Toy organization… “Totally Organized Tuesday” LINK PARTY!

December 7, 2010
Im so excited to start a new link party called TOTALLY ORGANIZED TUESDAYS with A Bowl Full of Lemons!  I love organizing and even more, I love to see how others organize… to inspire me.  Join me in this weekly link party and share your organizing tips & ideas.  



Here is my organizing inspiration for the week… Toy Organization!

This subject always used to give me a headache… but now that I have organization perfected, I no longer worry about “TOYS”.  With my first daughter, I thought a toy box was the answer.  I later found out that was the worst thing you could buy if you wanted to keep toys in order & under control.  


I found these bins at the Target dollar section (My favorite store)


The key is to containerize EVERYTHING! Plastic shoe boxes are a wonderful invention. If it falls under the toy category, you can containerize it (unless its jumbo size… then stear clear).  I have a container for all of the following toys in my toy room… and I labeled them all. I removed all toys from their original boxes/containers (yes, I know that was hard to do) and put them in the plastic boxes. It was much easier to stack and easier for the kids to utilize.



1. Polly Pockets
2. Lincoln Logs
3. Little People
4. Doctor Kit
5. Mr. Potato Head
6. Strawberry Shortcake
7. LPS
8. Fisher Price Loving Family
9. Play Food
10. Play dishes
11. Coloring Books
12. Crayons/Markers/Paints
13. Moon Sand
14. Dress up Shoes
15. Horses
16. Matchbox Cars
17. Barbies
18. Disness Princesses
19. Flash Cards
20. Playdoh Tools



In a perfect world, all of the containers would be matching… be we dont live in a perfect world. 🙂 Its just not necessary for the kids.







Now if our kids could actually read the labels and pick up after themselves (thats a whole different story).




Jen from I Heart Organizing shared this idea… to containerize dvds, cds, and video games.  I loved the idea so much, I went out and bought 4 of them.  You can purchase them at The Container Store.  



The movies are on an inventory list (you can download this from iheartorganizing). I put them in alphabetical order. They are numbered and placed in the file box where the sleeve is also numbered. Its really easy for the kids to find a movie to watch. They just look on the clipboard.  Thanks for the idea Jen!

Our Movie Inventory List

 Favorite childrens books are on the shelf for easy access.


The Wii system is neatly placed on a game organizer (purchased at a garage sale for $1.00)… thanks Amy!



Finally, Baskets are another great classic organizing tool.


I also joined other link parties today: Please visit them too!








Join me with my first ever “Totally Organized Tuesdays”… Show us how you organize? Any organizing project or tip is accepted.

If you are participating:

1. I would first love if you would become a new follower of my blog!

2. Follow me on Facebook 

3. Follow me on Twitter


4. If you are linking up to Totally Organized Tuesdays, please be kind and add my button to your blog! This will help to get my blog link out there in cyberspace. I truely appreciate it!



Link up your organized life here…

16 comments on “Toy organization… “Totally Organized Tuesday” LINK PARTY!

  1. Beth's Blog says:

    It looks really nice! I need to do this in the boys bedroom, it is so overdue!

  2. Toni says:

    Thanks Beth. Its worth the effort. Trust me! 🙂

  3. Emma says:

    This comment has been removed by the author.

  4. Emma says:

    These are some great tips, thanks!

    One thing I like to do for toy organization for my non-readers is to take a picture of what belongs in that particular container, print it out and tape it to the container. That way they can see where everything belongs.

    http://www.real-parenting-advice.com

  5. Toni says:

    Thanks Emma. Thats a great idea. My 3 year old is pretty good about putting them in the right containers, its the older ones I have to worry about. 😉

  6. Oh I love your organization!! Great job!!

  7. con-tain-it says:

    Sorry I’m a little late to the party ladies…but better late than never 😉 My kiddos are all grown up now but when they were little I did the same thing…got rid of all the dusty boxes. Then I always had shelves in their rooms and all over the house to hold their containers. For legos and building blocks…I used fish & tackle boxes…still have them in the attice…btw 😉 Today I shared how I use curtains to cover my clutter around the house. Enjoy, Roberta

  8. Jill says:

    Toni wow your cabinet looks great. I love your cabinet. I have linked my laundry oraganisation, Now its time to get busy so I have more to link. I love the idea Of totally oragnised tuesdays.

    I love Jen’s blog she has great ideas.

  9. I’m your newest follower! I’m an organizing junkie so I look forward to seeing other people’s ideas. I just posted about toy organization on my blog too! I’ve linked up!

  10. Ammie says:

    SOOOOO AWESOME!!!!! I’ll be over next time to link up! I’m an organizing freak. YOu should check out my “taking inventory” series I do. Your house is so pretty and you did a kick butt job on this kids area. I don’t have the beautiful storage shelves and cabinets you have, but this has really inspired me. gorgeous job!

    Ammie @ http://www.domesticallyobsessed.com

  11. Home Hinges says:

    Oh I wish I had something to add to your link party, but I’m so inspired by your toy organizing I have to go work on the toys. Love it.
    April from HomeHinges.com

  12. Skruger says:

    Toni – is your cabinet custom or from a national retailor? Hubster & I have been discussing toy organization AGAIN and love that you can close the doors and its out of site. Your blog is BEAUTIFUL and I can’t wait to jump on the 21 day plan (even if I don’t have my own blog!)

  13. Toni says:

    I purchased my cabinets at home depot. They were around $150 per set. I got three sets and they were well worth the money. I got them about 2 years ago so Im not sure if they still have them. 🙂 Toni

  14. Robyn says:

    You can also put pictures, rather than just a label on the containers for toys. That way, even if your kids can’t read yet, they can still see where everything needs to go.

  15. Lauren says:

    Yay number 900!
    I’m your newest follower… I gotta say, all this talk of organizing really makes me excited. If I ever stepped foot in The Container Store I might spontaneously combust! great blog, and great tips. Love the one for magazines too!

  16. i really appreciate for this post…thanks for this nice post….

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