Hellobee Boards

It's a constant struggle here too.
I have something like this for books in one of my kids rooms.
http://m.target.com/p/tot-tutors-primary-book-rack/-/A-50286050?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&CPNG=PLA_Storage%2BOrganization%2BShopping&adgroup=SC_Storage%2BOrganization&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=m&location=9053011&gclid=CJb31ffqyM0CFQckhgod6mUExw&gclsrc=aw.ds
It works decent but doesn't hold a ton. Clear bins are a must for us, otherwise they pull stuff out just to see what's there.
Toy rotation, I need to get better at this but it works well when I do it.

Rotate! Keep like 5 toys in the bins and put all the rest in a box or two up high in a closet. Every few weeks, switch things out.

Rotate for sure!

And clear shoe box size bins. It seems to be the right size to keep toy "sets" together. His cars in one bin, plastic animals in another bin etc. The larger bins are good for the random big things. Plus the smaller clear bins are pretty cheap.

I vote toy rotation.

@macintosh: We have an open plan main floor and I cannot stand toys everywhere plus I felt like she never actually played with anything. We went out and bought this unit from Ikea and then I went through her toys and sorted what I thought would interest her and put everything else away in a storage bin in a closet upstairs. When I notice that she isn't playing with something much anymore I switch it out for something else.

ETA: she is 14 months old. The bin on the left has her mega blocks in it and the bin on the right has a couple of dolls and a few books.

@macintosh: Hahaha this is after she had gone to bed for the night and I have picked up. I really do find she is more engaged with the toys she has when there are only a couple of things available.

You mentioned that you DS is into putting things into thing. I would identify a couple of toys he already has (ie. A shape sorter and some stacking cups, etc) and put almost everything else away. It will help him explore what he is interested in and allow him to focus.

Also I belong to a buy/sell group on Facebook so I am constantly selling stuff she isn't interested in anymore and buy things that I think she would like. This way I am not spending a ton of money on new toys all the time and if it is a bust I can just re-sell it, usually for exactly what I paid!

@macintosh: I like to use lingerie/delicates bags to store small, like items. Especially helpful for things like this Leapfrog toy that has magnets for all letters in the alphabet.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00XSHEJ90/ref=ox_sc_act_image_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A147MP66DTO7DY

We rotate and do a similar set up to Mrswin, it makes life sooo much easier! I have toys in 4 places through the house but only a few in each location. My daughter is 20 months and the vast majority of get past time is spent at her kitchen, on the slide or trampoline st it's easy to restrict the rest.

@mrswin: We have that same shelf. I have baskets in three and the other is open and toys on the top. Though right now is a disaster with too many toys and needs to be organized.

@macintosh: What size/shape is the closet?

We do toy rotation under my daughters bed (no box spring so there is room). They each get a few toys on a shelf in their room, we have a few toys on a shelf below the TV in the living room, and on the sun room they have bigger toys and another bookshelf were I set out a few things and a toy box were we store the random parts/pieces (things like a random whistle from a birthday party, a toy from a happy meal, etc). So between those spots, I grab toys from under the bed and set them out.