As our boys got older and collected more toys, we faced a dilemma: At the end of the day, where do you put all the toys? For us, a playroom was the answer. Playrooms not only give parents a place to put away all of the kids’ toys but also gives the child or children in question a space of their room. Plus, they can be so much fun to decorate. In this blog, I wanted to give you some great playroom ideas if you ever do decide to go that route.
10 Playroom Ideas
If you have decided that a playroom is right for your family, where do you start the planning process? Here are ten things that are great to have in a playroom.
1. Toy Storage
This is the biggest issue that many parents run into. Your child has all of these toys, but how do you store them? With shelves being a common answer, the Kallax shelving from IKEA is an inexpensive option. There is no need to worry about getting plastic bins, and them being too big when you get home, either. IKEA also sells lightweight bins called Drӧna boxes that fit perfectly into a Kallax shelf. If you don’t have an Ikea near you, I love this toy organizer by Tot Tutors. It also has removable bins and comes in a variety of colors.
2. Fun Artwork
One of the most passed over playroom ideas ever, find every kid’s room needs fun artwork. It keeps the space playful and fun, and not too serious. Society6, Hobby Lobby, and Etsy are great places to start your search for fun artwork if you want something premade. Making the decision to have fun artwork in the playroom also gives families an opportunity to create art together. Melting some crayons onto a canvas is super easy, or you could decide to collaborate with your little ones to create a couple of larger – and one of a kind – pieces for the space.
3. Pops of Color
Kids are regularly associated with bright, fun colors. Having a pop of color in the playroom can easily brighten up it up. Monochrome and neutral color palettes are a good place to start when designing a room, but this is a kids room. Adding pops of color makes it kid-friendly, and fun.
4. Desk or Activity Table
Desks and activity tables are multipurpose. Not only does it give your child a place to play, but also a place to be creative. Many kids will have their activity table double as both a place to play with toys such as LEGOs or trains and then will turn around and use it as a place to let their creative juices flow. This is one of those playroom ideas that seem obvious, but many people just don’t quite think about.
This activity table by Melissa & Doug is a wooden multi-activity table and comes with a large drawer for storing toys and art supplies, and as an added bonus, can be easily cleaned. Our little guys have also both loved this desk by Step2 Studio that currently resides in Will’s room.
5. Art Supplies
Speaking of letting those creative juices flow, kids need a creative outlet. Having various art supplies allows them to experiment with different art mediums, and allows them to create some amazing masterpieces for parents to display. Many parents provide their kids with basic, washable art mediums, such as markers, crayons, colored pencils, and paint.
A bulk pad of construction paper is not only inexpensive, but is also full of fun colors, and can be easily versatile across the many art mediums that kids may choose to experiment with. Recently, we discovered this super sticky easel pad by Post-it that the boys love. It’s large enough for big creativity and the pages can be peeled off and stuck to most surfaces. It also comes in a 2-pack which is great when you have two kids who aren’t great with sharing.
Another fun option is an electronic easel, such as this one by VTech. The VTech electronic easel teaches kids to draw various shapes and objects with step-by-step instructions, as well as teaches kids to write both letters and numbers and includes six different activities.
6. Books and Bookshelves
For bookshelves, these clear floating ones by Winkine are great. Not only do they not take up any valuable floor space, but they also allow you to place them wherever you would like on the walls. Of course, if you have bookshelves, you need books to fill them with.
- The Richard Scarry books are full of great for kids of all ages, and teach lessons throughout the stories.
- The Little Golden Books have been family favorites for several generations in many families.
- Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann is a fantastic board book for younger kids who are just starting to learn how to read.
- The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak remains a favorite of many kids, too, especially when it comes to reading out loud. Sure, the book has no pictures, but there are fun fonts and colors throughout the book, and it has the reader make funny noises and talk in funny voices.
7. Comfortable Floor Space
The kids aren’t the only ones going to frequently be in the playroom, you will be too. Having a comfortable floor space is as much for you as it is for them. If you find a rug that is both a fun pattern for the kids and is soft and comfortable for you to sit on, you have hit a jackpot. Wayfair, Amazon, Pottery Barn Kids and Rugs USA are all great places to start your search for the perfect playroom rug.
8. Chalkboard or Magnetic Wall
Chalkboard and/or magnetic walls are great for a playroom, because they give kids a reusable space to draw, and a place to hang their art and work on their spelling with letter magnets. Drip pans are an inexpensive option and come in various shapes and sizes. They can even be painted. The best part about using drip pans is that, should one get damaged, they are easily replaceable.
9. Play Tent
Play tents and/or forts add a sort of whimsical air to any space. Remember blanket forts and remember the clean up that came with them at bedtime? A pop-up play tent does not require teardown before bed and provides hours of entertainment by encouraging kids to use their imagination and storytelling skills. Ikea provides a few inexpensive play tent options such as the Cirkustält circus themed tent, the Hemmahos camper tent, and the Busa cube tent. If you’ve got the budget for it, I also love all the things from the Crate and Barrel kids line.
10. Ballpit
Ball pits were always the highlight of any play space as a kid. How cool would it be for your kids to have one of their own, and one that you would not have to worry about how many sick kids had sneezed all over the balls before your kids climbed in? This portable play yard from Amazon, combined with these balls from Walmart provide both inexpensive play and hours of entertainment for your little ones.
Enjoy Your Playroom Ideas!
I know kids grow fast, and they won’t want a playroom in the same sense, but once they outgrow this stuff the room can easily convert into a tween room where the stinky kids can all hang out. You can see a full source list from our first playroom here on project nursery. If you have any other playroom ideas or would love some help finding affordable accents for kid spaces, let me know!
