Live

The Small Storage Bins This Dad of Three Is Obsessed With

published May 6, 2022
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Post Image
Credit: Tyler Moore

This piece was created for Cubby, our weekly newsletter for families at home. Want more? Sign up here for a weekly splash of fun and good ideas for families with kids. Join us over on Instagram for more!

Cubby: A Weekly Newsletter for Families at Home

Whether you need smart solutions or fresh ideas, our editors at Kitchn and Apartment Therapy are here with our best meal plans, organizing and design tips, toy recommendations, and more.

My two older daughters have an obsession with small toy sets and craft supplies. They’d love to have their favorite toys within reach all the time, but their little two-year-old sister can’t be trusted. Because all three girls share a play space, and because the playroom in our NYC apartment measures 6.5 feet wide by 14 feet long, we have a toy/art supply setup in our kitchen pantry. On the higher shelves we store messy art supplies, sensory activities, and board games (they have to ask us for help reaching these items); learning materials and puzzles go on shelves the older girls can reach; and the lowest shelves have toddler toys, instruments, and small toy sets that all three girls can reach independently. 

Here are the containers I use to keep all those toy sets and art supplies organized!

Credit: Tyler Moore

The Best Containers for Small Items Like Scissors, Tape, and Crayons

These Iris medium plastic organizers measure 8.5 x 5.1 x 2.0 inches, and have a super compact design. They feature a snap-tight closure latch that remains attached to the bin, which means the lid won’t get lost! We’ve organized individual bins for scissors, tape, paint brushes, crayon and marker sets, colored pencils, washi tape, and more. I love that the snap-tight latch securely closes the supply box and that the boxes can stack on top of one another. These bins also feature a see through design so you’re able to clearly see what is organized inside. 

The Best Containers for Paint, Stickers, Blocks, and Toy Sets

These Iris 5-quart storage bins measure 13 x 8 x 5 inches. These bins are great for shoe or kitchen storage, but they have also been the perfect size for larger art supplies and toy sets. We have a row of 12 bins stacked two high at the top of our pantry and they house paint, art smocks, stickers, beads, dot markers, and various block sets. They feature removable latching lids and have ridges on the top that allow them to securely stack on top of one another. 

The Best Containers for Large Toys, Cardboard, and Fabric

To store larger toys, sensory supplies like Play-Doh, cardboard, and fabric scraps, we use the Iris 17-quart storage bins, which measure 17.5 x 12 x 7 inches. These bins are also stackable, see through, and have latching lids. They’re the depth of our shelves and help to maximize storage for our larger toys. They’re also the perfect height to slide under beds, if you need additional storage in your child’s bedroom.