Welcome to Week 2 of the Fall (for all the northern hemisphere peeps) One Room Challenge.  If you are not familiar with it, this is where design bloggers completely transform a space in just six weeks, documenting the process on their blogs, and revealing a brand new room at the end.  If you are new here I’m Jane, Aussie Mum to 3 kids and interested in the fusion of home organisation and interior decorating.  I blog here at Organised Pretty Home, which focuses on the best organising and decor ideas for your family home.  A very warm welcome to you!

This is my FIRST TIME participating in the One Room Challenge and I have decided to tackle our living room.   After much sorting and decluttering of the contents of this room (including furniture), it is now ready to be turned into a happy, relaxing and functional space, for both parents and kids!

Related Post: Week 1 One Room Challenge – The Plan

Week 2 has been busy with research, decisions, CHANGING MY MIND AGAIN, more research…  And getting started on some of the pallet wood projects.  Can’t wait to share those with you in the next few weeks!

First though, let’s focus on what is one of the biggest challenges with creating a family friendly, living room… 

Kids Toy Storage

Yes that’s right, storage for the kids’ toys and games!! We have a number of family board games and kids’ puzzles, as well as Lego blocks, that I want stored in this room.  I would love to have these things easily accessible for the kids and yet not looking like a playroom, for us, parents.  Thankfully, there really are some creative ideas available for kids toy storage in the living room.

Hurrah, a space for kids to play in the day and where adults can relax at night.

7 Toy Storage Ideas For A Family Room

1.  Ottoman Turned Toy Box

As Melissa Boyer shares about her cute storage ottoman find below, “It has proved to be a fantastic purchase for us!  My kids can easily get toys in & out of it… In addition, it can easily be moved around to the main sitting area if extra seating is ever needed.”

Image Credit: Rooms

2.  Hide Toys Away In A Cabinet

Closed storage options like built in cabinets or a free standing buffet or dresser, are great for storing toys in the living room.  Consider using baskets or boxes within the space to contain smaller like items or designate drawers to different groups of toys.

Image Credit: Meadow Lake Rd

3.  Toy Storage Underneath Coffee Table

Image Credit: Rogue Engineer

The coffee table can be a brilliant space for storing toys or games, while still fitting in with the look and design on the room.  Best options are a shelf underneath or several drawers.  If you have items that don’t get accessed frequently, even a chest with a top that opens up would be great for hidden storage.

Image Credit: Meadow Lake Rd

4.  Behind The Sofa Toy Storage

Pull the couch away from the wall a bit and use that space for shelving to store toys in tubs or baskets.  Just make sure it’s not obvious when first walking into the room.

Image Credit: Two Inspire Design

Or a more involved project, would be to create built in drawers behind the lounge suite, like these ones.  What a great way to hide toys in the living room!

Image Credit: The Sunny Side Up Blog

5. Baskets And Storage Cubes

When you want to store kids toys in the living room in plain sight, baskets and storage cubes are the way to go.  Toys are easily accessible for kids to play with and more importantly, pack away.  Yet when it is time for little ones to go bed, all those bright primary colours are no where to be seen.  Pretty decor and toys really can co-exist together!

Image Credit: thriftydecorchick.com

Here’s a great example of how one family has used a storage cube as a multi-functional piece of furniture in their living room.  It doubles as a convenient side table as well as storage for some of the kids books and toys.

Image Credit: PBJ Stories

6. Toy Storage Built Into A Window Seat

A built-in window seat or bench can be a really useful addition to a living area, especially if it has a bay window.  Not only can it provide a quiet reading nook, but it can include lots of space to store toys in the living room.

Love this example of a narrow bench with drawers in this living room below. Functional and pretty!

Image Credit: Inside Out

7.  Toy Storage Underneath The Couch

In contrast to the usual “My toys are missing and I think they are underneath the couch!” story, this idea deliberately uses that space for toy organization.

Anything that is large and flat, like this LEGO tray, would be ideal to store underneath a sofa.  Make sure the item won’t get lost under the sofa though with a pull out handle or even wheels.

Image Credit: Thrifty Decor Chick

Here the space underneath this armchair is used for a small decorative box of wood puzzles.   Easy to take out and easy to pack away!

Image Credit: Our House Now A Home

Bonus Idea – A Suitcase With Legs?

Credit Image: Rambling Ophelia

“Look! Mum is going to put our LEGO in a suitcase”, says my 8 year old boy to his brother and sister as I am writing this!

Maybe I will use the suitcase as a side table AND hidden LEGO storage!  But even if I don’t, I now have a clearer idea about how I am going to store my kids toys and board games for this living room makeover!

UPDATE:  Week 7 – Living Room Reveal