Today we are going to talk about outdoor toy storage and organization!

June is one of the best months in the Pacific Northwest.  The trees are lush, the sunny days are plentiful, and summer is just around the corner.  It’s the time of year that we love to go outside and enjoy our yard. 

But the toys. The chaos.  The bats, balls, frisbees, water toys, and stomp rockets always end littered across the yard looking like the summer aisle at Target exploded.  

Enter the backyard MVP: the waterproof deck box.  We have the Suncast Resin Wicker Deck Box and absolutely adore it.  We purchased ours three years ago and it has held up great. The box is huge, stores a ton of toys, and is completely waterproof!  We keep ours on our patio year-round and have never had an issue with weather damage.

While it has been a great box, it does suffer from toy box syndrome (where the contents end up a jumbled mess and it’s impossible to find what you want without digging.)

I knew all it needed was a bit of organization in order to improve the function. To fix that, I picked up four plastic baskets from the dollar store in order to divide up the space. 

I then attacked the toys. Everything was emptied out and grouped with similar items; throwing toys, balls, bats, etc.  Anything broken, worn, or not played with was discarded.  I had to do this discretely because goodness knows my kids can’t watch me throw anything away.

Everything was spread on the lawn and got a good hosing down and air dry.

To reassemble the box I used the dollar store baskets to create different sections for the toys.  Everything was put back in groups of similar items. I love that the baskets have handles and can be easily pulled out of the box to facilitate play.  We especially like it for the water table toys, since they can dry fully in the basket before being returned to the box. 

Last but not least I added labels. This is a crucial step to prevent the box from being turned into a dumping ground again.  

I love that the toys have a designated home and a defined space limit. They are protected from the elements and don’t need to be stored in the house or the garage.  They can stay there all year, in all weather.  My kids know where to go for their toys and where to put them away.

Sometimes they still need reminders to actually pick up their toys, but it sure makes my mommy self feel zen to look out and see grass rather than toys.  

What are your favorite outside toys?  We love the classics – stomp rockets, baseball bats, soccer balls, and frisbees.  I’m always on the hunt for something new, so please share any favorites in the comments!