12 IKEA Storage Solutions That Help Keep Playrooms Organized

A playroom can be a wonderful world of imagination and fun for your children or grandchildren. It is in this space that your little ones can become knights slaying dragons, astronauts going to space, princesses in their castle, or engineers building complex LEGO creations. Play, however, is messy work, and many times these spaces that are oh-so-magical for children can become the worst nightmare of adults responsible for managing them. While there are a number of viable solutions to a wrecked playroom, one reason your kids' playroom could be getting trashed on a regular basis is that you lack appropriate organizational tools. Fortunately, IKEA has a wide range of products that are designed specifically to aid you in bringing order back to your home's playroom. 

If you're hoping to better organize your children's playroom, knowing what options are available to you can help you narrow your search. For homes that need arts and crafts to be brought under control, there's the FLISAT Children's table and the MALA Paper holder, each of which provides ample storage and functionality for budding artists. If you're a bin-loving parent, the TROFAST or SMÅSTAD makes clean up a breeze. For more innovative solutions, there's the FLISAT Toy storage with casters, or the BRIMNES cabinets, if built-ins are what will help you stay on top of playroom organization. Whatever your needs, these IKEA storage solutions should give you plenty of scope for keeping that messy playroom as tidy as possible, and possibly make other parents envious of your organizational abilities.

Keeping up with your little one's creative genius can be a challenge. Crayons, markers, stickers, and other arts and crafts supplies often get underfoot, resulting in chaos during clean-up time (as well as friction when they want to get started on a new project). The FLISAT Children's table ($99.99) is one of the most popular resources from IKEA for encouraging creativity while managing art inventory. Customers praise the versatility of this piece. It pairs well with the plastic TROFAST bins, which can be inserted into the openings, so you can easily hide everything away.

The TIGERFINK storage unit with compartments ($19.99) is a promising organizational tool that can be added to the smallest of playrooms. You can fill it with stuffed animals, dress-up clothes, or a variety of other play items. One word of caution, however, is that the TIGERFINK has very mixed reviews: Some customers love it and find it affordable and easy to assemble, while many others state that it is a nightmare of a product, is flimsy, and not worth keeping. This could be a good experimental organization solution if you're good with DIY furniture.

Your budding artist is probably always asking for more paper and losing their art supplies, so why not outfit their playroom with a paper and storage hub? The MALA paper roll holder with storage compartment ($12.99) is affordable and crafted from natural materials if you like that type of aesthetic. If you're struggling under the chaos that is free-standing easels or art caddies, this solution might be a playroom hero. Customers who have purchased the MALA have high praise for it, calling it a perfect organizing solution for paper and supplies alike.

Sometimes when you're maintaining an organized playroom, you just need a place to dump toys. This is where a toy chest or bench with storage comes in as a handy resource. The SMÅSTAD bench with toy storage ($99.99) has earned a place on the list of beloved playroom organizers. The storage portion of the bench slides out so you can have your kids deposit their toys (in an orderly or chaotic fashion), knowing that you'll quickly regain a tidy space. Personalize it with handles for the drawers, as well as a bench cushion. 

The TROFAST storage combination with boxes ($146.99) offers plenty of storage space for toys, dress-up clothes, or anything else your children are into at the moment. The wooden frame accommodates a number of bin configurations, using either the deep TROFAST bins or the shallow ones. While there are certainly many items that can be stashed in the TROFAST Storage combo, many customers complain about the unit's quality, citing long assembly times, misaligned drill holes, and tracks that result in the bins falling down repeatedly, as reasons for their frustration, though positive reviews are plentiful, too.

The best way to design your playroom, according to an expert, is with appropriate storage for the space. One good example is the DUNDRA activity table with storage drawer ($199.99). This activity table allows your kids to stand and build for as long as they like, accessing a large drawer whenever needed for the retrieval of more toys or an easy clean up. The DUNDRA is highly reviewed by customers (with a 4.7-average rating), who say that it is great for wooden trains and tracks, LEGOs, and other creative, building play.

The FLISAT book display shelf ($29.99) is a great addition to a playroom that is swimming in books. Proponents of Montessori-style education are enthusiastic about front-facing bookshelves, saying that they are better for children, aiding the selection of books, organization, and even visual development. The FLISAT bookshelf offers a simple style that can mesh well with other furniture, and is great for holding hardcover and board books so that your kids can access them whenever they want story time. The product also has high reviews, with customers praising the appearance and ease of assembly.

For a larger playroom library, the FLISAT might not be sufficient. Enter the BERGIG book display unit with storage drawer ($129.99), which boasts a much more expansive area for holding books. This piece isn't just for books. You can use it for toys and art supplies, since it has a wide and deep surface below the bookshelf section. There's also a drawer that pulls out and can be filled with a variety of items. Pair the drawer with some organizing bins or drawer dividers to keep everything nicely stored. 

Sometimes organizing the playroom is a bit of a moving target, especially when your kids like to take their playthings to a different corner or room of the house. In these cases, a storage solution that can easily roll around with your little ones is a great choice. The FLISAT toy storage bin with wheels ($59.99) is a highly reviewed customer favorite that makes for an integrated bring-along storage solution. It can also be used as a pretend train or car for stuffed animals or dolls, ensuring its popularity with children.

If you find your playroom figuratively drowning in stuffed animals, plushies, and other larger volume toys, the VITBJÖRN storage unit with drawer ($179.99) could help you corral your kids' collection. Though it is on the pricier side, customers have given it a thumbs-up, with a 4.5-star average, praising its quality and usefulness. The large bottom drawer can be accessed from either side, which makes situating the piece in the room easy because you can put it wherever it fits. Children may also appreciate that the box looks like a house.

It's easy for small pieces to go missing or get placed in the wrong bin when your playroom only has big catch-all buckets. If your children have smaller building toys or they like to be organized, the TROFAST storage tray with compartments ($4) is an affordable and useful solution. It's compatible with the TROFAST storage frames, allowing for a seamless integration into your playroom's setup. Reviews mention how useful it is for organizing LEGO pieces that otherwise get lost in the shuffle.

If you want your playroom to look a little more put-together, Joanna Gaines' playroom storage recommendation for closed cabinets could be for you. The BRIMNES cabinet with doors ($99) is one of the most versatile, affordable cabinets at IKEA, with more than 1,100 five-star reviews. Customers love that the cabinets look beautiful, and they also receive decent marks for assembly friendliness. Reviews mention that the cabinets are great for playrooms, delivering an end result that will make the playroom look and feel well-organized. The cabinets are available in white and black to suit your preferences.