Tidy Those Toys

By Katherine Sorrell

Fun and functional, this storage bench has a contemporary look and is both versatile and tough. Industrial kids locker storage bench in Hertog Grey by Woood, £249, Cuckooland.

Make putting toys away easy and enjoyable, even for little fingers, and tidying up shouldn’t be too much of a chore.

So cute it hurts, this straw basket is perfect for playing picnics – and for tucking away tiny toys. Piki straw basket in mint, £34.90, Bobby Rabbit.

This space-saving storage piece is environmentally friendly and can be used for books, toys or anything else, with two cupboards for stashing secret stuff. Oeuf vertical mini-library shelf in white and birch, £574, Bobby Rabbit.

This friendly bear with rosy cheeks can be pulled along as your child plays. Pull-along storage box, £70, Cox & Cox.

Get smart with storage and make use of clear, stackable boxes in a range of sizes with clip-close lids. SmartStore Classic Range by Orthex, from £7, John Lewis.

Stackable, practical, colourful and inexpensive – a great storage solution. Flip-lid stackable storage box, £5, Poundland.

Too cool for school? Try a coloured storage locker. Mustard Made Lockers, the Midi Locker in sage, £299, Rose & Grey.

Add a touch of playful character and practicality with this Ferm Living apple braided storage basket, £75, Nest.

For teddies, laundry or general storage, try a soft, quilted basket – with added dinosaurs for fun. Dinosaur storage basket (large), £24, Sophie Allport.

Storage, storage, everywhere

• If there’s one golden rule about storage, it’s that you can’t have too much of it. Aim for a mix of cupboards with doors and boxes with lids – in which toys can be put away out of sight – and open baskets, shelves and chests, where it’s easy to chuck soft toys or similar.

• Match the size of the storage to what’s being stored. Teeny tiny toys like Lego or Playmobil are best kept in small, lidded boxes. For superlative efficiency, try labelling or colour-coding them.

• Neutral colours can create a calm environment, and should be less likely to become outdated by the latest fad.

There’s no reason why your child’s storage shouldn’t complement the overall aesthetic of your home – just choose pieces set at a lower level and make sure they’re safe from toppling over or trapping little fingers.

• For optimum practicality, storage that’s multipurpose, modular, stackable or on wheels is always a great choice.

If you’re short on floor space, try hanging it from the ceiling, tucking it under the bed or mounting it on the back of the door.

STOCKISTS Bobby Rabbit: 0114 321 7000; bobbyrabbit.co.uk Cuckooland: 01305 231 231; cuckooland.com Nest: 0114 243 3000; nest.co.uk Rose & Grey: 0161 926 8763; roseandgrey.co.uk

Cox & Cox: 0330 333 2123; coxandcox.co.uk John Lewis: 03456 100 336; johnlewis.com Poundland: 0800 731 5622; poundland.co.uk Sophie Allport: 01778 560 256; sophieallport.com

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