Welcome back for Part II of the Ultimate Playroom Guide! I’m a mama of three and I know the hard way how toys seem to creep into every room of your home. Most mornings I’m eating breakfast with My Little Ponies and finish the day by stepping on my son’s Legos on the way to my bedroom. But I’m here to only to help you find a spot for your kiddo’s stuff…but make it look good in the process!
If you missed Part I, check out Version #1 of the play room I designed for this family of four. They have two young sons and they needed a playroom that could withstand all the boys could throw out it…plus it was out in the open next to their family room, so it had to flow with the rest of the home.
In Part I, I shared my first 5 Tips for creating the Ultimate Playroom, here are my final 5:
TIP #6: Think outside the “kid box”. Because I wanted the space to grow with them AND it needed to work with the rest of the basement, I found items that didn’t scream “kid design”. This vintage style Periodic Table of Elements (Item #3) is beautiful enough for this traditional style home, but also reminds kids that science is cool (being a biochem major in college, I wanted to pass on the love…)
TIP #7: Start on Etsy. I love Etsy for their original prints…I found these kid centric prints for under $1 (Items #4)! Print off on your home computer and frame. Gorgeous, custom artwork for pretty much any subject you can imagine, starting for just pennies! This is a great way to bring a “theme” into a space without going overboard.
Here is Version #2 of the Playroom I designed for this family. Again, while overall it has a neutral look, it is filled with kid friendly items:
These boys are majorly into Legos, so I found these great vintage style patent prints of Legos (Item #7) on Etsy (Tips #6 and #7!). From a distance they look like art, but up close they are fun and creative. Like in Version #1, toy storage was key-this cubby and drawer combo stores it all. For this version I suggested re-using an existing loveseat they already owned to create a soft seating area. But I still wanted a hard surface for toys, so I added a coffee table, plus these poufs work for extra seating for friends.
Or building a fort. Don’t forget, we are dealing with boys here!
I created this 3D perspective to show my clients exactly how to lay it all out…in their Shopping List I included instructions, sizes, and even gave them links for frames to buy for their new artwork!
TIP #8: Use what you already own. The homeowners already had this loveseat, so I used it in the space, not only to save money, but now Mom can buy new furniture for HERSELF and use these super cute hand-me downs for her boys to jump on. I always like the idea of some sort of soft seating (even if you just have room for a kid sized chair) as a place for kiddos to snuggle up.
TIP #9: Dark colors and patterns are your new BFF. My #1 choice would be to use slipcovered furniture in kids spaces (just throw in the washing machine!), but if you are going to use upholstered pieces, dark colors are key to hiding stains and dirt. I love using denim or dark gray for kid’s seating-plus it is a great neutral color. Likewise, patterns (like stripes, florals, geometrics) help hide stains and draw the eye away from any oopsies.
TIP #10: Let them make it their own. Leave room for kids to add their own touch. String up a ribbon and let them clip their ever changing artwork to it. Add in a chalkboard for doodles. Give them a shelf for corralling all of their “treasures” so they don’t spill into the whole room. I love giving my kids clear Mason jars and letting them fill ’em up!
And finally, here is an elevation I created showing them an idea of how to lay out their new artwork and accessories for the boys’ toy storage. These prints can be customized to add their own sense of style.
And just in case you missed Part I, here is Version #1 I created for the same playroom. This one features an activity table and an adventure/camp style space:
The homeowners can see EXACTLY how the space will look like in their exact home. Most people wouldn’t hire me if they could picture exactly what their new space could look like. Now all they have to do is open their Postbox and order their items. They use their drawings and instructions as a template to put it all together. So easy.
Just like this family, I want to make decorating your room easy for you. In just three simple steps you can get your dream room custom designed for a fraction of what a traditional designer would charge. Buy everything at once or use your Postbox as a Master Plan and buy items one by one as your budget allows.
See how it all works HERE,
Leave a Reply