Take your playroom from survival mode to a decluttered place where your kids can thrive! Disorganization and excess clutter doesn’t just stress out moms and dads, it can also stress out your kiddos and leave them with decision paralysis. Remember, more doesn’t mean better, so let 2025 be the year you enjoy your home play spaces.
We’ve rounded up 10 practical ways to declutter your playroom and make playtime more enjoyable for everyone!
For the best playroom, reduce the number of toys in the room.
There are several ways to do this, depending on your comfort level. To get started, pick 8-12 toys you want featured in your playroom over the next month or two. The remaining toys should be sorted into bins for storage donation, or sale. My rule is that if it hasn’t been played with in the last 6 months, it goes. You can donate toys online in buy-nothing groups, goodwill, or even local churches. If you want to sell them, check facebook for specialty brand buy,sell, trade groups or post on the marketplace. You can use the extra money to jazz up your playroom even more!
Make the toys you have easy to see and play with.
You can put them on low shelves or cabinets, in labeled bins or bags. This will make it easy to swap toys out after a month or two. It allows your child to see and access the toys in the room, and when you label them, it is easy to put them back in the right place. There are multiple ways to label - you can design your own on paper, buy printable labels and design on your computer, or purchase an inexpensive label maker.
Have a playroom clean-up rule and schedule.
Since your playroom has fewer toys in it, clean-up should be much more manageable. After play, the toys are put back in the same spot or bin each day. Depending on your child’s age, you can build this habit by making it fun. Turn on a silly song and try to get pieces back before it ends, practice taking turns, or make it into a game (mom puts away all toys that are blue and green, etc.) This will leave the space inviting the next time your kids want to play. Once every week, do a 15-minute deeper clean to make sure the playroom isn’t collecting additional toys or clutter. I use this as an opportunity to wipe down surfaces, vacuum and dust. Everyone loves coming into a nice, clean, well-organized play area!
Use dual-purpose toys and furniture in the playroom.
A play couch, like a Figgy, can be used as a reading nook or to build a fort or as a play kitchen - and eliminates the need to multiple items that can crowd spaces. Or consider a train table that converts to a lego station or art spot. Kids will get multiple ways to play and you’ll have far less clutter!
Make the space inviting for kids (and for you!)
No matter what your budget, there are awesome ways to improve the aesthetics of your space. You can go all in and hire designers who specialize in playroom design or do a little DIY. It’s amazing how a new paint color, accent wall, light fixture, or piece of art can change the vibe of your space. If your rent, removable wallpaper will be your best friend and there are a ton of options. Having a brightly lit space is key, if your space is dark brighten it up with a lighter wall color and some extra lighting. I love PopLights for a non-permanent way to add sconces to a room, even better - they don’t take up floor space! Another fun hack, frame your kid’s art! They love to see how special you think it is and it’s a great way to elevate the space.
Clear the floor! Make sure there is space to play.
Sounds simple but consider how much floor space your kids to have to play. Consider removing furniture/bins, etc. if clear space is limited. Before you make any major changes, grab a piece of paper and visually sketch out the changes. It’s eyeopening to see furniture and toys laid out! It will give you a general idea of how you want your room to look and save you time in the long run. I always love a good mood board, too! It’s a fantastic way to see how colors and pieces will come together.
Consider where YOU fit in! Yes, caregivers matter.
Any parent knows that the kids go where they go and no matter how cool your playroom is, your kids are not going to play in there for hours (or heck in my case 15 minutes) without me being near. I love having a spot I know I can use, and it doesn’t always mean I have to play WITH them. Sometimes, I’ll be working on my laptop, sending off emails, or even just reading a few pages in my kindle. I found that when I have a dedicated spot, I want to be in there more, and so do my kids. For “my space” I look for comfortable/supportive seating, access to a plug and a lapdesk.
Invest in quality toys that encourage open-ended play.
I love Sarah’s silks, sensory stations, craft/art areas, blocks, play couches, dress-up, etc. They are less likely to go “out-of-style” because of all the ways you can play with them! It’s cool to see how your kids change how they play as they grow and develop new skills.
Use the walls as another way to play!
Walls are often overlooked areas for play! For wall decor, I love Felt Right’s tic-tac-toe - it not only dampens sound but looks great and is fun to play with! I’m a big fan of chalkboard paint - you can create a space where your kids literally get to color on the walls, how fun is that?! It’s also easy to paint over when you don’t need it anymore.
Consider the seating and rugs in your playroom.
Again, this can be more age-dependent. When they are young, they will likely be on the floor - so make sure there is a comfortable spot that’s not too cold or hard. For your sanity, choose something easy for you to clean. The plush washable rugs are a favorite in our family. There are also foam tiles that get rave reviews and come in various colors and patterns.
The Key Takeaways:
Creating or redesigning your playroom doesn’t need to be expensive or a ton of work - in fact, with it decluttered it should be both more enjoyable and easier to keep clean. A few simple steps can breathe new life into your home and play areas! It’s worth the time to invest in a space that you’ll be able to use for years to come.
Links to Products I Love:
Zipper Pouches for puzzles and small pieces/figures
Figgy Play Couch for seating, fort building
Felt-Right Tic-Tac-Toe for wall decor games
GrOH! Playrooms or Smart Playrooms for expert design help
DIY Chalkboard Wall tutorial
Ruggable washable rugs for easy to clean soft seating
Whiteboard for easy-to-see cleaning and toy rotation schedule
Label Maker for on-demand labels
PopLight to add non-permanent lighting
About the author:
Rachel is a mom of 6 who knows a thing or to about clutter (and decluttering!). She lives in Wisconsin and is always up for snow, cheese curds, and a good beer!