Hi Guys!
Welcome back to PART II of How to Create the Perfect Playroom + Homework Station
(Otherwise known as how to whip all of your kid’s junk into shape!). First of all, if you missed Part I you gotta check it out right HERE. It has all kinds of good stuff that will show you how to create any kid’s room on a budget. I recently had a client request a shared Playroom and Homework Station for her son and daughter. Because it is a shared space, it had to be gender and age neutral, and also be super functional. As you you will read in Part I, I’m a Mom myself so I wanted to fit as many functions into this room as possible. So this one little room functions as four rooms in one.
Find Out How You Can Create 4 Rooms in 1:
Playroom
Homework Station
Craft Room
Hang-out Space
Yup, you really can fit all of these different rooms into just one space. You simply have to use furniture that can do double duty and use your space wisely. In Part I you can check out the whole new design I created for this family HERE but for today I wanted to share Version #2. I always create TWO versions that are designed to be mixed-and-matched for all of my clients, so any of these items can work into her Version #1 as well. Talk about multi-tasking!
Double Homework Station on a Budget
If you have the space, I do love it when each child can have his or her own desk area in a Homework Station. This super budget friendly desk (#11) and mint green metal chair (#3) are both from Target and are inexpensive enough to order two of each. But those desks aren’t HUGE you say, and my kid has a L-O-T of stuff (oh yah, I have three kids myself so I know how those kiddos roll). Keep your kid’s desk surface clean by giving them a lot of different areas to store their gear. In this case I put both desk side-by-side and put this cutie pie turquoise tall cabinet (#13) in between. You can load this baby up with all of the storage you need, I would recommend using baskets (#15) to corral school supplies or craft supplies, since this cabinet has glass doors. Finally, using this simple divided galvanized bin (aptly named “THINGS”) will keep their desk tidy (#12).
Whenever you are tight on space, vertical is your BFF.
So above each desk I included a shelf (#6), in this case natural wood floating shelves. This gives each kid a place to put their treasures or you can load them up with inexpensive artwork such as this Etsy print (#1) or great PB Teen dry erase stick-ons (#2) for writing notes. If you want a place to hang up artwork, party invites, or project instructions, I love this diamond print bulletin boards from Target (#8).
How to Tackle Playroom Toy Clutter…In the Cutest Way
So we have the “Homework Station” part of this room taken care of. But how do you create a Playroom that doesn’t always look…played in? Have a place for everything, but for heavens sake keep your system simple. I have tried “over-organizing” in the past, and it only brought me headaches trying to keep up with my own system. So when I find solutions for toy storage I try to keep two things in mind:
ONE: Closed Baskets (like these adorable striped fabric bins, #10)
TWO: Low Storage Shelves. When you have little kids you want the toy bins easily accessible (no toddlers scaling furniture!), so I like low shelves (#14) that allow you to stack bins or baskets. Push 2-3 of these units together to create a super toy storage space. And remember how I said vertical space was your BFF? When you use low storage shelves, you have the space above it to add artwork or wall decor. In this case, I added a set of bulletin boards above it (#8) so an ever-rotating art display.
Hang-out Area for Kids-What Do you Really Need?
This mama requested a TV/video game free zone, but if you want to incorporate that into your Playroom area, you sure can. Depending on how many kids will use the space will affect what type of furniture you use for your hang-out space. In Version #1 (check it out HERE) I used an overstuffed chair and ottoman for their hang-out space/reading nook. But for Version #2 I wanted to show this mom a different option. I found a budget friendly petite loveseat that will easily fit two people, and I also added in two cute polka dotted beanbags. If you add in two of these, four kids can easily hang-out in this space (and move the beanbags into the corner when not in use). Add some cute pillows to the loveseat (#20 and #23) to give the space some fun pops! I found this fun rug (#24) to help ground the space and give a soft area to hang out in (an added bonus if you have hard surface floors)
Craft Room Table That Does Triple Duty
And finally, I promised this room would have 4 Functions in 1. You can also add a Craft Room into your Playroom with a simple piece of furniture. In Version #1 I found a cute set of table and chairs to work as a craft table. In this Version, I am showing a different idea. You can also use a simple coffee table that can do triple duty. In this case this white coffee table from Wayfair (#17) can work as:
ONE: Coffee Table-a place to set snacks for the hang-out area
TWO: Craft Table: Use the bottom shelf to add some baskets containing their craft supplies. This painted surface will wipe off easily (or cut a piece of plexi-glass if you really want to protect the surface). Kids can simple sit “criss cross applesauce” as my 5 year old would say) or pull up some beanbags or poufs to gather around the table.
THREE: Project Table. As kids get older they are going to have homework projects that are going to need some space to spread out. Use this secondary surface to work on long-term projects.
Put Your Playroom Walls To Good Use
In a Playroom or Kid’s Room especially you want to add in some fun, and your walls are the perfect place to do that. In this case I drew out a Wall Elevation (not shown) of how to hang inexpensive art (#25), a pennant (#27), an animal head from Target’s Pillowfort collection (#21) and this super functional wire basket trio (#26) that is a perfect place to store books.
Here is a peek at Version #1 (see it all HERE) that shows another Version jam packed with budget-friendly, multi-functioning kid-friendly items that you are going to want to grab up for your own Playroom or Homework Station!
And if you loved this Playroom Makeover, be sure to check out some of my other Kid Room Make-overs like:
Rustic Playroom in Texas for Two
Boys Only Basement Playroom Makeover
Playroom That Works for Kids and Grown-Ups Alike
Kid’s Craft Corner + $3 Garland Tutorial
5 Kid Storage Solutions + Basement Makeover
Playrooms have been one of the most popular Room Makeovers I have been doing lately, but I can help you custom design any room of your house. In just two weeks I custom design your room and then mail your room-in-a-box full of goodies such as drawings, shopping lists, material samples, and step-by-step instructions so you can pull your perfect room together.
Order every item for your room in an hour over a cup of coffee. That’s the Postbox Designs way.
I can’t wait to work with you, so shoot me an email at kristin@postboxdesigns.com or book your ROOM PACKAGE today!
Cheers,
Kristin
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