Having a dedicated room that is set aside solely as a children's playroom can save the rest of your house from getting toys strewn about. It contains all of the toys, paints and activities in one area so that you can organize it well and provide your children with an area that they can call their own. Giving the room unique and functional design can make the playroom a more magical place for your children to experience, imagine and play in.
Flooring
The flooring that you choose for your playroom should be functional, easy to clean and low maintenance. This is not the time to choose a high-pile carpet. If your children will be painting or eating in this room, choose a tile instead of a carpet. If you already have hard tile or hardwood in the playroom, consider laying down a foam floor-size alphabet puzzle. Not only will it make the surface softer for play, but it is easy to clean. Consider laminate mats to lay over the painting or eating stations in the room if you have carpet.
Walls
While bright and engaging colors on the walls can help enhance the mood and define the space as a playroom, you can make your walls more functional by painting a large space with blackboard paint and supplying chalk for children to create with. String up a length of clothesline and clothes pins across one wall to hang up pieces of artwork or allow them to dry before displaying them elsewhere. Gluing a sheet of cork board on the wall makes an effective way to hang things. Otherwise, bright colors, murals and your children's favorite characters look at home on playroom walls.
Stations
Organize your playroom better by providing stations for your children to create in. Instead of using one large space of all toys, create an art station with easels, paints and a table and chairs. Separate that station with a screen or bookshelf for a reading area equipped with books and a beanbag chair. Gather dress up and pretend play equipment in a trunk that is placed near playsets like kitchens and tools. Having stations allows your children to see clearly all that they have available to them.
Storage
Storage in a playroom can be tricky. Some pay things might be too large to store away. A large storage cabinet, like the metal ones commonly used in classrooms, can help to solve the problem. The shelves inside are adjustable, so you can remove the lower shelves to make room for large toys, while keeping the higher shelves for smaller toys. Having storage that the children can use is also important. Colorful bins and basket not only lend design elements for the room, but provide an organized way to keep toys hidden away.
Design Elements
Individualize the playroom by adding design elements that match your child's unique personality. On a recent home makeover by interior designer Kellie Kaufer, a set of triplets was each given an individual color, which was incorporated into the room to help identify toys and books, and to give the room more personality. Using brightly colored name plates or interests to give the room personality can truly make the playroom a room meant just for your children.
