thought was very interesting was how the children have created new ways to play by using our KALLAX storage units to create a play space for their toys!

With just a couple of the DRONA boxes removed the girls love using their imaginations to create their own little spaces which can be a house, a shop, a school, and that changes from one day to the next. I love that despite having to sacrifice some larger toys to make space for the new storage unit it has simply given them new ways to play and in that way it feels like the perfect storage solution!

6. Display your favourite toys!

We love that although using the DRONA boxes with the Kallax units mean everything is tidied away out of sight, we can still display the children’s toys on the top of the unit with a nice flat top for their favourites!

It’s great for larger toys too which won’t fit into the DRONA boxes meaning there is no need for additional larger storage, especially if you are wanting to save on space. We also have a lamp on the top of ours with the wires safely enclosed down the back of the unit which is always useful later in the day when we settle down in the play room to watch a movie together.

7. Multi-purpose storage

The great thing about IKEA products is they are so versatile meaning that although right now these units are perfect for storing the children’s toys, in the future we have the choice whether to keep the DRONA boxes for storage, use the units as display shelves, a book case, or for something else entirely. Adding in the wicker basket design would add a completely new look altogether and it’s reassuring to know you’re buying something with real longevity.

Harry has found a use of his own by standing up his action figures in the unit and targeting them with his Nerf guns, something that is actually a great idea as those Nerf bullets can go flying anywhere!

The DRONA units also make great caves for his dinosaur collection, and can then be popped straight back into the unit when it’s time to finish playing. It’s fascinating to watch the way the children have found so many ways to use the storage, far more than I would ever think of, and I love what a great addition they have made to our play room!

   It’s amazing what a huge difference the right storage can make to a home, especially one with children. I no longer brace myself before I open the playroom door each morning, knowing that all of the toys will be stored away and even if they’re not, it’s easily sorted in just a few minutes. And with Eva’s birthday just around the corner I’m no longer panicking about finding another nook or cranny to shove the toys in knowing that I have two empty DRONA boxes sitting right there ready to be filled! Phew!

You can find the whole range of IKEA storage solutions over on the website here.