The ability to stack things is what separates us from...lower forms of life. Stackable bins with wheels travel from bedroom to playroom and even out to the garage. Open bins are a good alternative to bookshelves for holding the wildly varied sizes and shapes of children's books. (Place the books with their spines facing up so children can flip through the bin.) With a wheeled bin that has a handle, a child can pull all his favorite books to a cozy reading corner.

Stackable storage is a great way to corral the smaller toys — jungle animals, play tools, and action figures. You can use plastic photo, file, and clothing boxes. Just don't pile bins too high (usually no more than three in a stack) or form precarious constructions that will bring out the climber in your child.

Stowaway boxes in white, yellow, blue, and red, $4-$7 each from Container Store, www.containerstore.com.

Clear stacking standard drawer, six for $49 from Hold Everything; see www.holdeverything.com for store locations.

Sweater drawers, two for $49 from Hold Everything.