A child’s playroom should be a safe haven where he or she can go to relax, play, and give his or her imagination free rein. A playroom also needs to be safe and comfortable, with bright colors and decor that can support your child’s development.
When designing your child’s playroom, make sure you have plenty of storage for toys. Choose child-size furniture that can grow with your child for at least a few years. Decorate with bright colors, and add spaces for pretend play, reading, and napping. Here’s everything you need in a children’s playroom.
Storage for Toys
Storage for toys is at the top of the list of things you need in a children’s playroom, because after all, toys are what kids play with. Traditionally, kids dump all their toys into a toy box, and toy boxes definitely still have their place in the playroom, but they’re not ideal for storing all kinds of toys. Kids these days tend to have toys with a lot of small pieces, like Legos or Polly Pockets, that could easily get lost in the bottom of a toy box.
Instead of asking your kids to put all their toys into one big box, install some wall cubbies with storage bins so kids can keep track of all their toys. They’ll have somewhere to put their toys where they can easily find them again. Install shelves, too, so kids can display their favorite toys, creations, and collections.
Child-Sized Furniture
Kids need tables to sit at, child-sized armchairs to relax in, and so forth. But you don’t want to buy a piece of furniture that will have to be replaced in a year because your kids outgrew it.
When choosing furniture for your child’s playroom, choose versatile pieces that can be repurposed. For example, instead of a traditional style of sofa, choose a sofa for kids with cushions that can be rearranged into any configuration. Kids love building forts with couch cushions, so a sofa for kids that’s nothing but cushions would be ideal. Grab a beanbag chair instead of a children’s armchair, since kids will be able to keep using it for longer. You may not be able to upcycle and repurpose every piece of furniture in your child’s playroom, but you can save some money in the long run by choosing versatile pieces whenever possible.
Bright Colors
Kids love brightly colored objects, so bright colors in the playroom are essential. Choose furniture and decor in bright primary colors or bright neons. Paint an accent wall in a bright color, or add colors to the walls with colorful stencils, painted handprints, or wall decals. A colorful mural will teach your kids to appreciate art and stimulate their imaginations.
Hiding Places
Kids love hiding away in a closet or a cupboard under the stairs, playing with their favorite toys and letting their imaginations run away with them. Add a play teepee or play tent to your child’s playroom so he or she can have a cozy, secret spot for pretend play. If you have the skills, build a real playhouse in your child’s playroom. You could even turn an under-stair cupboard into a cute little hideaway.
A Reading Nook
A kids’ playroom should have storage for children’s books and a cozy area where kids can curl up with their favorite picture books or, as they get older, chapter books. A beanbag in the corner or a children’s sofa would be ideal. Display an alphabet wall-hanging and add a touch-sensitive lamp so your kid doesn’t strain his or her eyes.
Soft Flooring
Kids spend a lot of time on the floor, even as they get older. A soft, well-padded, stain-resistant carpet gives your kids a soft, comfortable surface to sit on while they’re playing with their toys. For a cheaper, do-it-yourself option, install foam floor tiles in your children’s playroom instead.
A Cozy Nap Area
Have you ever seen a kid fall asleep mid-play? Kids don’t typically want to leave their games for naptime, even when they’re undeniably exhausted. A cozy nap area in your kids’ playroom gives them a place to rest where they can still feel like part of the action. Put a futon mattress or a large floor pillow in one corner, so your kids can nap whenever they want and get right back to their games when they wake up.
A children’s playroom needs to accommodate your kids’ special needs. With places for their toys and books, a fun hideaway spot, soft flooring, bright colors, and even a nap area, your kids will have the best playroom of all their friends.
