Is it just a problem at our house or have your kids taken over your living room with their stuff, too? Toys strewn across the floor, books everywhere, art supplies on the coffee table. It's enough to make a mom scream. Maybe you've tried to contain the clutter with cute boxes or bright colored bins designed especially for kids' storage needs. But then your adult space ends up looking like the set of a Playhouse Disney show.
It doesn't have to be that way. You can add storage to your living area that is both practical and design-friendly. All you have to do is think outside the primary colored box and consider stylish furniture items that are also multifunctional.
This photo shows how an antique trunk can be used as a toy box for larger items. And such a treasured piece can look great with a modern coat rack/storage bench combo like the one shown here.
Another common, but beautiful, option is to utilize a fashionable trunk as a coffee table. This would be a great place to stash away your kids' favorite blankets or stuffed animals for nap or quiet time.
For a more contemporary look, consider using four ottoman cubes with upholstered tops put together like this to form one large unit. Each storage cube can hold various items like board games or art supplies.
Finally, why not combine style with fun, as in this round coffee table topped with chalkboard paint? Your kids can express their creativity without mom and dad getting mad at them for writing on the furniture! Store books and activity pads underneath for easy access. An added bonus is that you won't have to worry about the kids marking up the table top.
You can personalize these suggestions to make a just-for-you statement in your home. Multipurpose storage solutions such as these bring the whole family together while maintaining order and beauty in your space.
*all photos from HGTV.com.
Mary Davis is a freelance writer who lives near Pittsburgh, PA with her husband and three children, ages 9, 7, and 6 months. She enjoys scrapbooking, reading, and shopping. She also loves multipurpose decorating ideas like these, as she lives in a very small home! Visit Mary at her blog, Everyday Baby Steps, where she writes about her transition from the traditional workforce to work-at-home mom, her journey toward self-fulfillment, and the Everyday Baby Steps she's taking to get there!
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Great ideas, Mary! I bought one of those coffee tables that have baskets underneath for storage. It's been a nice way to contain all the newspapers and magazines that used to be in piles around the room. -Julia
It seems my strategy for organizing toys is to just wait until my little one has outgrown the toy stage…in about 8 years
Thanks for all of the wonderful tips. I especially love that chalkboard table!
Congratulations on your first post at Blissfully Domestic, how exciting!
Bella
Bella Casa Blog
Love these ideas, you are so right, there are so many stylish ways to hide those toys (or any clutter)!
Melissa
Its looking fine, you can find more designer kids storage from Spacify.