Maybe what your playroom needs is not a million different storage bins that influencers have you convinced will change your life. Maybe what it needs is a Montessori-style makeover. 

The Montessori philosophy, named for its founder in the 1900s, emphasizes self-paced and independent play. Rather than sticking to a rigid curriculum, it teaches based on a child’s natural interest, topics, toys, and other items they naturally gravitate toward. 

Aside from its calming aesthetic, which is clean, uncluttered and neutral, there are developmental benefits to having a Montessori-style playroom. Such a setup helps inspire independence and critical thinking in kids, as well as strengthen their social-emotional development.

And the truth is, with a little work, you can transform your playroom (or the toy area of your family room) into a Montessori wonderland. You just might be prepping for spring cleaning season anyway — why not a mini room makeover while you’re at it? Here are five tips on toy storage and furniture placement for a play space inspired by Montessori:

• Invest in child-height furniture. Make sure all the toys are within your child’s reach so they can come and go with each item as they please. This is imperative to ensure they can play independently (under your supervision). The popular KALLAX shelf unit from Ikea is a great option for this purpose.

• Keep the toys minimal. Instead of having all your child’s toys out on display at once, a big key pillar of Montessori is focusing on a few age-appropriate favorites at a time, ideally between 8 and 10, so as not to overwhelm. Curate the toys you choose for your space carefully, focusing on engaging toys with different purposes (like a block set and a play kitchen, for example). Rotate out the toys your child isn’t as interested in and then replace it with another as you see fit for a 1:1 ratio.

• Give everything in its own designated space. Even if your kid isn’t the best cleaner-upper (this will take some time), make sure someone, probably you, puts each item away in the same spot every evening. This will give your child the comfort of predictability and ensure they know exactly where to find everything they’re looking for. You can use bins and boxes for small pieces, but the idea of Montessori is to keep as many items on display as possible.

• Know what areas to include in the room. Having an open play area will help with your child’s gross motor skills; consider a carpet, a bookshelf, and maybe even The Nugget Couch, which is for both building and sitting. Get a simplistic table and chairs like this adjustable table and chairs set from Sprout Kids, where they can do art projects, read, and snack, and if possible, make sure the room has natural light coming in via windows for a softer overall ambience.

• Go for a neutral palette. Gone are the days of bright rainbow-colored play spaces. Keep the colors of the walls, furniture, and even the toys themselves in your playroom muted and neutral to help foster concentration and inspiration. You can also up the cozy factor with a reading nook, bean bag chairs or artwork within the same color scheme.

Do you plan to revamp your playroom into a Montessori-inspired space?

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