Design the Best Playroom Space: 5 Tips to Reimagine Your Kids’ Play Area Before it Eats Your House Alive
Toys, toys, and more toys— sometimes I cannot stand the number of toys in my house! My son loves to collect toy trucks, and I have tripped over those plastic blocks on wheels more times than I would like to admit. Designing a space specifically to organize his hot mess of Hotwheels in our home has been necessary for my safety and sanity.
Has your kids’ play space taken over your house? Don’t fret! With a few key steps, you can regain control over your space and keep your kids happy with their toy area.
5 Keys to Redesign Your Kids’ Play Area
It can be overwhelming to know where to begin when organizing our children’s play spaces. My friend Chloe is seven years old and has plenty of toys that all need a space that makes sense with respect to the rest of her home. Join me as I redesign her play area and share five basic ideas I incorporate into every space I design.
1. Space Plan Your Play Area
Every design begins by mapping the uses of the space. Defining the zones of an area based on activity is called space planning. This first step is essential, especially in smaller rooms or those that exist as shared spaces. This play area for Chloe is located in a shared workspace and den.
I created a space plan for the room before one piece of furniture was purchased. To do this, make a list of who is using the space, how they are using it, and what they are using it for. Then draw out the floorplan of the room.
Begin by circling areas of the room that you believe would function best for each activity on your list. This is called a bubble diagram. Interior and architectural designers use bubble diagrams to identify: what functions take place in an area (activity zones), which zones need to be adjacent, and how to create a positive flow (circulation pattern) in the layout. I have more tips on creating a bubble diagram for space planning in my episode: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Space Planning. Make sure you watch this episode; I cover it all!
Taking the time to space plan first is the key to maximizing the potential within the space. It will also ultimately allow you to create a positive circulation pattern for everyone using the area.
2. Plan for Spaces of Any Size
When it comes to maximizing toy storage, embracing vertical space is critical. Whether you are inclined to incorporate open shelving with adorable baskets, hooks for hanging, or enclosed floor to ceiling cabinets, utilize the vertical space in your room for storage. Don’t underestimate the value of those walls and even the corners.
In the den, I used vertical storage with white floor-to-ceiling cabinetry. These tall cabinets have room to store every toy.
Matching the color of the cabinets with the wall makes the room appear larger and the ceiling higher.
I used similar white cabinets with polished nickel hardware throughout the house. This unity of design creates a sense of calm within the home.
Unity of design is a crucial component in open-concept floorplans. The white floor-to-ceiling cabinetry elevates the viewpoints of the playroom from the other areas of the home. Chloe’s parents can hide away toys when entertaining in the adjacent dining room and kitchen.
Purposeful storage in your play areas encourages children to engage in creative play.
One way to amp up your organization is to incorporate bins. For younger children, using bins serves as both a storage solution and an independent learning tool. Choose commonly played with toys to organize and store at a reachable height for your child. Label the bins in categories like: “cars,” “dolls,” “balls,” “kitchen,” and “music.” Interacting with the labeled bins is one way to encourage literacy with young learners.
3. Design to Engage Imaginations
Children thrive in play areas with a limited number of open-ended toys. Give thought to what toys you plan to keep out in the space, and then find a way to create an open area to encourage free play.
A recent study by the University of Toledo found that when too many toys are in a space, it can overwhelm children— just like it overwhelms parents. Young kids become distracted and struggle to use their imaginations when more than ten toys are set out in any given space. Limit the number of toys you provide at once to create a space that stimulates young minds to learn and grow. Renowned early childhood centers like Montessori have incorporated this principle into their play spaces as well. If your child owns more than ten toys, accomplishing this can be difficult but not impossible.
So what toys should you place in a playroom space? Set out a limited number of open-ended toys: trains, art supplies, costumes, dolls, objects from nature, blocks, and toy kitchens.
These are the toys kids interact with the longest and are most likely to get kids excited to engage in independent, imaginative play. I kept out Chloe’s play kitchen and a few art supplies on her table in this shared den space.
4. Style a Space for Pre-Teens
It’s crucial to find a way to adapt play areas to meet the needs of growing kids. While some will stay and play legos, many of the open-ended toys they used to love aren’t as engaging as they get older.
Think of social toys to sophisticate your shared play space. Adding classic social activities like chalkboards, soft dartboards, karaoke, or nerf basketball hoops. I have even seen some fun wall game boards for kids to enjoy with friends. Take advantage of your child’s increasing height. Older children can store their age-appropriate games, instruments, and books higher where little siblings cannot reach.
Reconsider the location of your play area. Chloe’s play area is located right off of the kitchen.
Locating a play area near the center of the house is an excellent use of space with young children. Parents can work, cook, and clean and still be able to see their little ones play. When adapting these zones for growing kids, many parents relocate the playroom to an area where children can have a sense of privacy while remaining within earshot of parents.
If relocating the entire play space is not an option, do not worry. Create privacy for your not-so-little ones by adding a hideaway. Incorporate a cozy reading nook, hanging chairs, or a comfy seating area to share with friends. Older siblings are more likely to stay in these shared play spaces with younger siblings when there is a place where they feel they belong.
5. Embrace the Psychology of Playroom Design
As you design, keep things as simple as possible. Incorporate nature and neutral colors to evoke a soothing sense of repose and foster concentration. The trend of busy colors aids in making spaces feel smaller and overwhelming. Ultimately, there is a distinguished purpose behind creating spaces at home that encourage our children to use their imaginations. These areas nurture their cognitive, social, and critical thinking skills as young leaders.
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