How to Hide Toys in Plain Sight

It’s not what you think.  No, it’s not my pretty diaper box storage bins.  It’s not about putting them in matching baskets.  And it’s not about storing them behind the doors of your media cabinet. (tried that.  Fail.) 
No, it’s not what you think.
Yesterday I posted about my love for “colorful-without-a-color-scheme” rooms.  Don’t get me wrong, I still love a gorgeous Belgian inspired living room, soothing grays, and a monochromatic navy and white bedroom.  I’ve just finally realized that they’re not realistic for our family.  They may look relaxing in magazines or online, but for me, they actually induce stress. 
Why? 
Because they make the toys too noticeable.
So how do you hide toys in plain sight?  Make sure they’re not the only colorful things in the room!
I applied this idea in my dining room.  I’m not sure if it comes across in pictures, but in real life, the toys are NOT the first thing you see.  Yes, if you were to spend any amount of time at my house, you would realize there were toys there.  But they wouldn’t be the focal point of the room.


Take a look at these rooms – you could easily put a basket of toys in each of them without “ruining” the look.  A matchbox car on the shelves wouldn’t incite a riot.  A stuffed animal left on the couch wouldn’t be the end of the world. 

Let’s start with a gorgeous living room from HiSugarPlum.

Next, even though this room is very “white” there are few colors that would look out of place.

Source: freshome.com via Katie on Pinterest

Here is a more traditional, but equally beautiful living room from Holly Mathis.  It just goes to show you that you don’t have to use bright colors to achieve this look.  Muted tones will work just as well.


Michael Penney has designed a sophistocated room for grown-ups, that also includes enough color that the toys would blend in!


I love this one – the colors remind me of an old map, and scream spring! Notice the light blue sofa?  That’s the second one in this post!

Source: bonesteeltrouthall.com via Katie on Pinterest

Layla and Kevin designed this room for newlyweds, but I think it could be a great room for a family with young kids, too.  With all the bright colors, an exersaucer or lego table wouldn’t actually stand out too much!

And finally, this great family room, from Lisa Leonard, would be equally comfortable for kids or adults.


Adding color to your family room is a great way to make the toys blend in while keeping the room comfortable for adults as well.  Tomorrow, I’m going to show you a real-life family room that is a perfect example of this idea!

Shared at: Wow us Wednesdays 
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