Gwyneth Paltrow's clever storage unlocks the secret to an always-organized playroom – designers and parents will love its whimsical design
Organized by The Home Edit, the Goop founder's child's space is a trove of organization tips that are as beautiful as they are functional
Between an excess of toys, and a Gwyneth Paltrow's playroom makes organizing a playroom look like child's play.
The actress worked with the acclaimed Nashville-based organizing service, The Home Edit, to assemble the tidiest playroom idea we've ever seen. The founders, Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin, worked with Paltrow to straighten her child's space to visually appealing perfection. The entire right wall is dedicated to storage. It features open-concept shelving for color-coordinated books on the top, with baskets filled with color-coordinated stuffed animals on the bottom shelves. Beneath the shelves, rows of stylish, leather handled drawers hold further toys and books. The entire room is color-drenched in white, making the bright and colorful decor pop.
Beyond its stunning look, Paltrow's space is a virtual masterclass in organizing a playroom. We spoke to an expert who distilled the lessons from the room into three digestible, easily replicable tips.
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First, Paltrow's space shows that color coordination is an excellent playroom storage idea. Jennifer Ebert, organizing expert and digital editor at Homes & Gardens states: 'Since children's toys and books tend to come in whimsically bright colors, why not use this to your advantage in the decor? Rather than integrating colors through decor, this is a simple, playful way to bring color into the space. It also makes it easier to redo the decor once your children grow out of needing a playroom.'
Jen is the Editor (Digital) of Homes & Gardens. Before starting this position, she had completed various interior design courses at KLC Design School, as well as working across Ideal Home, LivingEtc, 25 Beautiful Homes and Country Homes & Interiors as an interiors writer.
Second, the space in the actress's Hamptons home demonstrates the benefits of mixing different storage methods. One common playroom organizing mistake is organizing using only one method, for example, only bins, only shelves, or only drawers, rather than using them together. Ebert states: 'The combination of shelves, drawers, and bins allows the toys that are already in the room to be both on display and put away. This dual function puts the funciton of the room on display while keeping the overall look tidy and subdued. I especially love the combination of bins and upper shelves. While the upper shelves a moreso for display, the lower shelves are still organizined and easy to access.'
Last but not least, Paltrow's space epitomizes why white is the perfect background color. Ebert says, 'The way Paltrow has color-drenched the room in white keeps the brightness of the toys from looking too overwhelming. The white floors flow into white walls and white ceilings with all-white built-in shelves create a smooth and calming base upon which the rest of the room is a refreshing bright pop.'
Shop Playroom Organizers
A varied collection of baskets and bins are the perfect tools to keep your child's toys expertly grouped together. Remember, a well-strategized playroom is an organized playroom.
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A playroom doesn't have to be a messy, sequestered area of the home; by following these easy tips, it can be a fun, design-led hub for family.
Sophie is a London-based News Editor at Homes & Gardens, where she works on the Celebrity Style team. She is fascinated by the intersection of design and popular culture and is particularly excited when researching trends or interior history. Sophie is an avid pop culture fan. As an H&G editor, she has interviewed the likes of Martha Stewart, Hilary Duff, and the casts of Queer Eye and Selling Sunset. Before joining Future Publishing, Sophie worked as the Head of Content and Communications at Fig Linens and Home, a boutique luxury linens and furniture brand. She has also written features on exciting developments in the design world for Westport Magazine. Sophie has an MSc from the Oxford University Department of Anthropology and a BA in Creative Writing and Sociology from Sarah Lawrence College.
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