14 furniture hacks to hide toys in plain sight

Kids may arrive with nothing but a birthday suit but somehow, within just a year or so, they seem to collect toys like a pied piper. Blocks, dolls, trucks, stuffed animals. So. Many. Stuffed. Animals. How do you keep your home from looking like a toy-nado hit it? Hide them in unexpected places.

1. Sideboard/buffet

A large sideboard or buffet is made to store stuff, making it an excellent additional cupboard for toddler toys. It’s the perfect height for young kids to reach into, so they can remove their toys to play with, then just as easily return them when they’re done. Add some bins to keep the chaos from overflowing.

2. China cabinet

Put your pretty dishes in the see-through half of the china cabinet, relegate the toys to the half with doors. Use storage cubby boxes to keep toys organized (relatively, at least) and easy to access.

3. Armoire

No one would suspect that deep within your beautiful armoire, there’s an army of toys waiting to charge. Use the top shelves for books and such, and let your little ones fill the bottom half with their toys and craft supplies.

4. Entertainment center

If your entertainment center has drawers or doors that close, you have all you need for a kid-centric storage area. Dedicate one section to toys, the other to your Bee Gees vinyl collection.

5. Bookshelf

You expect a bookshelf to hold novels and maybe a few candles. But it’s also a practical place to store kid supplies. Keep a lower shelf available for picture books, so they can pick their own bedtime stories. Add a couple of storage cubes or baskets to the lowest shelf to hold puzzles, toys and games.

6. Small dresser

Living room decor doesn’t have strict rules anymore, which means you can use unconventional furniture without getting weird looks from playdate moms. Use an ornate dresser as an accent piece and you have an instant spot to store layers upon layers of playtime gear.

7. Behind the sofa

Take advantage of negative space. Pull your sofa out from the wall, leaving a space just wide enough for a basket. When it’s time to clean up, fill the basket with toys and slide it back behind the couch. It’s like they were never there.

8. Sofa table with baskets

Look for a sofa table with two tiers: one for a lamp, the other for a storage shelf. All you need are one or two decorative baskets. It’s the ideal height for young kids to unload and reload. 

9. Cubbies

If your living room is a dedicated play area, you’ll probably need several places to store toys. A cube organizer, usually with four to nine slots, will give you plenty of room. If you have multiple kids, dedicate specific storage cubes to each, so they feel a sense of responsibility for putting items away.

10. Large baskets/laundry hamper

A tall decorative basket or large structured bag (such as a laundry hamper) will neatly hold a load of toys. If it has a lid, even better. Store it in the corner or use it as a side table after the kids go to bed.

11. Ottoman (or two)

An ottoman is more than just a place to rest your feet. Choose one, or even two, specifically made with hidden storage to keep small toys contained. No longer underfoot, but still under foot.

12. Storage bench

Another option for double duty, a storage bench works as both a place to sit while you put on shoes and as a trunk to stow toys — and later, school backpacks. Make that triple duty.

13. Portable storage

If you really don’t want to have toys in the living room at the end of the day, try a portable option. Add some wheels to a toy box so you can easily move it from one room to another, or into a closet. Since it will be out of sight, you can use something as utilitarian as a plastic storage container.

14. Coat closet

If you have a coat closet nearby, take advantage of the opportunity to literally close the door on clutter. You could just toss toys in, but they’re less likely to spill out if you have a storage bin to hold items.

With a little secret organization, you can keep your space free of toy clutter — at least once playtime is over. Search KSL Classifieds for the living room furniture that will easily hide toys out of sight. Find more ideas for organizing your home on our Resource Center.