Whether it’s your kids’ playroom or a game room for the whole family, recreational rooms are supposed to be fun, not stressful. These rooms, however, have the potential to accumulate clutter because of the loose items they house. If you’re looking to tidy up your playroom or game room, follow these organizational strategies.

Downsize

Be honest with yourself. Are you ever going to use the air hockey table that hasn’t been used since you got it in 2011? What about your kids’ toys that they may not have used since they were toddlers? Many of the untouched objects in your playroom or game room will likely get more use somewhere else. Take stock of everything in the room and make piles to keep and to give away. Consider donating items that you no longer use to charities or children in hospitals. If an object has sentimental value, pass it down to a younger family member or friend who lives in a different house. Saving an object for potential future children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren? Place it in a room specifically meant for storage, like a basement or crawl space, rather than letting it take up space in a room you’re actively using.

Bins, bins, bins

One of the best ways to organize a playroom or game room is to incorporate storage for objects you use frequently, without letting the room as a whole become a storage unit. However, it is not enough to simply buy some containers and haphazardly pile every object in the room into them. Each storage container should have a purpose. Take some time to sit down in your game room or playroom and take inventory of the types of objects you have. Then, you can separate the objects into categories, like “word games,” “stuffed animals,” “card games,” etc. While plastic containers are convenient and easy to find in stores, they tend to create a disheveled appearance because of their transparency. Opt for stylish containers that hide their contents, like bins made of wicker basket material.

Labels

If you want to make sure that your storage is an effective organizational tool for more than a few days, label any containers or bins that you incorporate into your playroom or game room. You can find label makers at your local office supply or craft store. This will reduce the time it takes to clean up your space, and it will make it easier to find a toy or game when you’re looking for it.

Curtain call

If you have a doorless closet full of pool table supplies, books, or games, try hanging up a curtain that matches the room’s decor to hide the clutter. You can use a window curtain or even a shower curtain. Just make sure to install a bar across the top of the closet so that you’re able to hang it up. A curtain will clean up the look of the room while incorporating a stylish splash of color.

Your home’s playroom or game room does not have to become a disaster just because it’s a space meant for fun. These strategies are sure to help you keep your recreational rooms organized and sleek.