Guest Picks: 19 Decorative Toys

This is not only a great toy, but I see this as a fantastic modern art piece that would stand out in any modern home. I would place this at the bottom of a bookshelf with plenty of breathing room for kiddos to get creative and unleash their inner David Smith.

These aren't your traditional snooze-fest wood alphabet blocks. I love the sense of humor and fantastic design displayed here: S is for Sunburn, for example, and Y is for Yoga.

I actually have these in my house displayed as part of my coffee table decorations. My daughter Penelope loves to play with them and I love having them on display. Organize your last name in the letters or a fun message for guests to find!

These gorgeous hand-stamped, hand-colored wooden discs would not only be adorable on display, but help your little one with memory and recognizing his colors.

These are clearly made for play, but I'd be tempted to group them for a sweet wine glass trivet.

Introducing animals to home decor adds a lot of depth. I'd put this gorgeous elephant on display on a lower bookshelf so it's easily accessible for the wee one. The dark wood makes it look really grown up.

I think this would be a great accent piece in a home with more tribal elements.

I've always wanted a mini piano; everything in miniature is just that much more adorable, no?

The bright red color and the gorgeous lettered logo on the front would make for a great decor piece for a home and a fabulous learning toy for any lucky kid. Add a bold tufted miniature bench for your little show stopper.

Collect globes? What a fun conversation starter and way to get kids excited about geography and science! This kid-friendly globe disguises itself really well as a unique addition to a grownup home.

I'd put this on the coffee table or on the bottom half of the bookshelf for easy kid access.

I love this wooden toy — it's the perfect creative block set to leave sitting around the house. It's got the organic beauty of a real succulent, but the functionality of a toy.

I'd put this sucker in a faux pot or flat dish on my coffee table and decorate with it as if it were a live tree... that my daughter just so happens to rearrange at will.

Again, another toy that's gorgeous and always changing with your child, encouraging art and literacy. Your child can create his own modern Japanese garden scenes or work on his first letters.
I'd display this in the kitchen dining area or a place with tile or hardwood floor. I wouldn't want to risk getting salt or sand stuck in the carpet! I'd also pair this box with smooth river rocks (maybe ones found on a family nature walk) and a small fork or "rake" for creating fun textures.

This Etsy shop has a bunch of hand-painted hobby horses. I think they're so cute! They pack a lot of personality and I would not be ashamed to have one of these propped up against the wall in my entryway.

This might be my favorite find so far. This set of mylar blocks and color filters is not only beautiful, but helps teach children the basics of color and color theory.

Love this. This would have a permanent home at the center my kitchen table.

Here's another great toy that could serve as home decor. It's perfect for those pesky lower shelves. I love that it's a wind-up toy. It reminds me of all of the fun vintage toys I would play with at my grandparents' house.

I live just below the epic Wasatch Mountains and love seeing the sun come up behind Mt. Olympus. This stacker reminds me of hiking all over the Wasatch front with my family as a kid.

This mountain range stacker is a really cool toy and perfect for display, especially if you're proud of your proximity to a mountain range too.

I wouldn't mind picking up these adorable blocks around the house. They're bright, simple and encourage creativity.

Remember Polly Pockets? This is a much cuter version, in my opinion. Perfect for travel and for that mid-century obsessed parent.

Decorate with old toys. I wouldn't let my children play with something that might possibly have lead paint on it, but something like this sure would make a cute decoration on higher bookshelves.

These printed kitties are absolutely adorable. Again, another thing I wouldn't mind cleaning off the floor. It'd be fun to get an entire animal collection going for encouraging imaginary play.

Next: More toys for all ages