A clean and organised home is a treat for the eyes. Not only does it contribute to the beauty of the place, but it is also helpful for better mental health. However, even with all the precautions and maintenance, living places are likely to get messy for several reasons. Speaking of things that make a place messy, kids’ toys can contribute greatly if not handled properly. If you do not declutter toys promptly and effectively, they can affect the overall decoration of your place which would require frequent cleaning.
Toys Taking Over the House
Clutter of any kind is never a good sight. Your place can be cluttered with clothes, additional appliances or kids’ toys. While there are some tips to clean your house that can help keep your place in good condition, toy clutter, in particular, can become a frequent issue. You can declutter toys at home several times and find them lying around within a matter of hours in some cases.
Kids leave the toys unattended once they are done playing. While large toys can greatly affect the decoration and ambience of the room, smaller ones aren’t a good sight either. Toys lying around can also be dangerous as anyone can fall off while walking. Additionally, excess toys can also take up space which otherwise may have been used for other purposes. If you live in a small apartment, the advantages of small-space living can be undermined in this scenario.
How to Declutter Toys
The clutter from toys may seem chaotic and a lot to handle at times however, there are some measures you can take to prevent this chaos. Listed below are some steps to help you keep kids’ toys from taking over your home.
DESIGNATE A PLAYING ROOM
One of the most effective ways to declutter toys and prevent them from taking over the house is to designate a playing room or area for kids. This can help keep the toys in one place. You don’t have to go through the entire house looking for scattered toys. When all the toys are in a single room, it becomes easier to clean and organise.
The designated area can be any room in the house. This strategy can be easy to implement if you live in a rental villa compound in the UAE or own one. Villa compounds have enough rooms with additional space and you can use any of the free rooms. If you are low on space you can designate a corner in a specific room.
Once the room is decided, it is important to let kids know that toys aren’t allowed outside the playing area. Inform the little ones that the rest of the house is a toy-free zone. Even if the kids bring the toys outside the play area, they should be taught to return the toys to the playing area. Little reminders from time to time can help develop a habit of keeping the toys in the playing room. Additionally, the playroom also comes in handy for providing children with their personal playing space.
Moreover, you can follow these superhero room decor ideas to create an ideal playing environment in the kid’s room.
CHOOSE THE TOYS SMARTLY
Toy clutter can be avoided upfront if you choose the toys wisely. It is a wise move to go for evergreen toys instead of trendy ones. Trends change frequently and the toy may end up in the corner of the room creating clutter. Avoid excessive purchasing and oversized toys as they can take up additional space in the house. Home libraries can also be ideal to divert kid’s interest towards books and they are good for toys storage too. Go through these home library tips to give the little ones an ideal learning space.
Additionally, go for educational and learning toys and restrain from buying stuff that may be hazardous in any way. Quality should be of priority when selecting the right toys. You can browse through a large variety of used toys for sale in the UAE and select the ones best suited for your place.
ELIMINATE THE CLUTTER AND DONATE
Excess toys will always contribute to a mess. They might not be in use anymore but the occupied space leaves less or no room for newer toys, which are then left scattered. An effective way to declutter toys is to bring the kids on board.
Have kids sit with you and let them decide on the toys they find least interesting. Explain the value of sharing and how the old toys can be a blessing for the underprivileged. Once they decide on the toys, it is a nice gesture to donate them to some trusted charity. Additionally, you can use the kids’ room ideas to give them a room to their liking and they will be tempted to keep it clean and organised.
MARK SOME TOYS AS OUT OF REACH
Some toys tend to be messier than others. Puzzles and building blocks can be hard to recollect as little pieces can squeeze into spaces between sofas or similar places. Similarly, playing dough can stick on the carpet and becomes rather difficult to remove. Some carpet cleaning hacks can help in this regard but extreme cases may require a replacement.
You can tag such toys as out of reach or occasional toys. These toys can be used on rainy days or on holidays. Additionally, it is a good idea to use these sorts of toys away from rooms with carpets or furniture.
ORGANISE THE TOYS
Organised toys are less likely to cause clutter. You can organise toys categorically or by the preference of the little ones. This can help declutter toys as kids will only take out the toys they need instead of taking out the whole lot. Let the kids decide the categories a toy is fit for and label the cartons or boxes to make them easier to find.
USE STORAGE SPACES
Designated storage spaces can also help keep toys from taking over your home. Plastic bins, cartons and boxes can all be ideal for storing toys of different types. You can also place the toys on bookshelves, under the bed or use a huge basket for all toys. Teach the little ones to place the toys in their specific places once they are done playing.
Additionally, if you reside in a rental apartment in the UAE and are running short on space, these small space storage ideas can help you improvise.
ALLOCATE ADDITIONAL TIME TO PUT TOYS BACK
Another effective way to declutter toys at home is by allocating some extra time. Once the kids are done playing, they can use the extra time to put all the toys in their places. This teaches the little ones discipline and the good habit of cleaning. You can also follow these siblings shared room ideas to give their room an appealing look and the siblings can encourage each other to keep the room in good shape.
These were all the ways to declutter toys and keep them from taking over your home. A house with kids is more likely to come across toys clutter. Toys play an important role in the kids’ life and these tips to declutter toys can help you avoid a mess while letting the kids make full use of their playing time. That said, if you have toddlers at your place, you should babyproof your house to ensure a safe environment.
If you are looking for a spacious place to designate a separate playing area or for any other use, check out these houses for rent in the UAE and select the one best suited for your family.
Stay tuned to UAE’s top property blog for decluttering tips and more.
