# How to organise children’s toys under the bed Canonical HTML: [How to organise children’s toys under the bed](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/store-childrens-toys-under-the-bed/) Practical guide · [Bedroom](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/under-bed-storage/) · Set up low toy trays for age-appropriate sets. Measure the loaded height, keep a clear pull-out path and make the toys simple to put away. Space Made Useful · Updated November 2026 · ![Two open trays with large blocks and soft toys beside a low bed](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/assets/images/batch6-store-childrens-toys-under-the-bed.jpg) The main decision ## Give each safe, easy-to-reach set a light tray Choose shallow containers for age-appropriate daily toys. Check the tray fully loaded and leave a clear route to pull it out. Keep loose small parts and older children’s toys out of reach of younger children. ## Give each tray one kind of play Lay out the toys you would like to store and group them by the way they come out. A set of large wooden blocks, a family of fabric animals and a stack of chunky puzzles each come out differently. Blocks need a container you can set down close to the play area. A low, flat puzzle tray needs enough room for the whole board and clearance at the edge for your fingers. Give frequently used sets the closest bays. Put less-used items somewhere an adult can get to easily. Use a light container that suits the toys and the child’s age. A shallow open tray can work for a few large, age-appropriate pieces in a low, visible position. Check that edges, handles and the material are in good condition. Use a separate adult-access location for age-restricted toys, loose small parts and batteries. A gap under a bed is reachable from the floor even when a container is out of sight. The age guidance applies to the youngest child who can get to the contents. A single layer lets a child see what belongs in the tray and helps an adult spot stray pieces. If one group fills the tray too deeply, split it into two trays or store some elsewhere. Avoid loose plastic packaging and containers with heavy hinged lids in an area a child can use. A box that starts out light can quickly become hard to move when it holds an entire collection. ## Check the tray can come out in one move Measure the narrowest opening and the space between the supports of the exact bed. Check the highest toy in the tray, the outside lip and any grip that sticks up. Take measurements from the floor surface the tray will actually cross. A light empty tray can clear a rug edge that stops it once filled. Have an adult try the full load on the normal route before making it part of a child’s routine. **Illustrative tray check.** A 36 cm opening between supports takes a 32 cm-wide tray on paper. If you grip both sides, try it with your hands in place or choose a front grip. A tray that requires fingers in both 2 cm gaps can still be awkward to use. Try the route with the duvet hanging as it normally does and the bedroom door open. Stop if the container catches, tips or needs a sharp pull. Orient the handle towards the reachable edge and choose a spot with enough room to set the tray down. Keep the bed’s supports and fittings intact. The [under-bed measuring guide](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/measure-under-bed-storage/) covers the frame, opening and floor space. If a moving guest bed shares the same frame, follow the [trundle guide](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/use-under-bed-space-with-a-trundle/) to work out where storage can safely go. ## Set up a return spot the child can recognise Give each tray a regular home so it comes out without shifting the others. A simple picture or written label at the accessible end can mark where the group belongs. Keep labels secure and choose an age-appropriate way to mark the tray. Put the easiest group back first and build the routine from there. A tray that can go back in one action is more likely to stay usable than several boxes that have to be stacked in a particular order. When the play area is shared, leave enough room to move around a tray while it is out. Clear it from the normal route before bedtime. If the toy set is used across the room, choose a tray that can be carried comfortably by the person who will handle it. Store play mats and long flat items in their own usable bay so they do not snag on other containers. ## Reset the layout as toys and routines change Every so often, empty a tray and check the surface underneath for pieces, loose labels and dust. Use the maker’s cleaning instructions and let the container dry before refilling it. Review age markings and put outgrown or incomplete sets aside. A toy with a damaged battery cover or broken part belongs with an adult for assessment. Check the drawer or tray if a wheel loosens, a handle tears or the bed is moved to a different floor covering. Keep a small tray from drifting out into the room when it is put away. Return it fully to the bay by its handle and check bedding is clear. If two trays bind against each other, leave more space between them or use one shorter container. Some bed makers sell frame-specific boxes or built-in drawers. Check the actual model if you are considering those. Their outer frame, wheels and opening can leave considerably less room inside than the apparent footprint suggests. A small assortment of containers is useful only if each can come out independently. When your next toy group has a different shape, measure it before reusing the same tray. A thin puzzle or drawing board might belong with other flat sets rather than underneath a heavier box. ## Questions before you choose ### What toys work best under the bed? Choose age-appropriate sets that fit a shallow tray and are easy to remove. Store small loose parts and items meant for older children where younger children cannot reach them. ### Are open trays easier than lidded boxes? A shallow open tray lets a child see and put back a suitable daily set. Choose a manageable load and avoid heavy hinged lids in a child-accessible area. ### Can I use a wheeled drawer? Check frame compatibility, how the wheels move on the floor and how the drawer handles when loaded. An adult should try the whole route before the child uses it. ### How do I store chunky puzzles? Use a shallow tray that supports the whole board and leaves room for fingers to lift it flat. Avoid putting a heavy group on top. ### How should I label a toy tray? Put a simple, secure picture or word label at the reachable end. Choose a method appropriate to the child’s age and keep loose labels out of reach. ### What if there is a trundle below the bed? Use only an independent bay outside the movement path or storage the maker provides for that purpose. Otherwise keep the trays somewhere else. ## How we put this guide together We reviewed Child Accident Prevention Trust and RoSPA guidance on age-appropriate toys and small parts, and compared frame and drawer measurements from IKEA. The tray measurements are illustrative. [Read our source policy](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/source-policy/) **Space Made Useful** We compare documented dimensions, opening mechanisms and other details that help you choose storage for the space you have. [How we research our guides](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/editorial-policy/).