Playroom Ideas-Start with the Right Theme
Hi friend! If you are reading this blog post, I’m guessing you have at least one sweet little kiddo in your life! So let’s start with a quick intro-I’m Kristin, Mama to 3 kids (and a crazy Labradoodle and recently adopted kitty), and confession-I often eat cookies for lunch. While I’ve been an Interior Designer for about 14 years now, I have been working exclusively with Interior E-Design these last four years. And I quickly realized that Kid Rooms were my #1 requested space from my clients. So just this month I launched Postbox Designs KIDS-Online Interior Design for Kid Spaces only! And today I wanted to share Part II of a recent Playroom Makeover done with Postbox Designs KIDS.
If you missed Part I, you can check it out right here:
Adventure Playroom Design Part I
Playroom Ideas that are Gender Neutral
One of the biggest tricks with a Playroom Design is creating a space that works equally as well for different ages, and different genders. So I love using an “Adventure” themed Playroom space-it is colorful, fun, and works well for everyone! You want to start off with a “loose” theme when designing a Playroom. That helps you narrow down from the bazillion choices out there to focus on one certain topic. Your “theme” can also be a color scheme as well, that can make shopping less overwhelming. But just a quick word of caution-I try not to go overboard with any Playroom theme-just enough to make it clear, but you are still leaving a lot of flexibility WHEN (not if) your kid’s interests change down the line!
Playroom Design Part II
We had to fit a LOT of stuff and functions into one room. Within this Playroom Design we squeezed in:
Desk & Homework Station
TV & Video Game Area
Activity Table
Reading Area
Toy Storage & Play Area
So let’s break it down and see how we created each area, all with an “Adventure” theme twist!
Playroom Ideas: Include a Homework Station
A very common request for a Playroom Design is having some sort of desk/homework station for kids. Because this family had two children, I started off with this double desk layout (#1) made from Ikea components, that also has a ton of storage. These drawers are great for school supplies, craft supplies, even Lego storage. And I love how this 8′ long Ikea wood counter top gives plenty of space to spread out for projects.
I used these Target navy metal chairs (#4) because they are durable, easy to wipe down, they are light weight (easy for kids to move) and added a fun, gender neutral pop of color to the Playroom design.
I also love this desk layout because of the shelf above it (#1). This shelf can be used to display kid artwork, but I also included some fun wall art to go above it, like this Target giraffe head (#2) (P.S. It is no longer available, but Serena and Lily has another version), a “Wild and Free” Etsy felt banner (#3), and dollhouse wall hanging (#11) from Target. This is also a great spot for their daughter to store her bits and bobs.I also found some darling Adventure themed artwork as digital downloads from Etsy shops (#16 and #17).
Playroom Ideas: Create a Kid Lounge for TV
When you have the space, I love adding a sofa to a Playroom design! This is a great place to snuggle in for movies, or have friends over. My client’s son needed a spot where he and his friends could hang out together, so we started with this Pottery Barn sofa (#12). I love that it is slipcovered in a Performance fabric, so Mom or Dad can easily take it off and wash it when Doritos get smushed into it.
Then we LOADED up that neutral sofa with tons of bright, colorful and fun pillows (all found on Etsy)-Items #5,9,13, and 14. The first three are pillow COVERS, so they can also be taken off and washed. These simple geometric prints work just as well for school aged kids as they do for toddlers. We also layered on this brightly striped rug (#7) from Rugs USA. This gives a softer spot to sit and play over the hardwood floors.
Playroom Ideas: Add a Reading Nook
Adding a “reading nook” is an easy thing to add to a Playroom design or Bedroom design because it doesn’t need to take up a lot of space or be anything fancy. We simply used this Target beanbag (#8) (Note: this exact one is no longer available, but Target has some super cute other options). We put this bean bag against the wall and added a wall of these book ledges (#15) from Crate and Kids. I’m a huge fan of book ledges in a kid’s space because the book covers themselves act like artwork. Plus you can take advantage of your vertical space on a blank wall.
Playroom Ideas: Toy Storage & Play Area
This is a PLAYROOM Design after all, so we absolutely needed a place to storage kid’s toys! And here is an easy one-don’t forget to leave an open space for kids to just play. Don’t cram furniture into every spot, but leave plenty of open floor so they can use their imagination!
For easy-to-access toy storage, I used these Crate and Kids book shelves (#18) and their numbered canvas bins (#22) also from Crate and Kids. You can add some fun wall decor like these giant galvanized P-L-A-Y letters (#23) over your toy storage area. I like to keep toy storage simple and easy to organize-so these cubbies are an easy solution.
Don’t over complicate your kid’s toy storage…unless YOU want to be the one constantly re-organizing it (umm, speaking from personal experience!)
5 Practical Playroom Ideas that Work in Real Life
1.Use artwork to bring in the theme. I love using inexpensive digital downloads from Etsy-you can even print them off on your home printer. Invest in a set of frames, then switch out the artwork when kid’s interests change.
2. Go neutral with the big furniture (desk, chair, sofa) and bring in color and fun with throw pillows. I love using pillow covers so you can change them out in the future. Invest in good quality pillow inserts (I love the ones from Pottery Barn)
3. Use furniture for multiple kids. If you have more than one child, think of doing a double desk (like shown in Image #1), or at least give each child their own drawer or cubby to store their items. Use an activity table with multiple chairs when they decide to work together without fighting 🙂
4. Let them make their Playroom their own. I love to include bulletin boards (#20) when I can. It works as a mini “Art Gallery”-and when it is full, it is full, so artwork won’t invade your whole Playroom! If there is room, I try to give each child their own bulletin board.
5. Think practical. This is a KID SPACE, so you want them to be able to fully use it and enjoy it, without following them around with a Mr. Clean Eraser. I like to use slipcovers or “performance” fabrics (even leather) on seating. Metal chairs (like the desk chairs) are easy to wipe down. We used a table protector on our Crate and Kid activity table (#6) so the kids could go wild and color outside the lines! You can do the same thing with a desk top. Even when painting the room, use a “washable” paint so you can easily wipe down smears of…who knows what.
Get Inspired: Other Playroom Ideas!
Have Playroom on the brain? Here are some other Playroom Designs that I have done with other Postbox Designs KIDS clients! Grab some ideas for your own Kid’s Playroom Design or Bedroom!
Rustic Bonus Room & Playroom Design
See the Reveal of this Playroom & Homework Station Makeover
Sweet Girl Playroom Design
Grab Free Kid Room Designs
And I have one more source for you…and it is totally F-R-E-E! I created a Free Resource Library and inside are FREE Room Designs & Shopping Lists. While there are Room Designs for every room of your home, there are a lot of Free Kid Room Designs such as:
Adventure Boy Bedroom Design
Unicorn Girl Bedroom Design
Kid Triple Homework Station Design
Top 10 Playroom Must Haves
& more…
You will get an email with a link and password so you can access everything in one easy place:
I’ll see you back here next week! In the meantime, if you have any questions, you can always email me and we can chat at kristin@postboxdesigns.com
Cheers,
Kristin
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