All parents know — once kids arrive, toys multiply like rabbits. Suddenly the space that once held your coffee table centerpiece now houses a mini zoo, a dollhouse, and seventeen stray puzzle pieces. But don’t worry — keeping your living room organized (and still looking like, well, a living room) is possible.
1. Designate “Toy Zones” That Make Sense
Start by giving toys a clear home base. In our house, our 3- and 5-year-olds each have a few bins and bookshelf sections for their some toys or games that live outside the playroom — and they’re responsible for putting them away. (It’s not always perfect, but hey, progress.)
For the baby, we keep a wicker basket with a lid tucked near the sofa — it hides toys beautifully when guests come over. A closed basket keeps visual clutter down and makes cleanup feel like tossing laundry into a hamper.
Shop a similar lidded wicker toy basket — functional, stylish, and totally living-room-approved.
2. Keep It Simple (Less Is More)
If you find yourself picking up the same toys every day, consider rotating or retiring them. We store rotated or retired toys sets in our basement, organized in containers and swap them out every few weeks. It keeps the kids interested and reduces daily mess. Bonus: when you bring out the old toys again, your kids will act like it’s Christmas morning.
Try stackable toy bins with our Toy Bin labels for easy rotation and tidy storage.
3. Give Books and Games a “Real” Spot
Bookshelves aren’t just for grown-ups anymore. Ours hold picture books on one side and family games on another. A sturdy cube shelf or low open bookcase gives kids easy access while keeping things from spreading across the floor.
See these space-saving cube shelves — perfect for both décor and kid chaos.
4. Make Cleanup a Routine (and a Game)
Our older two know that cleaning up is a must, but they still try to ignore it. We set a 5 or 10-minute cleanup timer every evening before bedtime. We recently wrote about decluttering with kids, check it out! It’s simple, consistent, and teaches responsibility — plus it prevents Mom and Dad from doing the late-night toy sweep.
Tip: play a short song (the “cleanup song” from preschool totally counts). You’ll be amazed how much faster tiny humans move with a beat.
5. Hide the Chaos — Stylishly
Sometimes, the best solution is just to hide it all. Baskets, ottomans with storage, and bins that match your décor are your secret weapons. Your living room can stay cozy and calm, even when the toy train is one layer deep underneath the lid. it makes for faster clean up time too. BUT - if its over flowing maybe its time to think about reducing the amount of toys you have or get serious about a kid-involved clean up routine.
Browse decorative storage ottomans — form meets function in the best way.
Final Thoughts
When you’ve got little ones, a perfectly pristine living room isn’t realistic — but a manageable one absolutely is. The goal isn’t to hide all signs of family life; it’s to create a space that works for everyone and doesn’t stress you out.
And honestly? That wicker basket might be the best investment we’ve made this year.
Want more practical, sanity-saving ideas for family life and home organization? Subscribe to Simplicity Home Living for inspiration.
