How To Stop Kids Toys From Going Under The Couch

Being a parent is a beautiful experience, of course, but a few things always make having kids a little annoying. For example, children have a terrible habit of getting their toys under furniture, creating a “fun” game of “hide and seek” that can annoy you and your kids. However, there are off-the-shelf and DIY ways to keep your kids’ toys from getting lost.

Off-the-Shelf Solutions

It might surprise you to know that many different products are available to keep your kids’ toys where they belong: not beneath your couch. These unique items include a variety of simple bumpers, blockers, and other items that go around the base of your couch and keep it protected. Here are four items that might work well for your unique needs.

Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Under Couch Toy Blocker

This unique product is designed to be carefully installed along the bottom of your couch and keep toys from getting beneath it. The coolest thing about it is its universal design. It can be easily adjusted to fit along the bottoms of many different couches and typically requires just a few simple tweaks to work right.

Furthermore, it’s also incredibly easy to install and has a durable and long-lasting design that should keep it in place for many years. You and your partner should be able to easily put it up alongside your couch, especially when using clever furniture positioning (such as placing small tables next to the sides) to keep kids away from the couch.

Made out of high-quality polyester, this material goes along the bottom of your couch and requires simply sliding it under the bottom of your couch’s legs to hold it in place. Ranked highly on Amazon, this product is also fairly inexpensive and easy for most people to afford.

Gap Bumper

Gap Bumper is a 10-foot long, 2.5-inch tall barrier that you can easily wrap around your couch legs to keep toys from getting beneath it. What we like about this product is that it doesn’t require any special installation. All you do is wrap it around the couch legs to hold it in place and provide a strong toy barrier.

We also like its rather sleek and attractive black body that looks great on just about any couch. It should not only blend in with your furniture but clean easily with a vacuum cleaner or damp cloth. Even better, if you want to take it off, it rolls up to just 4.5 inches if you need to store or move it.

This product’s durable design is also a strong blocker against various pet-related concerns, such as hair, snacks, or balls. If you have a pup that loves slipping their favorite toy under the couch in a reverse game of “fetch,” this barrier will put a quick end to that annoying and frustrating game.

Bowerbird Clear Blocker

What if you don’t want to block out your view of the bottom of the couch but still want to keep your kids’ toys from under the couch? Bowerbird’s Clear Blocker uses a clear vinyl material that fits comfortably on various surfaces, including vinyl, tile, and hardwood, and usually fits under most couches.

Unlike the other products we’ve mentioned so far, you have to do a bit more adjustment to get it under some couches. It’s about 3.2 inches tall and 16 inches long and built in five different pieces. As a result, you’ll need to tweak it carefully to get it in place. It also uses a non-residue tape that holds the barrier in place.

It’s best to place them at least 1-2 inches beneath your couch to get the best results and minimize toy clutter. Note that this product provides a more solid barrier against toys and is a great choice if your kids somehow work their toys beneath the other, softer barriers.

Aobafuir Under Bed Storage

Here’s a cool solution that we think many parents will love. This simple product uses a durable metal design with high-quality wheels to create a cozy and effective toy storage bin. Designed to fit under beds, you could also adapt it to fit under your couch with a little work.

Once you have it put together, you can slide it under your couch and show your kids how it works. They’ll likely enjoy being able to put their toys away right in the living room! Furthermore, you’ll like not having to pick up after them or track down their toys from under the couch.

The only concern here is that it might not fit under all couches, which could limit its usefulness for some people. You’ll need at least 3-4 inches beneath your couch for it to work, so make sure you measure the opening carefully to ensure that this product can fit beneath your couch.

Related post: How do you childproof a refrigerator water dispenser?

DIY Fixes

If you’re on a budget or don’t want to buy a product specifically to keep toys from under your couch, we have your back! There are several simple but effective DIY solutions that can keep toys from getting under your couch while also providing unique benefits for you and your children. Here are four options that you should consider for your home.

Pool “Noodles”

Do you have a couple of those inexpensive pool foam “noodles” around the house that your kids either don’t use or only pick up when it’s time to go swimming? Well, they can be easily adapted to provide a strong barrier against kids’ toys! You might not even have to do much to adjust them to suit this purpose.

For example, you can carefully place the noodles along the bottom of your couch to block out any toys. You could cut one or more noodles to fit along the sides of your couch in this way and wedge them into place. The only concern is that your kids might want to play with them in the house.

By that, we mean they might take them out from under the couch and open up the bottom of your couch for toy invasions! We strongly suggest wedging them in strongly and talking to your kids firmly about not playing with them. With enough redirection, they’ll quickly get the point.

Related post: How To Babyproof A Fireplace

Fabric Skirts

Do you want a barrier that not only keeps toys from beneath your couch but also adds to its style? Try out fabric skirts! There are many types on the market that you can sew along the bottom of your couch to not only make it look better but also to keep toys from getting beneath it and causing a cluttered mess.

For example, you can buy fabric that matches your couch’s style and cut it to a length and width that blocks toys. Sew the skirt around the edges to provide a simple but attractive barrier that will keep your children’s toys from going where they don’t need to go in your home.

You can also buy specialized skirts from furniture stores that you can install along the bottom of your couch to keep toys out. These typically cost a little more money than just making them yourself but are an easier choice if you’re not comfortable sewing items in this way.

Related post: Baby Proof Baseboard Heaters

Wood Border

If you have some skills with wood crafting, you could create a simple wood barrier that keeps kids’ toys from going beneath your couch. Simply cut some boards that fit beneath your coach and carefully wedge them into place to provide a strong barrier that should stand up easily.

The biggest downside to this approach is the unattractive style a wooden barrier might create. Simply put, it’s likely going to look a little odd to have bare wood sticking out beneath your couch. There are a few ways to avoid this problem, including staining the wood a pleasing color.

Furthermore, you can also sew a skirt around the edge to hide the wood and give your couch a nice style upgrade. We particularly like this option because it creates a double barrier that will make it even easier for you to keep toys from getting where they’re not supposed to be in your home.

Nylon Webbing

Lastly, you can carefully install nylon webbing under your couch to catch toys and keep them from getting too far beneath your furniture. This option is last here because it’ll require careful installation steps, such as selecting the webbing and carefully sewing it into place under your couch.

You’ll need to make sure that the webbing is wrapped around the couch legs tightly, as well, to ensure there’s minimal room for toys to work around the edges. Keeping the nylon webbing tight gives it a good bounce that should prevent toys from working under your couch.

Thankfully, you can usually find nylon webbing fairly cheaply and should be able to cut it to whatever length you want. While you don’t necessarily need to sew it to the bottom of your couch to install it, doing so should make it a more effective approach for your home.

You might also enjoy: Best Indoor Toys For Active Kids

Wrap Up – How To Stop Kids Toys From Going Under The Couch

Preventing kids’ toys from disappearing under the couch is a common challenge for parents. Tasks such as picking up toys under the couch adds up to the existing pile of work. We hope that by incorporating some of the simple strategies above, you can maintain a clutter-free and safe living space for both you and the kids.

What other DIY and idea topics would you like to learn? Let us know in the comments!