Baskets for Toy Storage

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

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Or, in this case, design around them... Our living room is probably never going to be toy-free, and that's okay. I like being able to see the kids playing while I'm cooking in the kitchen. It's the best part of living in a house with an open floorplan. So if the dollhouse, the Legos, the dolls, and puzzles are all pulled out to the living room--all at the same time--wonderful!

Until I want to sit down in the living room to relax, that is... I am a visual person and to see a bunch of stuff drives me nuts. It makes me feel like there are 10,000 little jobs I still have to do so I can't relax. And it makes the house feel much smaller than it is. Never a good thing!

Eventually, I would like to make room in our basement for toys (before long, really, toys will not even be an issue with these two kids--they're growing up so fast!). Contradictory to what I just said about loving to see my kids playing?? Yes, I suppose. But it would be nice to have a dedicated space for play (other than our living room).

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I really love the way the room above looks with the IKEA bookshelves turned on their sides as benches, and baskets beneath to hold loose toys. I love baskets! They are so versatile; holding whatever needs to be kept out-of-sight. They add color and texture. But some thought should go into purchasing them to coordinate with an overall design. You need to think not only about color and material and how that will coordinate with what you already have