If you have children, you know the drill. The moment the holiday season begins, the toy piles seem to grow by the hour. Suddenly, every room in your house has a fortress made of LEGO bricks, or a mountain of stuffed animals threatening to swallow the couch. There’s no escaping it.
Before you hit the panic button, there’s a painless solution to enjoying the festive period with minimal stress. In the whirlwind of preparation, there’s nothing quite like a quick pre-Christmas tidy to make space for the shiny new toys soon to arrive. Most families know the drill: before the big day, the overflowing toy boxes start to seem like a crisis point! Suddenly, that old robot from last year looks very tired. A clear-out not only helps avoid the annual 25th December clutter explosion, but is also a lovely chance to pass on good-quality toys your children have outgrown. Donating them to local charity shops means another child gets the joy of discovering a “new-to-them” treasure on Christmas morning - almost like spreading a little extra magic.
Christmas is all about the kids. It’s the one time of year they can rip open presents, run around the house like they’ve been handed the keys to a toy store, and completely forget about anything resembling tidiness. The toys will pile up and inevitably, the living room will look untidy, but don’t feel guilty about it! Give yourself permission to enjoy yourself and relax.
By the time the wrapping paper settles and the new favourites take pride of place, you’ll already be one step ahead for a gentle New Year tidy-up, having dispensed with a whole bundle of old unused toys beforehand.
Where do you begin decluttering?
The first step is to clear the messiest area completely. It sounds simple but works wonders. Take everything out of the playroom, bedroom, or whatever space is being overtaken by toys. This gives you a fresh slate and lets you assess what you’re working with.
Once all the toys are out, it’s time to categorise. Try putting stuffed animals in one pile, action figures in another, and those mysterious puzzle pieces in a third. As you go through this process, don’t be afraid to part with toys that no longer spark joy.
The “sentimental” dilemma
The key question is, should you throw away, donate, or keep the items? Some toys hold emotional value; maybe it’s a hand-me-down from grandma, or the doll your daughter used to sleep with every night when she was tiny. You can’t just toss them into the donation pile without a second thought.
Take a moment to really think about each item. Is it still played with? Does it hold real sentimental value, or is it just taking up space in the corner? If you have a toy that holds a special memory but no longer gets attention, it might be worth storing it for safekeeping - out of sight, but not out of mind.
Charity shops will be happy to receive items that are still in good condition or you might consider passing them on to another family. It’s a win-win situation: your clutter is reduced, and someone else can enjoy them.
Toy storage ideas for living room
Where do toys normally end up after Christmas? The answer is the living room - that sanctuary you once enjoyed for adult conversations is soon filled with the sounds of talking teddies and action figure battles.
A good idea is to invest in large toy storage boxes now, so you’re ready to kickstart 2026 with a full armoury! Choose stackable containers to save on much-needed floor space. Transparent storage bins are a gamechanger, as they allow you to identify the contents without needing to rummage through each one. You don’t want to be digging for that one specific small toy for half an hour, while your child cries that it’s missing.
Make use of every bit of available space. Keep containers under the coffee table, tucked away in a corner, or on a shelf, so toys are out of sight, but still easily accessible at play time.
Underbed storage box with lid
If you’re short on space, take advantage of the hidden areas you may not immediately consider. A clear underbed storage box with a lid is exactly what you need for toys that are currently out of favour, but must be kept for future play. A storage box on wheels is much easier to slide out whenever the kids want to hunt out those forgotten games.
Other clever ideas to declutter
In the playroom, try our famous Really Useful boxes to categorise toys by type. Add some fun labels to help the children put everything back in its rightful place after they’ve finished their adventures.
In bedrooms, use multifunctional furniture like an ottoman with built-in storage, or a toy chest that doubles as seating. This way, you can hide the clutter but also keep the toys easily accessible. Anything that serves two purposes is a parent’s best friend!
Teach the kids to help
Teach children how to maintain tidiness. Encourage them to clean up after playtime - turn it into a game, a song, or just a friendly reminder to tidy up after themselves. The goal is to make it feel natural, not like a punishment. It’s amazing how much easier it is to keep a space organised when everyone in the house is on board.