HOW TO ORGANISE AND DECLUTTER TOYS

With my kids' birthdays occurring just before Christmas and the Festive season only a few weeks away, I've recently been decluttering the house to make room for the new toys from Santa and to find space for the toys my children have recently received. It's a job that feels never ending but I am here to share with you my top tips on how to tackle this tedious task. So grab yourself a cuppa and lets get started...

COLLECT ALL TOYS

The first step I take when decluttering and organising the kids' toys is to gather all the toys from around the house and place them in one room, typically my children's bedroom, as this allows me to see everything they own.

GROUP THEM IN CATEGORIES

Once I've gathered everything from around the house, I'll create four piles: 1. Keep, 2. Donate, 3. Bin, and 4. Maybe. What is a maybe pile? It's to determine if my children have all the pieces to a toy; for instance, a puzzle or game might be in good condition, but if pieces are missing, we won't keep or donate it—it goes straight to the bin! I usually plan to declutter before their birthdays and Christmas, so I talk with my daughter (my son is one, so he usually plays with anything but his toys!) about the gifts she'd like and observe what they do and don't play with.

After sorting my four piles, I'll go through the maybe pile to decide what to keep, donate, or bin. Now we have the three main piles: Keep, Donate, and Throw away. I'll start with the throw-away pile, removing it from the room/space into a black bin bag ready for the dump. The donate pile is next, which I move to my spare room to determine if anything is worth selling on Facebook Marketplace. For the rest, I either ask around local preschools or baby groups.

Now I am left with my keep it pile, I sort the toys into categories according to their type. I place all the puzzles together, blocks and Legos in another section, books in a different area, and continue in this manner. After arranging the toys into groups, it becomes simpler to organise them and return them to their proper places.

HOW TO ORGANISE THEM

Now I am left with my keep it pile, I sort the toys into categories according to their type. I place all the puzzles together, blocks and legos in another section, books in a different area, and continue in this manner. After arranging the toys into groups, it becomes simpler to organise them and return them to their proper places.

I prefer to store toys like puzzles and games in a wicker basket under my coffee table in the living room. Items for messy play, such as drawing and painting supplies, are kept in a cupboard. All other toys are placed in their bedroom. While these toys often end up downstairs, having designated spots for everything simplifies tidying up.

A convenient method for organising toys is to label baskets and boxes, which assists older children in tidying up or locating a toy. If you're in the market for a label machine, you can either buy a basic one like this one or, if you're ready to invest, I highly recommend the Circuit Joy machine. It's a versatile tool that not only assists with labelling but is also fantastic for events like birthdays, allowing you to create custom vinyls for balloons, cake toppers, and more.

ORGANISATION INSPIRATION

Photo Credit: Various Creators on Pinterest

SHOP MY FAVOURITES

Seven - Toadstall Storage basket

Eight - Mini Bookcase | Nine - Castle Storage box | Ten - Rattan Clothes Rail |

Eleven - Storage Trunk | Twelve - Scallop Storage Boxes |

TOY STORAGE IDEAS

For many of us, having a playroom is a luxury we can't all have, and let's be honest, bedrooms in the UK can be quite small! So, explore these storage solutions for when space is limited.

Coffee Table With Hidden Storage