Thursday, April 21, 2011

How the heck do you make kids toys look nice?

Pre-children my husband and I used to walk into the homes of our friends who had kids and think "WOW they have let toys take over!"  I would formally like to apologize for any rude thoughts I have ever had toward anyone out there because this is what my family room looks like right now...


This mess prompted me to go to Target with the intention of picking up a couple more toy baskets.  But once I started walking around (I just can't seem to go to Target without cruising all the home isles),  I got to thinking that the toys probably need a home they can grow into.  I mean we all know they will only expand over the next few years so why buy something temporary now that will only need replacing in a few months.  So then I started considering some sort of shelving and basket combo.  Maybe something like this from Target...

Product Image

or this from Land of Nod...

6-Cube Bookcase

But before I made an impulse buy I thought I better look at the space and think this out a little further, especially because I am determined to stay within my $250 this month.  (Pat on the back for me...I am all about the impulse buy!)  Once I got home and looked around the room I started to think that we just don't need more furniture in the space, well at least not until we decide what we are going to to as far as design goes. 

Side Note: Our Family Room is the most used room in the house but I just can't decide what I want to do with it.  I think the thing that is holding me back is that I really want a new couch.  But that is on the bottom of the list right now!

And this is when I came up with my plan.  Behind our couch is this...

...a great Pottery Barn console table which we changed out the nobs for these fun Anthroplogie orange numbers.  I used to have great colored bowls displayed in the cutouts but that was before little hands came into the picture so they have been sitting empty since we moved.  So are you thinking what I am thinking?  I already have a shelving and basket combo!  All I need is the baskets!  Brilliant if I say so myself!

So a couple of measurements later, a trip to World Market and I have toy storage! 


And instead of spending a hundred dollars or more on shelving in addition to the baskets, I spent $42 and my problem is solved!

For those of you following the $250 Challenge here is the breakdown on my month so far...

vase $16.99
flowers $21.89

metal sign $12.99
toy storage baskets $42

TOTAL $93.87