Living Room

Pretty Toy Storage

Toys in the Living Room

Thank you for all of your cute basket suggestions! I went with plastic lace baskets for toy storage. I had completely forgotten about them, but they were all over the design blogs when they first came out as the Carrie bike baskets. Victoria uses one for file storage, Joy has one for scraps in her studio, and now I can tell you that they also make excellent little toy bins.

p.s. Have I ever mentioned how much I love my vintage side tables? They’re the best. They hold remotes in the drawers, magazines and the new toy baskets underneath, and they have ample surface space up top. And they were only $10 each.

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  • Carla
    December 19, 2009 at 10:48 pm

    great idea! Thanks for sharing!

  • Marissa
    December 19, 2009 at 11:05 pm

    that looks great, good call

  • Quinn
    December 19, 2009 at 11:07 pm

    Soooo lovely! Had never seen them before. Was just brainstorming tonight with DH about creative storage options and this is a great idea!

  • Catherine
    December 19, 2009 at 11:38 pm

    What a coincidence, I was just looking at these in RG Madden yesterday. They look lovely but I couldn’t think what I would store in them.

  • Katie
    December 20, 2009 at 12:28 am

    where did you pick yours up? are these the same as at the container store?
    http://www.containerstore.com/shop/storage/openBinsBaskets/plastic?productId=10023448

  • Kristin
    December 20, 2009 at 1:09 am

    Those are gorgeous! I may have to acquire one or two.

  • Amnah
    December 20, 2009 at 1:55 am

    Those are just too cute! I would love to get my hands on those.

  • Lúcia
    December 20, 2009 at 7:02 am

    Really beautiful, both the basket and the side tables.

  • Elissa
    December 20, 2009 at 7:12 am

    Those are perfect! I remember loving them when I first saw them, but couldn’t figure out where to get them (at least for a decent price). I’ll have to try the container store now!

  • Mim
    December 20, 2009 at 9:20 am

    Oh! It’s lovely!!! Thanks for sharing the other users pics too.

  • Jen P.
    December 20, 2009 at 10:41 am

    OMG, I LOVE the lace basket!!!! I must have them too!

  • Chaucee
    December 20, 2009 at 11:45 am

    Aw what a cute sock monkey : ) I used to make those as a kid!

  • Nina
    December 20, 2009 at 12:39 pm

    Those are so pretty! I’m always looking for pretty storage bins, most of them are so industrial or just plain boring. Thanks for sharing.

  • Kelly
    December 20, 2009 at 12:41 pm

    what a fantastic idea!

  • Lauren
    December 20, 2009 at 1:42 pm

    so pretty! i think that’s maybe the prettiest storage i’ve seen. i’ll be keeping those in mind for when i have some toys to store one day :).

  • Pencils
    December 20, 2009 at 2:21 pm

    Those look great! Right now I have Aurora’s toys in a (I think) banana-leaf woven basket I got at Target. It looks nice, but it’s already overflowing and we’re going to need more storage at the new house.(We just bought a house, are waiting for a closing date.) I’m thinking of getting some kind of tall shelving units with doors on the bottom so I can put some of her toys out of sight.

  • Tals
    December 20, 2009 at 2:37 pm

    I love the pillow on your couch!can you tell us where it’s from?
    Thanks!!

  • stephanie
    December 20, 2009 at 3:19 pm

    congrats on making top 50! I totally agree with the vote!

  • Emma
    December 20, 2009 at 4:40 pm

    I was looking for some baskets to go on top of my new linen cupcoard I’ve put in my bathroom – these would be PERFECT (all white for me please!) Not sure if I can get them in Australia but I’m going to try! I love your little vase and flowers, where is the vase from and are they real flowers?

    • Making it Lovely
      December 21, 2009 at 12:29 pm

      Yes, the flowers are real. The vase is vintage – I picked it up a year or two ago at an estate sale and it’s one of my favorites now.

  • Allison
    December 20, 2009 at 7:32 pm

    Those are adorable! I also have side tables just like that, and it’s a great solution to storing things that are necessary, but not pretty! I personally hate looking at kleenex boxes and hide them in the drawers!

  • Joi
    December 20, 2009 at 8:18 pm

    Those are so pretty! I’ve never seen them before!

  • luuve
    December 20, 2009 at 10:36 pm

    they look amazing…sooo lovely..this picture is awesome!

  • ashlina
    December 20, 2009 at 10:56 pm

    im dying for that monkey…key-ute!

  • Barb F (Australia)
    December 20, 2009 at 11:12 pm

    Gorgeous! I love toy storage that doesn’t look like toy storage, and these suit your place so well.

  • Viv
    December 21, 2009 at 5:02 am

    Perfect Nicole!

    Your side tables are indeed very lovely. As is your lounge, pillow on your lounge and toy. Hehe.. I love everything in this photo. Viv xx

  • Mary
    December 21, 2009 at 5:29 am

    Love it!!!

  • Nuit
    December 21, 2009 at 9:42 am

    woooow it looks amazing!!! loved the basket! and sure your tables were a true bargain :)

  • Krysten
    December 21, 2009 at 10:02 am

    That looks so nice!

  • Heather
    December 21, 2009 at 10:50 am

    I just saw these in Real Simple last night – too cute!

  • b.a.
    December 21, 2009 at 10:54 am

    oh my, this must be the most adorable little toy basket i’ve ever seen.

  • Corie
    December 21, 2009 at 11:25 am

    Could.not.love.it.more! SO pretty, much more feminine than the leather box-types I thought would be feminine! ;) I want some!

  • jbhat
    December 21, 2009 at 11:36 am

    The perfect find. The perfect use. The perfect spot.

    I love that picture too. It’s magazine worthy.

  • Mrs. Priss
    December 21, 2009 at 12:09 pm

    Oh these are perfect for toy storage! My husband and I were just talking about how we need to find something where we can shove all Maddie’s little books and things at the end of the night. They get spread out EVERYWHERE. These would be perfect!

  • Gretchen Schock
    December 21, 2009 at 2:43 pm

    Fantastic idea! love it! the picture is amazing to boot!

  • Miss B
    December 21, 2009 at 4:23 pm

    Oh this is too perfect. Of course it’s a great choice:)

  • Meredith from Penelope Loves Lists
    December 21, 2009 at 6:10 pm

    You know, I saw those brocade baskets and thought that it might be too girly for my simple style, but, when I see how you’ve used it here, I see that it adds just a touch of pretty without being overwhelming.

    Thanks for having such a great eye.

  • erin p.
    December 21, 2009 at 8:19 pm

    that is the CUTEST basket i have ever seen, and they’re not crazy over-priced! i NEED some NOW! thanks for the post!

  • Fiona
    December 22, 2009 at 7:26 am

    I’m guessing you can’t stack these, right? That would be perfect if you could.

    • Making it Lovely
      December 29, 2009 at 2:38 pm

      They don’t stack, but they do nest inside one another when empty.

  • Christine
    December 22, 2009 at 3:31 pm

    What a great choice! Unfortunately we don’t have container store in Canada. I might have to figure out how to get these shipped up here!

  • down pillow
    December 22, 2009 at 4:07 pm

    Great choice – love it!!!!!

  • Link Time! | My.BuzzCritic.com
    December 23, 2009 at 4:16 am

    […] Here’s a great idea for attractive toy or knick knack storage. – Making It Lovely […]

  • Potoula
    December 23, 2009 at 12:52 pm

    Just stumbled upon your site. Your decorating is simply beautiful. And the pink tree is so chic! Wherever did you get those sparkly silver round accessories pictured on your side table and on top of your dining room chandelier? Love those!

    • Making it Lovely
      December 29, 2009 at 2:38 pm

      Those were from Kmart (the Martha Stewart Christmas line).

  • Michele
    December 28, 2009 at 6:46 pm

    I just love that monkey! where is he from?

    • Making it Lovely
      December 29, 2009 at 2:37 pm

      I think Brandon bought it at Babies R Us.

  • Stuff Lust « Museum Nerd in the 'Burbs
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  • Melissa
    January 7, 2010 at 8:03 am

    Thanks for the info about these cute baskets. They are totally up my alley, but I would have never found them at the Container Store (I had to ask when I went, as they were hidden in the back!), Two of them fit perfectly under my coffee table. One holds puppy toys, and the other holds magazines.

    They are so cute, that I know even when I no longer need them to serve this purpose, I’ll be able to find something to use them for. Maybe I’ll run away to Paris, and use them for my groceries. :)

  • Cynthia
    January 7, 2010 at 4:02 pm

    I have these and love more each day:) love what you did with them!!!!!!!!!

  • RickinSC
    January 18, 2010 at 8:52 am

    The challenge is getting our grandson to put the toys back in the basket. So I designed and built a toy cabinet that requires him to put a toy back BEFORE he can get out another toy.

    You can see it in this video.

    I’m thinking about making a bigger toy cabinet where each compartment can hold a basket. What do you think?

  • Landry
    February 14, 2010 at 10:16 pm

    How did you get these baskets for $10 each? I see them for $25 at thecontainerstore.com, thanks!

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