Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jun 28, 2007 5:18 pm Hi there
Has anyone got any different ideas for storing toys????? I am sick of the numerous plastic containers sprawled throughout the place and have decided that I want the new place we are building to be more organised!!!! I am considering getting one of the cube type boookcase things for the family room (which will be the toyroom) from Ikea where you can put wicker or plastic baskets in the individual cubes but I'm not sure! Or even getting something custom built with doors & shelves? Anyone got any better ideas?????? Thanks Nat Re: Toy Storage Ideas? 2Jun 28, 2007 5:54 pm Hi Nat
We're about to invest in the square cane baskets as well. They're great because they're fairly stable for people who are just learning to walk, can hold a lot, aren't too deep, and don't emit lots of nasty toxins like plastic does. A number of my friends have found the Ikea cube shelves with cane baskets in some of the cubes to be ideal for kids. The ones that can be oriented on the side so that they're two cubes high and four long are especially good because people can reach into both cubes even when they're quite small - makes for more independent play. The upper cubes also function well as a benchtops for shorties. Personally, I'm not so convinced of the Ikea shelves on aesthetic grounds, so am contemplating having some made out of sustainably harvested Australian timber (if we can afford it). I'd like to have a real piece of furniture that we can love for years. I'd steer clear of cupboards/cabinets with doors -- too easy for jammed fingers and also hard to shut when a doll's leg (or somesuch) is protruding. Also on the safety factor (just in case someone suggests it), toy boxes with lids are now out of favour for kids under two. I've never been convinced by them anyway ... why does the good stuff always seem to migrate to the bottom?? So that's my two bob's worth. e. Re: Toy Storage Ideas? 3Jun 28, 2007 9:59 pm Hi perthgirl,
We have just recently (last couple of months) done exactly what you said - white Ikea cube bookshelf (2 x 4 sections) with square canes baskets. It looks great and when all the toys are backed away it helps to make the room feel a lot less cluttered than the multiple oversized buckets we were using previously. Makes the room feel bigger! If the bookshelf will fit in nicely (looks and size) with the rest of your room I'd highly recommend. I'd also agree with Elizabeth - the baskets are good, our 15 month old can pull them out himself to find a toy to play with. Avoid doors - they just lay in wait for a little finger to jam. Ciao, Andrew Re: Toy Storage Ideas? 4Jun 28, 2007 10:44 pm We have a two wide, four high cube thingy too that is full of different coloured plastic boxes - is great because it keeps it neat and in some order. Kids can reach everyday toys down the bottom. Puzzles and such you don't want mixed up are out of reach. In addition to that we have two buffets - and this is just our family room. Ideally I'd go a 16 hole cube thing for neatness. I never had this many toys as a kid !!! Re: Toy Storage Ideas? 5Jun 29, 2007 8:56 am One thing we do is cycle toys. Two thirds of the toys are in the garage and every few weeks we swap out some of the toys in the play area with some of the toys in the garage.
Keeps intrest up and rooms a bit tidier. 3xb Re: Toy Storage Ideas? 6Jun 29, 2007 3:20 pm Hi,
I am a Mum to a 3.5 year old and have another on the way (..as well as building a new house). I had the same problem as you, and couldn't find what I was after. As much as I like alot of the IKEA stuff, they didn't really match up to what I had in mind. I ended up building my own with the help of a family member who is a retired cabinet maker. I would post a photo, but everything is in storage pending the completion of the new house. I made a bookshelf out of MDF that is about 1.5 mtrs wide and comes up to about chest height. It has three shelves, which are divided into 3 sections (9 sections in total) and those sections were made to fit 9 plastic tubs. The thing I did a little differently is that the cabinet is designed on wheels which lock and it faces the wall. The rear of the cabinet (the part that faces outwards) is framed like a picture frame (..with left over skirting boards) and is painted with magnetic blackboard paint. The beauty of this arrangement is that other than being a very, very large blackboard, my daughter didn't realise that inside was all her toys and therefore I would just take out one tub each night on a rotational basis, instead of her pulling everything off and only playing with one or two things. It wasn't until the removalist moved the self that she realised that something was behind it. This idea works well if you have a playroom or a separate space, but not so easy on the eye if you are looking to place it in the middle of the loungeroom. Good luck with your hunt for the perfect solution. Kerrie Re: Toy Storage Ideas? 7Jun 29, 2007 3:21 pm Hi,
I am a Mum to a 3.5 year old and have another on the way (..as well as building a new house). I had the same problem as you, and couldn't find what I was after. As much as I like alot of the IKEA stuff, they didn't really match up to what I had in mind. I ended up building my own with the help of a family member who is a retired cabinet maker. I would post a photo, but everything is in storage pending the completion of the new house. I made a bookshelf out of MDF that is about 1.5 mtrs wide and comes up to about chest height. It has three shelves, which are divided into 3 sections (9 sections in total) and those sections were made to fit 9 plastic tubs. The thing I did a little differently is that the cabinet is designed on wheels which lock and it faces the wall. The rear of the cabinet (the part that faces outwards) is framed like a picture frame (..with left over skirting boards) and is painted with magnetic blackboard paint. The beauty of this arrangement is that other than being a very, very large blackboard, my daughter didn't realise that inside was all her toys and therefore I would just take out one tub each night on a rotational basis, instead of her pulling everything off and only playing with one or two things. It wasn't until the removalist moved the self that she realised that something was behind it. This idea works well if you have a playroom or a separate space, but not so easy on the eye if you are looking to place it in the middle of the loungeroom. Good luck with your hunt for the perfect solution. Kerrie Re: Toy Storage Ideas? 8Jun 29, 2007 3:30 pm Thanks for the suggestions guys! I will take a trip to Ikea and have a look!
Wow Kerrie that sounds fantastic! Would love to see a picture when it is out of storage Don't you just love the rotating toys - my son thinks he gets new toys every week and it keeps him occupied for so long!!!!!!!!! Re: Toy Storage Ideas? 9Jul 01, 2007 12:43 pm hi perthgirl
we have a 4.5 yr old ... I don't think you can ever have too much storage for the toys. we bought 3 of the pine Ikea shelving units (you can use either plastic tubs or shelves for displaying treasures). They are about 1800mm high x 40mm wide each. Not sure if they are the same ones you are talking about but they are great. We also have another open shelving unit which has large cane baskets and deep shelves for books. We also have a huge toy box. It is still not enough. Perhaps we need to build another house for the toys Or convince the rellies to stop buying toys. Beetle I would say both styles you have pictured are steel. The lower chord of the first pic would be a massive lump if made using timber considering the size of the rafters. If… 1 6150 Hi guys We have just removed a very large grape vine which was mounted to a structure along this wall. This is a shared wall with our neighbour, and after removal, we… 0 3953 |