Built in cubby toy organization

March 29, 2013

I showed you our new built in cubbies in the basement last month and I’ve been crushing on them ever since:

Can you blame me? That’s seventeen feet of built ins waiting to take on a pile of toys. Seriously – bliss.

Because Target called and asked if I wanted to show off some of their Threshold line and I was all, YEEEEEEAH, I headed out to my local Tar-jay to see if they had what would work for the built ins.

I loved the look of these bins – I thought the gray ones would look awesome down there:

pretty storage bins

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But they were just a little too small for what I needed. And the lid would make it harder for the kiddo to get to his toys.

I loved these too – they had the shape I wanted and I liked the idea of the liner:

pretty storage bins

But they weren’t the right size – I really wanted to use each cubby to the max and these were too small.

I was getting closer with these:

pretty storage bins

But the big one was a little too big and the small one was kind of tapered – smaller at the bottom and larger at the top. In my head I had imagined something perfectly square.

So when I found these large wicker milk crates it was meant to be:

pretty storage bins

I felt a little like Goldilocks when I realized these were just right.

They were the perfect size, I loved the color and the shape was just what I wanted. SCORE.

I ended up going to a couple different Target’s to get them over the course of few weeks. So sorry if you wanted some locals, I was the one buying them all up. ;) On my second trip to get a couple more they were on sale, so I took my receipt back and got credited the difference for all of them – keep that in mind if you buy something and see it’s on sale the next week!

Next came the HUGE toy purge – the boy and I went through ever.y.thing. and ended up with a manageable pile to sort into the containers. But because you can’t see through the bins, I still needed a way to make clean up easy so things stayed organized.

I wanted labels – so I picked up some wood plaques and some cool scrapbook paper from Hobby Lobby:

DIY organizational tags

And used spray adhesive to glue the paper to the wood:

DIY organizational tags

Then cut them out with an x-acto knife like I've done before.

I used Picmonkey to write out the words and then glued them on top. At first I was going to make it cute with pictures of the items inside (cars, etc.), but I realized the Bub is reading and we need to encourage that, so words were what I ended up with:

DIY organizational tags

I drilled holes into each one and tied them through with some twine.

I LOVE how they turned out! Kind of funky and cool, but still cute enough for toys. :) The green and blue works great with the colors down there:

DIY organizational tags

I didn’t fill every cubby with them (there are 22 cubbies!!), but my need for symmetry won out – I used five on one side and four on the other:

The subwoofer fills in the fifth spot on this side, so it looks balanced.

The cubbies at the ends are open for random toys:

You know, for things like ginormous stuffed penguins. ;)

I found a few other items while at Target, of course. This basket was on clearance in the kitchen aisle and it holds the many random Legos that end up all over that countertop.

All. over. (Twitch.):

Sometimes Momma just needs to be able to throw stuff in a basket and not worry exactly where it goes, you know?

These big floor pillows were on clearance for $12 each – so soft and big and perfect for laying around on the floor:

floor pillows

And of course…I couldn’t resist another placemat pillow. It’s a sickness people, I know. I can’t quit them:

placemat pillow

This one is just two placemats sew together with another pillow stuffed inside. It literally took me ten minutes. Thankfully you can’t see the horrible sewing job, it’s hidden by the fabric. ;)

I LOVE the baskets and LOVE the labels and I LUUURVE how the basement is coming together:

There’s still much to do on this wall – the lamps will get painted, just not sure what color yet. Still need to hang floating shelves, art…and maybe a few other fun things. The top will be cleared off a little when the shelves go in.

But I cannot tell you how happy I am to finally have a dedicated and organized spot for all of the toys. It’s been six years coming. :)

It’s not picture perfect but it’s functional and fun and we love it:

My little photo bomber had to get in on the action too:

Sorry. :)

By the way, the cubbies are not wide enough for games, but I have those in a dresser down there. (Most of them are up in the family room anyway.) Some of them fit in the built ins but most are too long.

There you go, our wall of blissful, wonderful, fantastic organization. It’s so easy to clean up down here now too, he knows exactly where things go. And we’ve already discussed that this is IT – if we can’t find a spot for something new, something else has to go.

Can I just tell you how awesome my kiddo is at purging? He is SO great at telling me things can go – so good at it that I find myself saying, “Are you sure??” Yet again, it’s me that has the sentimental attachment to most of it, but I’m always getting better at letting things go that we don’t use or love anymore. (Although when he told me the remaining Thomas the Trains could go I did keep some in his memory bin.) ;)

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Comments

  1. Pretty sure I saw you at my local Target! Were you out and about the day it snowed? :)

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  2. I have those same bins. Love! I like how you put the labels on them with the twine. I think I'll be doing that too.

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  3. Looks awesome! Great job!!! And, I love the photo bomb!! What a cutie!!!~~Angela

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  4. This is amazing!!! :) Great job organizing and making it pretty at the same time!!

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  5. I love this idea! I have been looking for ideas like this for when the baby comes. The hubby put in some cubbies in each of our closets and I think that a few of those baskets would be perfect for storing things/throwing them out of sight...haha. Great idea with the labels too! Thanks again!

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  6. I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS! I definitely have to create something like this. I have an 8 yr old boy that has way to many things and I am consistently stressing over it. I have those Dollar Tree clear bin stacked in his closet but it is a pain because he has to get out EVERYTHING for something in the bottom of the stack. Thanks so much for showing us.

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  7. This post makes me happy...I don't have kids anymore but so many little things in closets that need to get a home. Off to Target!!! (I live in Louisiana, there should be some left)

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  8. As someone [obsessed] with organization -- I LOVE it! The lamps might look killer painted a punchier blue (to play off the pillows) and a funky pattern on the shades!

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  9. That is rad. I love your wall of built ins.

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  10. It looks amazing! I would be in heaven with that many cubbies (especially if I still had littles at home). I might have to steal you label idea for the cubbies in my new craft room. Have a Blessed Easter and enjoy the break.

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  11. I must say, Target was GENIUS in having you write this post, because I am on my way there as soon as I get out of the office for a few of those things that you've shown. I didn't realize they had a collection that big. Sure does beat the other 4 places I've looked the past two weeks for square (non fabric) storage bins! You made my day- err weekend. I'm such a dork, I'm excited to start organizing my home office!

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    Replies
    1. .... and $140 later, three different sizes and a 3/4 way organized office - yay!

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  12. My hubby would go crazy if I put lamps by our TV! He would not want the glare! His job is working with a company that makes home theater stuff. So he does have a good point. :) Love organization as well! :) Can't wait for our first home!

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  13. I want to rush out and buy those baskets, but I'll resist since I don't need to spend the money right now. But, I will keep in mind your labels for when I can rush out and buy those baskets. I need to work with my two boys about getting rid of stuff.

    My youngest is the same age as your bub - it's so much fun to see them learning to read and being surprised at what they can read.

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  14. I used those same baskets in my office, love them.

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  15. Looks amazing! Thanks for sharing!

    BTW, whatever happened to the infamous knife-holder-magnet-strips-TO-dinky-toy-storage idea? Did you manage to 'magnet-ify' the Bub's cars?

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  16. I LOVE the look of this!

    I do have one question though: the first picture of the bins show a cut out handle, but on yours I don't see it. Did you turn them so the handles are on the side? And do you think that makes them easier or harder to pull out and use?

    (Ok, so that was two questions. You can now get yourself that cookie!)

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  17. Love, love, love the labels on the bins! I'm going to have steal that one. We have a similar cubbie/bin set-up in our playroom. We're constantly pulling out the bins to find things..they are crying for these labels! (me too)

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  18. I'm so jealous of all that storage space!!! We have an Expedit, but that is like an Expedit on steroids! ;) Love your bin choices--the cutest! Have a wonderful Easter weekend!

    ~Abby =)

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  19. It looks so great!! Am I crazy or are those lamps already awesome- maybe with a funky shade to contrast the traditional?

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  20. Oh my ! Looks like kids heaven in there ! I wish I had a place like this for mine ! They're taking over the living-room for now ... sigh ...
    I also have 2 Expedits in their shared room, with similar baskets, it appears to be a "classic" when it comes to toys organization. So efficient though !

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  21. I neeeed organization. My house is making me feel so stressed- wanna come to GA and build cubbies in every single room, along every single wall in my house?! :P

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  22. I remember measuring Target's baskets with my tape measure to try and fit them in our cubbies. It's hard to find one just right! I love the pillows, too. I can't believe how quickly you're getting everything together. It looks great!

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  23. i DOUBLE dare you to stick a label on the subwoofer. Symmetry, ya know? ;-)

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  24. You found some great crates at Target and they look perfect in your cubbies!

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  25. It looks fantastic. You did a great job on the labels, they're really pretty and easy to read. I love organizing stuff so the final shot makes me drool a bit.

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  26. My friend whose children are now teens keeps a boy tub and a girl tub of toys for when she has guests with little ones who need something age appropriate to play with at her house. The trains are in her boy tub...I've always planned on saving my son's collection but that idea gives me a good excuse! :)

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  27. I love the bins and the labels. I’m about to purge the toy closet any week now. Thanks for giving me the guts to do it!

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  28. That looks so good! I am curious about the Pepsi crate...what's in it? Good thinking about saving some of his toys even though he doesn't want them still. When moving when my sons were in the 8th and 3rd grade, we purged. They didn't want their Ninja turtles any more...no way. Fast forward to when the 8th grader was around 19 and decided he wanted to collect comic figures. Guess who got blamed for throwing away the turtles ...yep good ole Mom!

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  29. GReat job! I love organizing the toys too! My boys are older now (14 & 20) so we don't have that chore any longer.. but I remember the days, and you have done a great (and pretty) job of dealing with all the stuff!

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  30. looks great!! i love how you used the space for optimal storage, nice job.

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  31. It looks FANTASTIC! I love that line of baskets from Target. I have two exactly like yours as well as the magazine holder and the large blanket chest. They are made well, I've had mine for over 2 years and they still look new.
    Enjoy Spring Break! (Ours ends tomorrow, and we were home bodies as well!)
    Sharon

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  32. LOVE it! Soooo....I finally got up the courage to put molding up in our house like you have!!! EEK! I am so excited, I wanted to put it higher than normal, but now I am freaking out because well, I'm not sure...because it's different maybe? My entry and formal living room have a very tall ceiling, our dining area opens to the formal living room and has a normal ceiling...long story short is there rules to molding and do you think this will look, well, dumb?

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  33. Love love love that wall of cubbies, particularly with the baskets too. I love that it's so child friendly. We have a similar wall, but have used basic kitchen cupboards with white doors on (to hide a multitude of sins behind). The labels are fabulous and look awesome - I love how you've attached them to the baskets. GREAT job!!

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  34. Absolutely love the cubbies! Such a brilliant idea!

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  35. love it- I'm so jealous of your immense storage! :)

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  36. You inspired me so much....about our unfinished basement. I love these posts. I am also so glad to hear another momma say that it's really her that has a hard time with the toys. ;) I feel your pain. :) k.

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  37. I am right there with you. I used to not start a project till I had the plan, resources, and help ( usually a heavy lifter ) and timline..What happened to me?? I look around and see things that need finished and its driving me crazy. When did this happen? You are here to hold my feet to the fire.. I'm on it.. I am writing this date down and not buying another thing or trip to the hardware store, till start equals finish.. One room at a time? One task at a time? Keep me posted on your journey. Let's do this!

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