These 7 Tips for the Ultimate Playroom will help your child expand and grow when indoors.

Childhood is a time of wonder and magical thinking. A simple stick and tree can make for endless hours of creative play with a young imagination. However, children can’t always play outdoors. The following article, 7 Tips For The Ultimate Playroom , explores some essentials to keep that youthful exuberance and inquisitive mind going!

Playroom Theme Ideas for the Ultimate Playroom

Determining the right playroom ideas for your child.

English tea party, the animal kingdom, Nautical, or futuristic, the choices are endless. A good starting point for your play room would be to consider the age of your child and activities he or she enjoys. Of course this is fluid, still younger children tend to delight in chunky objects like cars and stuffed animals. While older kids generally prefer interactivity; consider coffee shops or art studios filled with art supplies.

If your children span different ages, find an umbrella theme, such as “nature”, and create age-appropriate nooks under that banner. The trick, regardless, is to assess your floor space to

balance functionality and creativity. Systems that allow for activities, games and equipment to be easily accessed and put away should not be at the expense of whimsy or a call-to-engage. Your theme is the launching pad from where all the other tips for creating your ultimate playroom spring! You don’t need an interior designer to create your ultimate playroom, but they can help! Don’t hesitate to email Janna with your burning playroom design ideas and questions

Special Places of Interest

Your playroom doesn’t have to be undefined disarray. In fact, creating distinct areas is more inviting and safeguards from wasted space. For example, designate a corner for arts and crafts with a child-sized table, chairs, and a storage system for art supplies in one corner. Create a cozy reading retreat with unique pillows and bold colored floor cushions in the other or doctor up a window seat. Install a trunk and clothes rack with mini stage for dress up and performance in yet another. These various posts give children a place to go when they want to fuel their artistic inclinations, take their imagination to the stage, or cozy up and take a break from running around. In short, maximize the offerings of a single room by creating mini-stations. These special places of interest organize the space in a visually pleasing way while offering textural interest; your child will less likely tire of returning if he or she associates being there with familiar variety.

If Walls Could Talk

Playrooms are a great place for kids to exercise their imaginations and get creative. But what if the walls were part of the fun? Both peelable and wipeable wallpaper take the stress off the carer when a creative mind moves the crayon off the paper! An added perk; the option to switch up the designs as your child’s fixation with princesses turns to unicorns or cheetahs. We also love the selections from Graham & Brown. Chalkboard paint makes an excellent accent wall that inspires murals, doodles, or math equations for that jet fueled rocket in the making. Easy to wipe off when done and ready to draw all over tomorrow, these ingenious coverings personalize your children’s play space, making it their own over and over again.

These linen shadowbox gallery frames from Pottery Barn Kids are an excellent way to display your child’s artwork and allow for easy rotation.

With clear acrylic fronts and magnetic closures, your little one’s masterpieces are well protected.

Playroom Flooring Makes the Ultimate Playroom Shine

You’ll want to choose flooring that is durable and easy to clean. Consider Colorful Rugs like these from Ruggable Rugs for example which can be picked up and thrown in the washing machine; fashionable and fabulous! Foam flooring is a great option for busy playrooms (seek PVC and phthalate free options.) Relatively inexpensive, this makes them even more attractive. If you’re after a whimsical space, choose bright colored puzzle pieces. On the other hand, if you want a subdued vibe, stick with solid colors or neutral tones; Australian Merino sheepskin rugs offer plush coverings for little ones and work with any color palate. In the end, I am a big fan of natural materials for playroom flooring. That’s why I like to work with cork in playrooms; it offers a spongy, healthier option with unexpected appeal. As well, bamboo (look for the NAUF label: No Added Urea Formaldehyde) offers similar characteristic minus some of the sponge!

Playroom Furniture

Montessori chairs, Waldorf style seesaws, upholstered floor sleepers and bean bag chairs like this great Cloudy Folding Lounger Bean Bag Chair from pier one and sofa beds are just some of the innovative, child friendly options for one’s playroom ideas these days.

Making sure seating is size-appropriate, comfortable and multi-purposed are keys to inventive seating that put the “play” in “playroom.” Pod Swing Seats are

always fun in bright colors that not only help children’s sense of balance and physicality, but also provides a comfortable place to rest, or to frolic. Stackable cushions can double as walls for forts, are budget friendly, and easy to put away in small spaces. Mixing hard chairs with soft cushions create textural interest and give an illusion of multiple spaces without having to build alcoves or introduce dividers. Upholstered floor sleepers can transform into beds for nap time or sofas to sit and read. There is no shortage of inventive furniture for your little one. How great is that?

Playroom Storage

A playroom quickly becomes a cluttered mess without ample and smart storage. Toys are strewn about, paint brushes mix with markers, it can be disastrous and doesn’t make for an inviting play space. However, with a little thought, it’s possible to create a playroom that’s both functional and inviting. While this is listed as number six, storage is perhaps the most important of tips for an ultimate playroom. I recommend storage at heights which young children can reach, as this will make it more likely that they will put their toys away, and learn good habits in the process. Bins, woven baskets (okay, we love this).

Not all items need be tossed into clear drawers (allowing visibility for the nonreaders) though this is the better option for art supplies and smaller objects that need monitoring when in use. These unique units in natural tones are the height of organization potential and can be found at the Container store in partnership with KonMari. They are their new collection of sustainable organizers exclusively designed by Marie Kondo. And don’t forget to keep it playful with these fun stuffed animal hammocks; super cute! With a little effort, you can create a playroom that is both functional, stylish and welcoming!

Let’s talk about toy storage: Multi-purpose options like this book rack/ toy chest is an excellent ways to assign placement for items that can be showcased for future revisits.

Let’s Talk Toys

Finally, of my 7 tips for the ultimate playroom is what goes in it! Make your playroom a designation by filling it with interactive and inventive tools for play. Developmental experts suggest toys that are simple blocks, dolls, and puppets inspire hours of pretend play for the toddler. These open-ended toys allow children to use their imaginations to come up with their own stories and scenarios. As children develop, wooden play kitchens, baby carriages, model airplanes and strictly bricks meet their sensory and logic skills–Games are excellent options, especially when your child is old enough to interact with you or a buddy in this way. Puzzles offer motor skill and brain strengthening exercises. Legos are excellent for building math, strategy, and engineering skills. Added bonus, they work for the lone child or as a partner activity, and evolve in levels of difficulty as your child grows. Ultimately, the best toys are the ones that inspire your child’s imagination.