Real-Life Playroom Organization: Before and After Transformation

When our client Hannah ∗ reached out, she was at that familiar breaking point so many parents hit — the playroom had become the most frustrating room in the house.

Once thoughtfully designed for toddlers, it had slowly morphed into a catch-all zone where nothing had a real home. Toys had multiplied, the storage that once worked no longer did, and the floor had become the main storage system.

It started as a perfectly designed toddler space, but as the kids grew, so did the stuff. The storage stopped keeping up and, well… the floor became the system.

You know that stage, where everything’s “technically” in the playroom, just not in anything.

Over time, the toys, books, and games changed, but the playroom systems stayed the same — leaving everything without a true home.

To make things trickier, this playroom also needed to double as a guest room. Hannah wanted a space that still felt warm and welcoming when family came to visit, but easy to maintain day-to-day.

Before our playroom organizing overhaul, the bed setup wasn’t doing the room any favors. It felt clunky and out of place, making it hard to use the space well.

The previous year, we had organized her linen closets and bathrooms — systems that were still going strong — so she called us back to take on the playroom next.

Step 1: Space Planning to the Rescue

We started with our Space Planning Service, which is perfect for rooms that have lost their way — especially kid spaces. It’s not interior design; we’re not picking throw pillows or paint colors. What we are doing is designing systems that make sense for the way you actually live. That means:

• Accessing every item in the room

• Measuring and mapping how things can best fit

• Finding storage that looks good and works

  
  

We see it all the time — beautiful furniture that simply doesn’t work. Shelves are too short for board games, cabinets too shallow for taller toys like the Paw Patrol tower, and before long, everything ends up on the floor or tucked wherever it’ll fit. It’s hard to keep things tidy when the storage doesn’t actually support what you own.

The 3-Tier Storage Solution is great for light toy storage, but the bins are on the smaller side. If you’ve got big sets or lots of pieces, they fill up fast.

Our goal for Hannah’s space was to change that — creating true home bases for every category so things could be easily seen, used, and put away.

Knowing what we were working with, we designed two functional layouts. Both versions prioritized:

• Defined zones for play, storage, and guests

• Smart containment for every category

• Easy clean-up routines that kids could handle

• Space to grow as the kids got older

  
  

One concept leaned more toward active play — bright, open, and full of movement. It gave the kids plenty of room to spread out, build, and imagine, with flexible storage that could shift as their interests changed. The other concept was cozy and structured, built around the idea of calm and order. It featured softer textures, a tucked-away daybed, and a layout that made it easy to switch gears when guests came to stay.

Even though the styles looked different, both designs shared the same foundation: flow and function first. Every choice centered on how the family would actually use the space day-to-day — how toys would be accessed, how cleanup would happen, and how the room could evolve as the kids grew.

Step 2: The Final Concept

After reviewing the two layouts, Hannah took a few days to think things through. In the end, she wanted a blend of both — and together, we came up with what we now call “The In-Between Room.” This space was all about balance. It brought together:

• The warmth and guest-ready vibe from the cozy layout

• The clear toy zones and structure from the playful one

  
  

Our final concept was a room that could flex — calm enough for guests, fun enough for kids, and designed to evolve as they grow.

Here’s a look at how we present our space planning concepts — a bird’s-eye layout paired with visual mockups for each zone so clients can see how everything comes together.

Step 3: Declutter, Categorize, Reset

Once the concept was locked in, we kicked off Phase One: Decluttering and Categorizing.

We went through every toy, book, and art supply — grouping “like with like” and editing as we went. We found broken toys, dried-out markers, and art projects no one remembered making. A few donation bags and a couple of full trash bags later, the space already started to feel lighter and more manageable.

Every playroom transformation begins with an edit. We let go of what’s broken, outgrown, or no longer loved, so the space feels lighter and more functional.

The less you have, the easier it is to organize, clean, and maintain a space.

With a few key furniture pieces already assembled by Hannah and her husband — the IKEA TROFAST, BERGIG Book Storage, and the BRIMNES Daybed

We love the IKEA Trofast for its versatility and clean lines. In this space, it became a statement piece — and to balance the wall, we decided to go big.

At this point, the room was about 70% complete. We were waiting on the Elfa system to arrive, plus a few final touches like floating shelves, a paper roll for the art station, and some finishing details

Step 4: Finishing Touches

Once everything arrived, we came back for Phase Two — installing the Elfa storage unit, hanging shelves, patching walls, rehanging doors, and touching up paint.

And because the window wall was begging for something fun, we added peel-and-stick polka dots — a simple detail that instantly made the room feel cheerful and intentional.

By the end, it was hard to believe this was the same space.

The Playroom Organization Final Details

The final details are what bring the whole room together. For Hannah's room, some small items and accessories really made this space functional and easy to maintain when it's time to clean up.

• Everything is labeled

• Storage is kid-height for independence

• The Flip-Out Bins for all the small trinkets

• The 5-Section Acrylic Collator for puzzles and books

• The IKEA frames for displaying kids' art

• The bulletin board for showcasing keepsakes

• The three-tier rolling cart for guests

The space finally feels balanced — playful when it needs to be, calm when it should be, and easy to reset at the end of the day.

What We Used

This isn’t the full list, but a little sneak peek at some of the larger pieces that formed the backbone of our organizing systems. The complete inventory had about 25 items — down to the very last detail. If you’re curious to see the full list (or want to use it as a starting point for your own space), send me an email and I’ll happily share it with you.

• TROFAST Storage Combination with Boxes

• BERGIG Book Display with Storage

• BRIMNES Daybed with Drawers and Mattresses

• 24" Wall-Mounted Kraft Paper Roll Dispenser

• Modular Flip-Out Bins

• Custom Kids Elfa System

The Budget

Hannah's total investment came in under $5,000.00, broken down roughly as:

• $2,000 for new furniture, shelving, and all wall accessories

• Under $200 for organizing product (bins, baskets, containment)

• $2,500 for space planning concepts, labor, and installation

  
  

A solid investment for a space that is multifunctional — and will continue to be for years to come. So really it's two rooms for the price of one.

Tips For Starting Your Own Playroom Project

If you’re about to dive into your own playroom project, I highly recommend spending time on the planning phase. We use Canva for our quick mockups and mood boards. A little thought and prep go a long way here. I’ve seen so many families skip straight to buying bins, only to realize the systems don’t actually fit their lives. Here’s how I recommend approaching playroom organization if I were starting from scratch:

1. Declutter first. No need to organize what you don’t use or love. Get honest about what actually gets played with. Also, determine what you want and don't want in your playroom.

2. Sort and categorize. Group similar items together so you can see what you have before deciding how to store them.

3. Measure everything. Measure the dimensions of your cupboards, shelves, and storage areas. Nothing’s more frustrating than realizing Monopoly is an inch too long for your cupboard. Make sure you measure everything!

4. Plan the space before you buy. This part matters most. Think through how the room flows, where things will live, and how you can maximize storage before you start shopping.

5. Create systems that fit your routines. Design around how your family actually uses the space — not how you wish you did or something that you say on Pinterest.

6. Ask for help (and expect delays. DIY is great, but the small details can get missed when time is tight — and shipping delays are inevitable. Build in breathing room.

7. Label everything. It’s the simplest way to keep your playroom organization systems working long-term.

What I Love About This Playroom Project

I loved this project because it shows what can happen when you start fresh with intention. We replaced nearly everything in the room, but every piece was chosen with purpose. Nothing was added just to fill space; it was all about creating function and flow that would actually last.

What I’ve learned from doing so many of these playroom organization projects is that it’s rarely about the toys themselves. It’s about the systems underneath them. Once those are in place, the cleanup routines, the independence, the calm — it all starts to fall into place.

Hannah’s space turned into a room that actually works for her family — easy to reset, simple to maintain, and welcoming when guests come over. That’s always the goal: less effort, more ease.

If you’re thinking about reworking your own playroom (or any space that’s stopped working for you), start small, plan it out, and give yourself some time. And if you’d rather not go it alone, that’s what we’re here for — to help you make sense of it all and get you to the part where it finally feels good again.

** Name changed for privacy.