If you’re moving into your new home with children, there’s a good chance that you’ll be utilizing one of your extra spaces as their playroom! Having a playroom in your home provides a designated space for kids to play games and get creative with crafts, toys and more! There are many ways to design an amazing playroom, and how you craft yours will depend a lot on your child’s age and interests. We have some great tips and tricks for you to consider when creating a playroom that your child will love!
Whether we like it or not, kids tend to make a mess! In the playroom, you’ll want to choose flooring that’s forgiving when it comes to spills, scratches and other accidents. You may want to consider vinyl or hardwood flooring in this space, which you can layer with fun-colored rubber floor tiles, mats or rugs for extra protection, color and comfort!
Take a family trip over to your local home improvement shop and let your child pick out the playroom’s paint color! You can even consider painting one wall as an accent wall with funky designs or chalkboard paint for drawing! Or, if you’d rather keep the walls a neutral shade, you can still spice up their space by adding fun removable wall decals like this awesome jungle mural. You can find these removable wall decals and other affordable playroom décor on Amazon.com!
There are endless ways to decorate the playroom with useful storage cubbies, cubes and bookcases. You can utilize a storage cube bookcase combined with colorful cube bins for creating pops of color while keeping toys, books and crafts organized. You might even consider installing book shelves to create a “reading wall” or library, complete with fun pillows and a colorful rug for a cozy reading area! It’s easy to find toy organizers online to keep your playroom organized in an exciting and tasteful way!
Depending on how much space your playroom offers, you might consider designing the room with different activity areas in mind. One of our favorite ideas is creating a “little gym” play area, a concept from Martha Moore, a NJ teacher and author of the Primary Paradise blog. This “little gym” might include a kid’s gym mat, mini trampoline, tumbling triangle and more! You can also add a “nap time” corner with a cozy tee pee, pillows and blankets. Some more ideas include a craft area, kid’s kitchen, library, dress-up station or even a stage for singing and acting!
There are so many fun chair designs out there to make your playroom the ultimate hang-out spot for your child. Utilizing bean bag chairs is a common option that kids always love! These bungee dish chairs are also a hit with kids and teens, and they’re easy to foldaway when you need extra space. (Believe it or not – they’re also super comfortable!) Lastly, it’s a good idea to consider getting a mini chair and table set for when they need a hard surface for doing crafts or drawing.
How you decide to design your playroom is totally up to you, but we suggest leaving electronics like televisions and video games in the family room or entertainment center. The playroom is a great space for children to get creative and use their imaginations, and sometimes electronics can be a distraction. It’s never a bad idea to have a space for your child that is distraction-free, where they can spend time reading, learning, relaxing or creating new things!
It’s obvious that your child’s age will play a big role in designing your playroom. No matter how old they are, you should evaluate the space and take the proper measures to ensure their safety. Remember to child-proof outlets and install corner and edge bumpers around the room when necessary. Use furniture that won’t tip over or break easily to avoid any injuries. Do research and read customer reviews before purchasing furniture, toys and other products you’re planning to use in the playroom. Don’t forget to provide them with enough space to move around easily, since kids (and adults) can trip and fall if an area is too crowded.
Part of what we teach children as they grow up is the importance of staying organized and putting things back where they found them. Adding a “cleaning station” to your child’s playroom is a cute idea that will encourage them to partake in tidying up and organizing. A cleaning station will also make them feel like this room really is their own little space! Not to mention, these cleaning tools can come in handy when “playing house” and other games that require them to use their imaginations!
Does your kid love boats? Dinosaurs? Cars? Center their playroom around the things they really love and enjoy! If your creative juices aren’t flowing, hop online and explore Pinterest for themed room ideas. Depending on how much space you have, you can really take their playroom to the next level with a mini rock-climbing wall, boat playhouse, slide, or treehouse! (We do recommend hiring a professional to install these cool features if you’re not totally confident you can do it yourself.) If you have a smaller space or budget, there are still many amazing and affordable ways to create awesome themes and activity areas for making ultimate playroom.
When it comes to the playroom, it’s hard to go wrong. The more creative you allow yourself to be when designing this space, the more fun it’ll be for the whole family! Embrace your inner-child and put your imagination to the test – we promise the results will be exciting! We can’t wait to see how you decide to design and personalize the playroom where your child will make fond memories that will last a lifetime.
Want to share photos of the playroom in your Schaeffer Family Home? We’d love to see them! Feel free to post your pictures to Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Houzz and tag Schaeffer Family Homes!
