Real stories. Real spaces.
Turning a cluttered playroom into a creative space
When Megan and Alex* realized their son’s playroom had become overwhelming, they knew it was time to make a change. The space was overflowing with outgrown toys, scattered supplies, and miscellaneous household items, making it hard for their son to enjoy or even use the room. They wanted to create a space that felt fun, functional, and manageable—something their whole family could keep up with.
That’s where we came in.
The Challenge: overflowing and unorganized
The playroom was packed with bins, bags, and baskets filled with toys, dress-up clothes, art supplies, electronics, paperwork, and even beauty products. With the exception of a LEGO and Barbie area, everything was mixed together, making playtime stressful and clean-up nearly impossible.
Megan and Alex were ready to declutter but felt too overwhelmed to begin. They wanted help creating order—and learning how to maintain it.
The Solution: sort, simplify & set up for success
We began by sorting everything in the playroom into clear categories: keep, donate, relocate, and discard. The volume of small, mixed-up items meant the sorting process took time, but it gave Megan and Alex clarity. Outgrown toys and books were donated, and a collection of decorative pillows was set aside to be rehomed elsewhere in the house. Tiny, miscellaneous pieces with no obvious home were gathered into a “homework box” for the family to review later.
Once sorted, we grouped like items together and provided simple, sustainable strategies to keep the space organized:
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- Clear, labeled bins to make cleanup easy for both kids and adults
- Defined zones for art, building, reading, and dress-up to give everything a home
- A “one in, one out” rule to manage incoming toys over time
- A weekly 10-minute reset to keep things from piling up again
- Low-maintenance storage like open baskets and shelves, so nothing gets lost or forgotten
The space still needed fine-tuning and layout adjustments, but the transformation in just one session was significant—and the new systems gave the family a realistic path forward.
The Results: a playroom with purpose
The playroom went from chaotic to calm, becoming a space that supports creativity and connection. While not yet finished, Megan and Alex felt empowered with practical tools and a clear plan to keep it on track.
*Name changed to protect our client’s identity
Have some real spaces in your house that need help? Reach out to Cut the Clutter RVA for an in-home consultation. We’d love to meet you! We’ll treat you like we treat our own families: with patience, love and kindness.
“Honestly, I didn’t even know where to start. The playroom was just piles of stuff everywhere. But the team made it feel so doable—they didn’t judge, they just jumped in and helped us make sense of the chaos. Now everything has a place, and it’s actually stayed that way!”