cabinets toy storage back of family room?
See picture for layout. Does it make sense to keep a row of small cabinets at the back of the family room a bit less than counter height? We have small kids 2 under 5 and toys are always in the family room currently in condo. Wondering if storage would help more tidying up and looking more clean.
With no cabinets maybe it looks bigger and spacious ?
I have an office space on main floor and living room which could also be used for toys area or storage.
Worth putting in the cabinets at back?
Comments (7)
jck910
3 months agoemilyam819
3 months agoRelated Discussions
Back of peninsula at entrance to family room
Comments (9)Ineffablespace makes a good point. If your cabinets will be stained, then having cabinet panels in this spot will result in fewer and less visible mars and marks to the finish. A painted surface is going to be more susceptible to damage from feet (especially if shoes are involved). If you're going with a painted finish, then it won't make a big difference which way you go for durability. One option with paint, if it is OK to have a slight sheen on this surface, is to overcoat the paint. On our (painted) pantry shelves, I was tired of looking at marks from cans and other objects, and used a Varathane product to overcoat the shelves (it's a matte finish polyacrylic with aluminum oxide added for durability). It's been 5 months and the shelves look like new. spartans99, did you end up going with the same cabinetmaker we did? We spoke a few weeks ago and you were in the middle of selecting someone. Ed P.S. Go Green! (and Go Blue! ... I'm a Michigan fan) in the games tonight!...See Morefavorite toy storage solution that works?
Comments (30)Funny this thread popped back up! Ever since I commented on it I had been debating on ordering those bins from land of nod. I looked in to the ones from the company store, and they are cheaper. The company store also has sales. The difference though is that the ones from land of nod come with hardware to mount them to the wall. I was just about ready to order them. I had sample chips of the colors and had navy blue picked out. Then I came across this ridiculously long farm work table thing on ebay.... It was close to my house and the price was right. I also like that it can stay when he grows up and I can put other things on it someday. I just have to find some bins now and get my son to start cleaning up with me. He has just started doing that. I like the canvas box type things shown above, but it seems like kids can't see in them too well. That isn't a problem? I thought I would need either plastic bins or bins that have a lower front so it is more obvious what is inside. For now I have been just stacking his toys on the shelves and on the floor underneath....See MoreCraft Room? Toy Room? Play Room? HELP!
Comments (7)`Beautiful floors! I would use some of your furniture to block out your space vs kids space. Put the short side of the desk on the wall where the antique radio is (line up the edge of the desk with the edge of the wall opposite). Can you get a matching black cabinet with baskets? If they are tall enough, back them up to the desk with the baskets facing towards the window. Then all the space in front of the window is for the kids and kids stuff. Put the armoire under the 1/4 round window. It will encroach a little into the desk space but it's a huge desk... Will the rug fit across-wise? Put the rocker where the armoire is for a cozy read....See MoreHelp with dining room / children's toy storage
Comments (8)Then all the toys stay in the playroom there is no reason to have them anywhere else except maybe one tou at a time where you happen to be. IMO your DR is not a play space ever.Then move the buffet where you have the cubes and get a nice colored piece of art above it . The dog cage belongs anywhere but there the tall piece needs to go . A piece of art where the clock is put the clock in the play room to teach her how to tell time. If you are having a dinner and there is another child bring the table and chairs out for that dinner and then back to the playroom Put drapes on the patio doors to the playroom so they can be closed when you have guests and there should be no toy storage in the DR so just move what you have into the playroom. Also a great idea to once a year get rid of toys no longer played with and we used to only release 1/2 the toys from BDs and Christmas so 1/2 way through the year we would exchange the 1 st 1/2 for the next 1/2 You will find kids play with the same toys for a certain length of time and then they are done. Add some nice drapes to the windows and keep this a nice adult dining space....See More
elcieg
3 months agolast modified: 3 months agoI feel the same way as @jck910 about keeping toys in the bedroom. This is the old time school teacher talking, but having lots of toys at easy reach makes for boring play. Too many choices at once and a small child quickly looses interest. Whenever the four of you are going to be in the family room, plan toy time with your children. Basket, bag, whatever, each child chooses what he wants to bring to the family room and their choices go into each bag. It only takes a few minutes to do and child thinks it is fun. Off they go with their bags. When it is time to clean up, make that fun, too. Off the bags go until next time it is play time in the family room.
I know it feels like a forever stage, but pretty soon the kiddos will be older. No need to build low cabinets in the room for just a couple of years.
Love this bag. And it can travel to Gram's for an over night stay.
https://www.amazon.com/Storage-Drawstring-Outdoor-Carrying-Children/dp/B09KM37GH7?th=1
elcieg
3 months agoChris
3 months agoarcy_gw
3 months ago
Patricia Colwell Consulting