Ikea Expedit good for org. toys??

[magnoliaparadise]

Hi,
My kids toys are a mess and way overstuffed in my very small NYC apartment (DD1 is almost 4 and DD2 is only 12 weeks, but ya can never start too young). I am looking into getting an Expedit.
For those who have it, I would love your advice on:
- whether you like it (and if not, why);
- whether it was a royal PITA to set up - I'll have my maintenance man do it, but if it's a huge amount of work, I'll have to pay him a lot, defeating the purpose of saving money buy using Ikea in the first place;
- whether you put boxes in every single place a box can go or whether you leave some shelves blank to look better (or for books, etc.)
- whether you used a box, a basket, a single drawer, two drawers, etc. I'm not clear of the difference, honestly, but the Ikea site notes different things you can put in the structure:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40047675/
Thanks in advance for any advice.

[jse107]

If you search around you'll be able to find a thread on here from the last couple years where everyone posted pics of their Expedit systems. It inspired me to go get one and we LOVE it. I have 16 squares. 12 are filled with Container Store sweater boxes, which fit perfectly. The other four are filled with books. Art supplies are on the top row, books on the third row, and toys on the bottom two rows. Toys are organized by type: kitchen, Fisher-Price, cars/trucks, wooden blocks, small legos, big legos, miscellaneous.

I think it's super easy to maintain and totally recommend it.

DH and I set it up together and it took us about 90 minutes. It wasn't hard, but it took two of us to hold pieces together to screw them together.

[magnoliaparadise]

Hi,
This is really helpful.
When I was researching / searching a bit on BBB just now, I noticed some people weren't happy with the Expedit system for smaller things (eg Mr. Potato head).
- Do you have a separate 'open system' (multi-purpose) for that?
- Or do you just throw the smaller things into one big box with other non-like items (e.g. if I only had a few balls and cars, I'd just throw them all together in one sweater box?)
- Also, are some of the boxes a little heavy for your kids to take down?
Thanks.

[jse107]

Well, the wooden blocks are on the lowest level so the kids can get them easily. So, yes, some things are heavy, but the kids manage and I'm usually around to help out. Also, there is a reason the art supplies and Playdoh are on the top... ;)

Yes, I do throw non-like items into one box. It's the catch-all box, and the kids know it as such. So in that box there might be musical instruments, etch-a-sketch, bouncy balls, and some other random stuff.

The only things NOT contained in a sweater box are the books. They're lined up nicely on the third row--the kids can reach them and it breaks up the look of all the boxes.

I should add that the sweater boxes are clear so that the kids can always see what's in them before pulling them out.

HTH! I really think for the price it's been worth it. Far more easy to maintain our sanity...

[Tondi G]

here is a link to one of those threads about Expedit from a long time ago!

http://windsorpeak.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=338539

[ahrimie]

I have a 4 box Expedit and a 8 box. The 4 fits in DD's room and holds her books, no boxes or toys. It also serves as her night stand. The 8 lays horizontal in our family room. We have toys and games stored there. Currently in whatever fashion they will stay put. I've put shoe boxes and other small boxes to hold toys (like a catch all box). I plan to get baskets from Ikea to make it look a bit nicer though.

ETA: btw, very easy to put together. Took my DH less than 15 min, I think. Though he's naturally good at putting things together, for sure, I would have been able to do it too.

[quinnsmom]

here is a link to one of those threads about Expedit from a long time ago!

http://windsorpeak.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=338539

Wow - this an amazing thread. So inspiring - makes me want to re-organize the whole playroom.

Does anyone have the add-on desk option with their Expedit? I am thinking the desk and this chair might make a great homework station for DS.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S99861340/


http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S99842530/

[lowrioh]

Wow - this an amazing thread. So inspiring - makes me want to re-organize the whole playroom.

Does anyone have the add-on desk option with their Expedit? I am thinking the desk and this chair might make a great homework station for DS.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S99861340/


http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S99842530/

My friends have the add-on desk and it is nice but it seemed a lot bigger IRL than in the pictures. I think that you should actually look at it in the store before you decide.