Resist the urge to buy an old-fashioned wooden toy trunk. Those were designed for people who employ governesses, and they also tend to be as unsafe as they are impractical. Sure, tossing everything into one big box makes cleanup a breeze, but it can make playtime needlessly frustrating. Ever fished for a plastic Brio screw in a toy box? It will sift to the bottom and be lost in a sediment of amputated doll limbs and plastic dinosaurs.

But don't limit yourself to traditional options. Some of the best toy "boxes" are not boxes at all: Consider lightweight washable canvas totes, shoe organizers that provide beds for favorite pals, a laundry sorter on wheels, or a see-through plastic garbage can for quick cleanups when company's due.

Three-bin laundry sorter, $20 from Bed Bath & Beyond, www.bedbathandbeyond.com.

Shoe organizer, $30 from Bed Bath & Beyond, www.bedbathandbeyond.com.