Kids’ toys can be in your living room without ruining the vibe.

I like to use console tables with a shelf on them in living spaces for families with kids; then I put felt baskets on the lower shelf to store toys where kids can easily get to them. And when there are larger toys that are more attractive, like the lovely wooden toys that are seen here, I display them right on the shelf.

In the photo here, two identical console tables run along the back of the sofa to create the appearance of one long console table, and the top shelf has a mix of more decorative display items and baskets for kids’ toys. The white speckled bowl in the top shelf that’s second from the right holds road tracks, and the wicker basket in the top left holds smaller items like Matchbox cars and little plastic figures. The larger felt basket on the bottom holds larger toys. (I like to use felt baskets for heavier items and the bottom shelf to ensure the table doesn’t get scratched up from little arms dragging it off and onto the shelf.) All the baskets and bins seen here are from Target, though many of them are discontinued.

And if you have a truck-loving child in your life, I highly recommend investing in a Fagus truck as a special gift. They’re not cheap but ours got years and years of play.