Nesting Shadow Box
by Cathy Michaels Design
$32

Shadow Box Assemblage Couple and Bottle
by Le Collage Shaq
$185

Original Sewing Fashion Collage Mixe Media Shadow Box in Wood Frame
by The Rummager’s Shop
$35

Vintage Bird, Lace, and Flowers Shadow Box
by The Bronte Life
$48

Here are a few options I love — each works perfectly in a child’s bedroom or play area, but could also hold its own in a common area, or could find a new life once the kids have outgrown their toys. Who knows — they may even make it to your kid’s dorm room someday.

Via Toy Box

This Portland, Oregon-based company builds beautiful birch cubbies that can be mixed and matched in any number of ways. The colors aren’t too precious, and the form is simple and elegant. Add shelves or closet rods and you could build a system for just about any space in your home.

IKEA

If you’re lucky enough to live in an IKEA-graced city (as I am, FINALLY), you’ve got your pick of inexpensive, well-designed storage systems. We’ve got this TROFAST unit in our basement, and we find it’s ideal for the collections of small toys — the cars, the blocks, the train tracks, and, our favorite, “the random bin.”

Target

And then there’s Target. Lovely Target, where you can buy laundry detergent, school supplies and a cute top in one fell swoop. Target’s kids’ furniture offerings are simply designed and well-priced (assuming you don’t have an IKEA in town). This six-bin storage unit would work as well in an entry as it would in a playroom. The fabric bins are best suited toward lightweight toys, but they’re easy for kids to pull in and out.

Tip: Weed out unused and broken toys before you purchase new storage. You won’t overbuy, and you’ll have a better idea about how many bins or boxes you need. Once you get your new storage in place, rotate the kids’ toys every few weeks to keep them interesting.