Children are often at the center of attention when organizing space at home, and many parents think about setting up a playroom. Kids generally need a fun and versatile space where they can play, keep their toys, be active, develop their skills and imagination, and also have a cozy spot to relax. Naturally, school-aged children also need a dedicated space for reading and doing homework. Fitting all this into a home or apartment is challenging, but with careful planning, effective storage solutions, and a bit of inspiration, you can create the perfect playroom to nurture your child’s creativity and well-being.
Pros and cons of setting up a kids playroom at home
- It’s a great setup for families with multiple children, as it encourages them to play together, and the parents can supervise them more easily.
- However, it might not be the best idea for families where’s a big age gap between children. While your preteen might want to read, or watch a TV show in peace, a toddler has a completely different agenda that involves plenty of noisy toys. Forcing them together in the same space is probably not the best way to promote good sibling relationships or a harmonious household.
- Having a playroom makes it less likely that your entire living room is invaded by various toys, games and books. You can fit some toy storage accessories in the playroom, keeping the rest of your home free from clutter.
- Setting up a playroom usually means you are sacrificing a guest bedroom, a dining room or a space that you might be using as a home office. Analyze your family’s lifestyle and habits to determine whether a playroom is a good idea for all of you. If, for example, grandparents are visiting regularly to help with the little ones, maybe having a nice, comfortable guest room is a better fit for your family.
- Another good thing about having a playroom is the separation between playtime and sleeping time – children fall asleep easier if there aren’t a lot of toys and other distractions in their bedrooms.
- As your children grow, the playroom can be easily turned into a study or a game and media room for the entire family, as needed.
Here’s how to set up your kids’ playroom – ideas that will help you make the most of the space.
Setting up a kids’ playroom at home can be a fun and imaginative project, one that will benefit the entire family. Involve the entire family in this project – children included. This way, they’ll be even more delighted about their new playroom, and more willing to spend time in there, and, hopefully, more motivated to help you clean it. Here are some ideas to set up an engaging and functional play space:
- Pick the right space
Choose a dedicated room or section of a room that allows for ample space for play, ideally with good lighting and ventilation. Many parents love to be able to supervise their children in the playroom while they are cooking in the kitchen or watching TV in the living room, so they pick the area for the playroom based on that as well.
- Flooring is important
One of the most important decisions regarding the playroom is about flooring. Young kids spend a lot of time on the floor, so it needs to be soft and comfortable for them to play on. Also, children will spill various stuff on the floor, so it must be easy to clean. Stain-resistant carpets or foam mats on top of existing flooring are a good solution. They’re soft, safe for the kids, and relatively easy to clean. And, as the kids grow and you want to repurpose the room, you can easily take them out.
- Design a creative zone
A playroom is simply not complete without an area dedicated to creative play. Dedicate a corner for arts and crafts with a sturdy table, chairs, and supplies. Stock up on essentials like crayons, papers, paints, and clay, providing a diverse palette for imaginative exploration. Having these materials readily available makes it easy for kids to engage in spontaneous and uninhibited artistic expression.
- Set up a reading nook
Creating a cozy area with a bookshelf, cushions, bean bags, or a small couch where kids can relax and enjoy books will stimulate your children’s interest in reading. Incorporating the habit of reading every day into your child’s routine holds enormous advantages in the long run.
- Imaginative play area
Add an imaginative play area to the room, fitted with a play kitchen, dollhouse, tent, and some costumes. These items are gold for imaginative play. A play kitchen lets kids cook up imaginary feasts, while a dollhouse becomes a stage for storytelling adventures. Tents are cozy spots for pretend play, and costumes open the door to endless role-playing fun. These additions not only keep things interesting but also promote creativity and social skills.
- Activity station
An activity station that includes puzzles, building blocks, LEGO sets, board games, and educational toys to stimulate different interests is also a must. As your child gets older, you can adjust it to its changing interests, and you can also turn it easily into a study station.
Of course, safety is paramount when setting up a kids’ playroom. Ensure furniture and fixtures are child-friendly, rounded, and anchored to prevent accidents. Consider childproofing measures like outlet covers and safety gates if needed.
Toy storage ideas that will help you keep things under control in your playroom – and beyond
Whether you set up a playroom for your children – or your entire home is a playroom – toy storage is a common issue among parents. On the one hand, the little ones must have easy access to their favorite toys. On the other hand, adults would prefer a home that’s tidy and uncluttered. Fortunately, there are some simple solutions that can reconcile these two requirements:
- Mesh hanging towers and mesh hammocks are inexpensive, fun ideas for organizing your children’s plush toys. They will certainly love the idea of picking up their soft toys from the floor and throwing them in a mesh hammock hanging from the ceiling.
- Put a pegboard on one of the walls and fit it with S hooks. Add small baskets to the hooks and use the baskets to organize small toys and craft supplies such as crayons, pencils, stickers and so on. Mount the pegboard next to their desk or craft area for maximum efficiency.
- Add a pocketed shoe organizer on the playroom’s or the child’s bedroom door – it’s a good system for storing small figurines, dolls, animals, and so on. If your child is obsessed with O.M.G. dolls or plastic dinosaurs, these shoe organizers are the perfect solution. Just make sure they’re transparent, so your child can see what’s inside each pocket.
- Under the bed storage is a great solution, especially when it comes to toys that children usually use on the floor, such as building blocks or cars. Buy a few plastic, transparent, lidded boxes that fit under their beds and organize their toys into categories. This will help avoid huge messes – if your child wants to play with just his or her cars, they won’t scatter other toys around the room.
- Children grow out of their toys every few months or so, which means you have to declutter their toy collection on a regular basis. However, good quality toys (as well as other baby items) are expensive, and you naturally want to keep them for your future children. One way to hold on to those items without turning your home into a literal toy store is by renting self storage. A small, 5×5 unit is just the right size to safely keep toys and other baby items until you’ll need them again.
- Bedside caddies are ideal for keeping your child’s favorite books and sleep toys on hand, making bedtime more tranquil and drama free!
- Add storage options in all the areas where children play. If, for example, your children prefer bringing toys into the living room or the kitchen, keep a couple collapsible baskets and bins in there. You can use them to pick up and store all the toys at the end of the day. If you prefer to bring the toys back to their bedrooms each night, these baskets will also be very handy.
Care to share any other ideas that helped you create your kids’ happy place? We’d love to hear about them in the comments!
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