Keeping on top of your kid’s clutter can be a thankless task, and one you never really seem to get on top of. There are loads of storage solutions out there, of course, but which should you invest in?
Cheap Kid’s Storage Units
So you don’t have a lot of money to play with or maybe you just don’t think there is any point in spending a fortune on units that will be only used for a few years. Either way, which should you go for?
6 bin storage units come in a good range of colours and designs suitable for both boys and girls. The free-standing units, usually with a wood frame, hold removable canvas fabric storage bins they can use for storing all manner of toys, games and books.
Bebe Style Children Sized Storage Unit – bright and colourful units with a Crayon theme come in 3 styles: Blue, Green & Pink, complete with canvas storage bins. They’re a best-seller on amazon.co.uk and, at £20.99, it’s no surprise.
Dinosaurs Kids Bedroom Storage Unit with 6 Bins – blue and white unit with 6 canvas storage bins. W63 × D30 × H60 cm. £44.99 from amazon.co.uk
6-Bin Storage Unit – Floral – a white and pink floral print frame with 6 canvas pink patterned storage boxes. £34.99 from amazon.co.uk
Multifunction Childrens Storage Unit – a versatile option with canvas storage bins, sling-style bookshelves and a shoe locker. Priced at £39.99 from argos.co.uk
Medium Priced Units
As you move up the price-scale you do get a few more options. The temptation here, often, is to find a kind of unit you like and then look for a cheap version of it.
This is usually a false economy though because there is some real junk out there. The most popular mid-priced units are popular for a reason and it isn’t because they’re the cheapest.
Cube Storage Units: not quite so cheap but more of a proper furniture type option. Again, you’ll find a lot of variations on the same theme but 2 x 2 and 3 x 3 seem to be the most popular.
Some units also incorporate cupboard doors although most are designed to be used with separate storage bins of baskets. These are the most versatile option although the extra cost of baskets makes a big difference.
Phoenix Cube Units – these cube units from argos.co.uk come in a good range of sizes from a double unit at £19.99 to a 9 cube unit at £69.99. Choose from beech wood effect, white, and blue.
There is also a coordinating range of canvas storage cubes priced at £7.99 for 2. Colours include grey, blue, purple, red, pink and green.
Vertbaudet Storage Units – a collection of cube based units with accessories including doors and storage baskets.
The units come in white or grey with sizes ranging from a double, at £34, up to a 6-box stepped unit, priced at £66.50. Doors are £10 each and sets of 3 storage baskets are £25. Available from vertbaudet.co.uk
Storage Benches: not an obvious choice but a useful way of adding some organisation to their room without it taking over all of the available space.
There are versions of these benches with open spaces that you have to buy baskets for but some, like this, come with storage drawers included – which makes them a lot better value for money.
KidKraft Nantucket Storage Bench – comes with with 3 pastel coloured storage drawers. £129.95 from amazon.co.uk
Abbeville Storage Bench – a good range of options with white or grey units and a choice of patterned cushion seats and canvas storage cubes. The bench is £185. The canvas cubes are extra (£19 each) which pushes the cost up a fair bit though.
Blow the Budget Options
You might not expect to pay so much for kid’s storage units but, over the long term, it can make sense to invest in one of the premium storage ranges, especially if your family is still growing and you anticipate adding more units later on.
Stompa Storage Units – part of the ‘Uno S’ children’s furniture range, these modular units are available as individual pieces or in packaged sets.
The options inclued a single white cube unit, or a 4-cube multi-unit. Each of which you can add coloured doors to make cupboards.
Prices start at £70 for a single cube, the multi-cube unit is £130 and the doors, which come in a range of colours, are £35 a pair. There’s also wardrobe and door units as well as matching beds. All available from johnlewis.com
Northcote Storage – without a doubt, Northcote is the most versatile kid’s storage range out there with a number of different options available, as well as an unrivalled range of accessories.
However, it is, by far, the priciest option and you’ll need to be prepared to spend well over a grand to get put a decent collection together.
The cheapest option is a double ‘skinny’ unit at £75, going up to the double wardrobe at £425. Storage ‘sets’ comprising a base unit, cupboard and shelves are also available ranging from £230 to £365. But, bear in mind, the images above are made up of 3 or 4 of these sets combined.
That said, it’s still a popular range and if you have a couple of kids sharing a room it can make sense to buy.
The Winners
Obviously, your budget is going to determine which storage option is going to be best for your kid’s room.
However, taking this into consideration, the best value for money has to be the Bebe Style 6 Box Storage Unit because it’s well made, a fun design and very cheap.
The best modular system overall has to be the Phoenix Cube Units from Argos, simply because you get a good selection of sizes and colours, it’s readily available and the prices are pretty reasonable too.
Kid’s Combination Storage Beds
Kid’s Bunk Beds