REVIEW – When looking for storage for my living room, I debated between getting something nicer, or, something safe and lightweight for when the small one comes down to visit. After procrastinating a bit, the WLIVE 5 drawer storage organizer unit with fabric bins stumbled into my lap, which ended up being the perfect affordable organizer for kids toys, but what about my own odds and ends?
What is it?
The WLIVE 5 drawer storage organizer unit is a lightweight unit with fabric drawers that comes in a variety of color combinations.
What’s included?
- Tools for assembly
- Extra screws and handles
- Organizer unit with drawers
Design and features
Everything looked to be labeled with a sticker corresponding to a letter, which made it easy to reference when looking at the instructions. The only downside of the sticker was that it was difficult to remove, though I was able to do so with a little persistence.
The way everything is laid out made assembly a breeze. All of the tools except a screwdriver were included along with extra screws, rails, and even an extra drawer handle. In roughly 45 minutes, including a visit from the curious family members upstairs, the WLIVE storage unit was assembled and ready to go.
When I looked at the height of the storage unit, which was their shortest one, I was skeptical of how usable it would be. I knew it would be short, but seeing 21.7″ high in person was a different feeling. The height and width made it great for use in closets, preferably under the clothes hanging above, or as a TV stand for smaller TVs. My niece, who is a lovely two year old toddler, immediately found a use for it and deemed it hers on the first day.
While I was filling up the drawers with electronics, small board games, cat stuff, and other items, my sister mentioned that it actually would be the perfect height for her to sort and store her toys. The only thing it is missing is a bracket to hold it safely to a wall, though with its extremely light weight, a child would not get pinned under as they would a full dresser.
With both storage for myself and the toddler in mind, I set to work, dedicating one of the two bigger drawers for board games, one of the top drawers for the cats, and the matching drawers for toys and a bag of ball pit refills. I removed the center drawer just so you could see easier, but that’s where the electronic cord drawer would be. I did notice that if you filled up the drawer with heavier items, it would slightly pinch the fabric on the front. The picture shows the pinching with the board and card game drawer filled up.
The dimensions of the large drawers are 18.4″W x 11.7″L x 8.5″H, while the smaller drawers are a near square at 11.8″W x 11.7″L x 8.5″H. The larger of the drawers fit a refill of ball pit balls perfectly. The top drawers fit small things such as socks, toys, and cat items well, but keep in mind the dimensions when trying to figure out what will all fit. Large board games definitely will not fit, but I do not own any, so it worked fine for me.
My niece was able to pull open and push closed even the heavier board game drawer without issue. The rails that keep them straight have a solid back that stops the drawer from pushing too far closed and the drawers slide just fine on them. The handles have held up so far to a toddler pulling on them and have yet to loosen.
The top of the storage unit is quite sturdy and while I toss things haphazardly on top, you’d never notice as there’s not a scratch yet. Once it transitions to fully being a toddler toy storage area, we’ll have to see if the top holds up. If something spills, or you set a cup down that leaves a ring, you can wipe it down as the top is water resistant. The fabric seems durable enough that I do not worry about rips, though it is fabric so lighter colored drawers could stain.
They do have slightly adjustable feet to help keep the WLIVE storage unit from rocking back and forth due to uneven surfaces. There is not much leeway, but it’s there if needed.
What I like about the WLIVE storage unit.
- Extremely lightweight
- Easy to assemble
- Well priced
What needs to be improved?
- Include wall mount safety brackets
- The top drawers are quite small
Final thoughts
Overall, while I will not be using the WLIVE storage organizer unit for my own items, it will make a good organized toy chest for my niece. The drawers, especially the top ones, are a little too small to find a good use for unless you’ve planned it out. Thankfully kids don’t mind what goes where, so for my niece, it’s the perfect inexpensive, nice looking, and lightweight toy chest.
Price: $45.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided for free by WLIVE. WLIVE did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.
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I have this storage organizer. It is pretty flimsy and super lightweight / light-duty. Just be careful about what you put in the “drawers”.
I have the OLIXIS clone of this unit at $40 on Amazon. I knew what to expect with the unit in terms of construction and size. For the price, I’ve actually been quite happy with the unit as secondary storage in the closet; fits perfectly in the space.