Redoing The Playroom/Minimalist

[LVG]

There are TONS of ideas on Pintrest, blogs, and all that, but most of these people do not have a daycare! So I am searching for those of you who live somewhat of a minimalist lifestyle that keep things simple in the play area. Over the last several months I have gradually worked to create a home with less so there is less clutter and cleaning involved, but I am by no means a "real" minimalist or close to it yet. I have stuff on my walls, and it's not all white, and my closets are still packed with more clothes than a person really needs, but at least I am making progress I really want to redo my playroom as my next project (I think I have redone the thing 100 times already and I just can't get satisfied with it so I am reaching out for help). My husband is going to make custom storage cubes that fit the ikea trofast bins so we can make it fit the room just perfect, and I can label them. I guess I just really want to know how many toys to keep out at a time. For example: How many puzzles do you keep out, how many blocks, how many in general of just toys? Right now we have what I feel like is a ton, but I guess I always feel like I need more because we have more kids with the daycare than the average family has that keeps a small number of toys. So, what do you guys have available at any given time that live a minimalist type lifestyle? I was going to list all that I have so someone could help me with what to scale back, but I think just hearing what others have may help me with that. My plan is to set up a rotation system because we have some nice toys, but they just don't all need to be out at once! Also, anyone who wants to share their playroom pix feel free. Mine is fairly small (a formal living room area), but I am super happy to have a whole room dedicated to just play in since many don't have that. Looking forward to seeing what some of you are doing to keep a handle on the toys!

[Unregistered]

My kids were huge into dump and go and no one wanted to pickup any toys. So I bought about 40 shoe box size totes and put all the toys into the totes and all the totes into the closet. The children get to pick a tote to play with or I set out a few and they have to be picked up before anything else comes out. My playroom looks so clean! The kids don't seem to mine it either.

[LVG]

Great idea! Hoping more people will chime in! The more ideas the better! I have definitely given some thought to putting toys up high in bins that I get down for them, but we just have not implemented putting up out of reach shelves yet. I don't have a closet downstairs that I could easily stick bins into to pull out throughout the day, but adding high shelves will definitely be on my list of things to do as we redo things!

[lovemykidstoo]

I'm looking for ideas too since we will be moving and I'm not sure what kind of space I'll have to work with. Might need to have storage for toys that doesn't look like dc toys if that makes sense. I did find on pinterest a kid table that folds down like a murphy bed folds down that I thought was super cool. When it's folded up it just looks like 3 square boxes that you could probably put pictures in.

[Leigh]

My kids were huge into dump and go and no one wanted to pickup any toys. So I bought about 40 shoe box size totes and put all the toys into the totes and all the totes into the closet. The children get to pick a tote to play with or I set out a few and they have to be picked up before anything else comes out. My playroom looks so clean! The kids don't seem to mine it either.

I use those totes, too (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1). I print a photo of the toys that go in there. If it's dinosaurs, a dino photo gets glued on. Little People, a photo of Little People. It helps even the youngest figure out where stuff goes.

[LVG]

Oh, that table sounds cool! I asked my husband to build something similar for my daughter to have her own work desk (a small one)...that way I could fold it up and lock it so my son who is younger and thinks tearing stuff up is fun can't get into it (saw that on pintrest too) But now I am thinking a larger, long table done this way could be super useful for storing all the craft supplies and being able to lock them away when not in use, AND keep the kids in the playroom for craft time instead of the kitchen table. Something like this: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/good...ns-1502-100298

[LVG]

I use those totes, too (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1). I print a photo of the toys that go in there. If it's dinosaurs, a dino photo gets glued on. Little People, a photo of Little People. It helps even the youngest figure out where stuff goes.

I had thought about this too, but I can see the pictures getting ripped off...do you have that issue? I guess packing tape may work, but then again I put that on the trampoline bar that they were chewing the rubber off of, and they now peel the tape off instead! I was going to put chalkboard paint on the trofast bins and use a wet erase chalk pin to draw pictures so it can't be ripped off or erased!

[melilley]

I sent you a pm.

[LVG]

I sent you a pm.

I messaged you back...new to the daycare forum, so I'm guessing it went through

[lovemykidstoo]

Oh, that table sounds cool! I asked my husband to build something similar for my daughter to have her own work desk (a small one)...that way I could fold it up and lock it so my son who is younger and thinks tearing stuff up is fun can't get into it (saw that on pintrest too) But now I am thinking a larger, long table done this way could be super useful for storing all the craft supplies and being able to lock them away when not in use, AND keep the kids in the playroom for craft time instead of the kitchen table. Something like this: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/good...ns-1502-100298

Aren't those tables cool? There is a specific picture of one that when you fold up the legs, it looks like 3 picture frames. I'll have to look for it.

These are the pictures of the table I want. You could leave plain on the outside or decorate with regular furnishings to match your own house decor, not necessarily daycare decore, so when not working it looks like your house.

[originalkat]

I am a minimalist for the most part. My daycare space has the following:

1 Shelf with Blocks and Building Stuff:
8 Small containers w lids
3 Large Containers w/out lids
Puzzles (12 wooden puzzles in a wooden case) (stored on top of shelf)

Large Block Storage Bin (short open,stack-able storage shelf)
Wooden Unit blocks
Lg. colored foam blocks

1 Shelf with Math/Fine Motor Boxes:
18 Boxes with lids

1 Reading Loft Area:
2 Tubs of books
Flannel Board
Alphabet Magnet Board

Dramatic Play Area:
1 Kitchen Stove (cute from pottery barn)
1 Lg. Box of play food/kitchen stuff stored inside

Art Area:
Easel w/ Storage Below containing paper, crayons, markers

Circle Time Easel
Wooden whiteboard easel from Lakeshore.
I keep Circle time supplies underneath and all charts/calendar is on the easel.

Entrance/Cubby Area:
1 Shelf Area w/ 8 large Boxes for Cubbies
Child Mailboxes on top of shelf (I use paper trays)

The walls are painted a creamy greyish yellow. I do not have too much on the walls so that it does not appear too cluttery.

[LVG]

Aren't those tables cool? There is a specific picture of one that when you fold up the legs, it looks like 3 picture frames. I'll have to look for it.

These are the pictures of the table I want. You could leave plain on the outside or decorate with regular furnishings to match your own house decor, not necessarily daycare decore, so when not working it looks like your house.

Love these tables!!!

[LVG]

I am a minimalist for the most part. My daycare space has the following:

1 Shelf with Blocks and Building Stuff:
8 Small containers w lids
3 Large Containers w/out lids
Puzzles (12 wooden puzzles in a wooden case) (stored on top of shelf)

Large Block Storage Bin (short open,stack-able storage shelf)
Wooden Unit blocks
Lg. colored foam blocks

1 Shelf with Math/Fine Motor Boxes:
18 Boxes with lids

1 Reading Loft Area:
2 Tubs of books
Flannel Board
Alphabet Magnet Board

Dramatic Play Area:
1 Kitchen Stove (cute from pottery barn)
1 Lg. Box of play food/kitchen stuff stored inside

Art Area:
Easel w/ Storage Below containing paper, crayons, markers

Circle Time Easel
Wooden whiteboard easel from Lakeshore.
I keep Circle time supplies underneath and all charts/calendar is on the easel.

Entrance/Cubby Area:
1 Shelf Area w/ 8 large Boxes for Cubbies
Child Mailboxes on top of shelf (I use paper trays)

The walls are painted a creamy greyish yellow. I do not have too much on the walls so that it does not appear too cluttery.

I had written a post back to you, but forgot to login and it looks like it didn't go through! Anyway, thank you for listing out your toys!! That is a huge help! I don't think I have too much after seeing what you have, but I think my key is storing it better! I've decided to have my husband make me a cabinet that I can lock with clear bins labeled with pictures (as mentioned by someone else). This way I can control how many toys are out at any given time, rather than having ALL the toys out at once. This also natually creates a rotation system! I have all of my school related items kept in a closet, and my circle time things are actually written on a wall painted with chalkboard paint, so I at least have that worked out pretty well. I sent you a pm about laundry. Hope you don't mind!

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

Here are some photos of my playroom. I have out a variety and I change it as they become disinterested. My rule is no more than I could personally pick up in 5 minutes. This means that they are not overwhelmed at pick up time.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.681330928556663.1073741886.411142905575468&type=3

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.629290747094015.1073741876.411142905575468&type=3

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.552809238075500.1073741832.411142905575468&type=3

This one shows storage closet-

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.455078041181954.98411.411142905575468&type=3

[LVG]

Here are some photos of my playroom. I have out a variety and I change it as they become disinterested. My rule is no more than I could personally pick up in 5 minutes. This means that they are not overwhelmed at pick up time.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.681330928556663.1073741886.411142905575468&type=3

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.629290747094015.1073741876.411142905575468&type=3

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.552809238075500.1073741832.411142905575468&type=3

This one shows storage closet-
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...5575468&type=3

Thanks for the photos! I would love to have a closet that size in the playroom! Great rule too! I do not pick up any toys during our first clean up...I make the kids do it, BUT it takes them 20 minutes!! It would probably take me about 10