With the blessing of children comes a bit of chaos and clutter. We want kids to play, explore and use their imaginations, but maybe with a little less mess! Luckily, there are plenty of functional products out there that come in fun colors and kid-friendly designs to help keep toys organized and accessible. But here’s the real secret: Keep it simple so children can maintain the organization.

Stuffed animals, action figures, dolls and cars literally seem to multiply on their own. These toys are always favorites and get played with often. Consider mounting an over-the-door shoe rack to the back of your child’s door. Each pocket is the perfect size for small toys. Choose one with clear vinyl pockets, so children can easily find their toys and clean up is simple.

Under-the-bed storage bins with wheels are inexpensive and the perfect size for storing costumes and dress-up items. With the bins tucked away under the bed, clean up is quick and easy, which increases your chances of the children doing the work.

Building and construction sets give children a chance to design their own masterpieces. For storing these items, look for smaller bins that stack and have carrying handles (in case your little architect wants to assemble a new creation on the dining room table). Keeping the pieces organized by color is an easy way to for children to find what they are looking for and bins that are too big will make that difficult. If you’ve got a Lego fanatic, check out our Lego Star Wars ZipBin Toy Box that doubles as a storage bin for Legos, as well as a Lego playmat. For just $19.99, it just might save you one less incident of stepping on a sharp Lego!

Have fun organizing and be sure to let us know about your favorite toy storage tips!