CALMING THE CHAOS

Channel your spring cleaning energy into the playroom with these helpful tips from Ashley La Fond, founder of home organization company

Keep Things

Accessible .

To encourage independence, we suggest keeping storage low so kids can access toys on their own. When they can reach for their own toys, books, and games, they have more freedom when playing. It also means that maintaining your space is easier as children can be encouraged to do their own clean-up! We love creating a reading nook in playrooms and to save space, we’ll often use wall shelves for books. Add comfy seating, a cozy rug, a cute play tent, or floor cushions to maximize comfort.

Use a Cube System.

We love a cube system like the Ikea Kallax so we can add in cute cubes for toy storage while keeping some shelves open for books, puzzles, or single toys. We also love the Ikea Trofast system with built- in, lightweight bins that are perfect for toys. When selecting pieces, look for durability and sturdiness, and then layer in fun accessories like our favorite storage cubes.

Rotate Toys . In a lot of playrooms, we see toys mixed in huge bins or baskets that kids have to dig through or dump out to find what they want to play with. This makes playtime unfocused and creates a huge mess! Prevent this kind of overwhelm by rotating toys into play, and storing toys and activities in smaller, focused bins. Rather than large bins, separate toys into categories with smaller, clear bins that can be pulled out and easily stored. If you can, designate a closet or other space for storage, so you can rotate in toys, games, and books to keep playtime fresh!

Keep It Clean

These playroom essentials will help you keep everything in its place, while also amping up the style factor.

FOR BLOCKS

$40; Acrylic Wall Pocket, westelm.com

Make

It Fun

. We recommend sticking with a neutral palette for furniture in a playroom, and then layering in color and texture with floor coverings, decals, wall art, and fun decor. This way, your playroom can easily grow with your child, and decor can be swapped as your kids’ interests change. For younger kids, colorful playmats are great floor covers instead of a rug because they are soft and can be wiped clean. We often source artwork from places like Etsy, where you can find inexpensive and colorful prints to download and frame yourself. Featuring kids artwork in inexpensive frames is another great way to add decor and a personal touch to your playroom.

FOR STUFFIES

$59; Embroidered Dot Hamper, potterybarnkids.com