Getting Your Home Summer Break Ready - Part 2: Playrooms

As summer break approaches, many kids will be home full-time which means more playtime, more playdates—and yes, more mess. An organized, intentional playroom not only encourages more focused, imaginative play—it also makes clean-up easier for everyone.

Before diving into storage solutions, it’s important to start by decluttering. In this post, we’ll walk you through simple, smart questions to help you decide what to keep and what to donate. Plus, we’ll share a variety of products and systems for organizing toys, games, and puzzles—no matter what kind of space you’re working with.

Are you ready to take on the Everest of kids organization?!

THE PROCESS

Our tried and true process for creating effective, sustainable systems. Skipping steps will save you time today, but will cost you more time and continued stress in the long-run.

Step One: Edit

Non-negotiable, you need to start with a thorough assessment of all your items. Grab a trash bag, some boxes for donations and then gather the toys & games from all the spaces they currently live in your home into one central "working" location". Alternately, you can go room by room if there are toys in more than 2-3 spaces and you feel good about how the toys are currently divided up among the spaces (think playroom, basement, living room, kids rooms, etc).

Start by scanning for obvious trash (party favors, broken items that aren't worth the investment to repair) and then start grouping items into piles of like items. Common categories are things like puzzles, games, barbies + dolls, legos, nerf, electronics, video games, educational toys, dress up, building, sports balls, etc.

Once you have your piles, begin making decisions on whether to keep, donate or trash (which includes recycling) items. I recommend doing this step without your kids around, and creating a "maybe" box that you can ask their input on. Now it's true, kids are willing and able to part with items, but more often than not they will rekindle their love for toys they haven't played with in ages, and you won't make it very far in the editing phase. Below are some helpful questions to ask yourself when making these editing decisions:

1. Has my child played with this in the last 6-12 months? If it’s been collecting dust, chances are it won’t be missed.

2. Is it age-appropriate and developmentally relevant? Toys that are too young or too advanced can go — make space for what suits your child now.

3. Is it broken, missing pieces, or hard to use? If it’s not fixable or causes frustration, it’s time to let it go.

4. Does my child consistently choose this toy during free play? Look for favorites that spark imagination or get regular use.

5. Can it be played with in more than one way? Open-ended toys like building blocks or pretend play items are more versatile and worth keeping.

6. Is it a duplicate or overly similar to something else? Keep the favorite version; donate the rest.

7. Does this toy encourage creativity, movement, or learning? Keep items that promote growth and engagement during summer downtime.

8. Would someone else enjoy this more right now? This helps reframe donation as a positive, generous act.

9. Do we have the space to store it properly? If it can’t be stored in a tidy, accessible way, it may cause more clutter than joy.

10. Does my child ask for or talk about this toy? If it hasn’t come up in a while, it’s likely not that important to them.

Step Two: Location, Location, Location

Take a look at the real estate within your home and determine where toys should live and where play should be encourage. Below are a few questions to help you create intentional zones that work for both kids and adults:

1. How many play zones do we realistically want (and can maintain)? Limiting toy storage to 1–2 key areas helps keep clutter under control and makes clean-up easier.

2. Are there any categories that should live in more than one place? We find that kids often like to keep their favorite books and stuffed animals in their bedrooms, in addition to a playroom.

3. Where do my kids naturally gravitate to play? Instead of fighting it, use their preferences to guide where toys should be accessible.

4. Which spaces allow for supervision or connection with the rest of the family? Open-concept living areas or kitchen-adjacent corners can be great for play while you cook or work nearby.

5. Do we need a quiet, separate space for more focused or independent play? Bedrooms can serve this purpose well.

6. What types of activities do we want to encourage as a family? Board games might live best near the kitchen or family room; building sets could belong in the playroom or basement for group play.

7. Where can we store large or bulky items without disrupting flow or aesthetics? Oversized items like play kitchens, dollhouses, or ride-ons may need dedicated nooks or garage overflow space.

8. Are there any off-limits or low-traffic areas that make sense for long-term or less-used toy storage? Closets, under-bed bins, or garage shelving can help rotate items or keep seasonal toys out of the way.

9. What vibe do we want our home to have—with kids in it? A balanced home can reflect both adult calm and childlike joy. Consider aesthetics as you decide where toys belong.

Once you've assessed your spaces and thought through the above questions, write down your plans starting with the name of the room, the categories of toys you want to live there and the specific place each category will live. For example, playroom = books (bookshelf), legos (built-in cabinet), dress-up (cubby system), magnatiles (built-in cabinet), etc.

Step Three: Measure + Shop

Now that you've determined where you're going to store everything, grab a tape measure, sketch out your spaces on paper (graph paper if you have it) and write down the dimensions of your drawers, shelves and cubbies. Before you go shopping for new organizing products, you'll need to examine your plans and determine if the category needs containment or not.

For example, you may need to reduce the amount of space your board games and puzzles currently take up, so you'll want to shop for zipper pouches and bins to store the pouches. On the other hand, a category like dollhouses doesn't need organizing products, just an intentional home!

Make a list, buy more than you'll need, and give yourself options if you're not sure how something will fit. It's easier to shop and return once, than multiple trips back and forth to the stores. Keep in mind you can also utilize storage products you already have at home. Just make sure they meet your accessibility, maintenance and aesthetic goals.

Step Four: Organize

Now for the fun part, I hope you liked playing Tetris as a kid! 😉 Looking at your plans, start in one room with your defined list of categories to live in it. Stage your organizing products in the spaces you have them planned for to ensure they fit, then fill with your categories of items. If a collection doesn't fit in the medium size bin you bought, having a large bin at the ready can save you another trip to the store.

Once you're pleased with how the items have been contained and arranged, label as much as makes sense to ensure everyone using the items will have an easy time returning them once they're done playing. Consider picture labels for the youngest kids that can't read yet, so they can be inspired to grab a toy that sparks joy, and participate in clean-up when they're done!

MAINTAINING YOUR SYSTEM

Congratulations, you've put in the hard work editing items that no longer serve your family and creating an organized playroom. But I think we all know this is just the beginning—the real magic is in keeping it that way. With a few simple habits and kid-friendly strategies, you can maintain a tidy, functional space and encourage your child to take ownership of it.

Here are a few tips to help make that happen:

1. Build clean-up into the routine. Make it a daily habit, like a quick 10-minute tidy-up before lunch or screen time. Set a timer and make it a race or game for younger kids.

2. Limit what's out at one time. Fewer toys = less mess. Consider rotating toys weekly or monthly to keep things fresh and manageable.

3. Praise effort, not perfection. A “mostly tidy” room is still a win. Reinforce the behavior with positive feedback and encouragement.

4. Review and reset regularly. Once a month (or seasonally), do a quick check-in to see what’s working, what’s not, and what can be adjusted or donated.

ORGANIZING PRODUCTS

Below are some of our top recommended and frequently used playroom organizing products to help get you started. Keep in mind there are many different ways to store items based on a variety of factors (visibility, accessibility, portability, density of items, storage location).

Bringing It All Together

At Sort & Soul, we believe well-designed, intentionally arranged spaces empower you (and your family) to show up as your best self and thrive. If you're looking for more calm and order, empowered kids and less chaos when it comes to the play areas of your home, we're here to help if you don't feel like taking the DIY route!

And in case you missed it, check out part 1 of "Getting Your Home Summer Break Ready" focused on Arts & Crafts.

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We service the following suburbs in Columbus, Ohio: Upper Arlington, Grandview, Powell, Delaware, Dublin, New Albany, Sunbury, Westerville, Galena, Bexley, Plain City, Worthington, Lewis Center.

Disclosure: I could earn commissions for purchases made through some links in this post.

Product photo credits: The Container Store, Target, Walmart, IKEA