23 Ideas For Your Kid’s Playroom: The Playroom Essentials Guide

Playroom

Looking for kids’ playroom ideas? Check out our best playroom decor guide and get insight from other moms on storage and furniture you need.

Children need to play. One of the best ways to learn is through fun. So, why not take advantage of the opportunity and increase their curiosity while motivating them to learn even more? And when you can combine this process with physical activity, it’s even better.

We all know that the weather can be unpredictable. So, if you have a good playroom for your kids, you can be sure they will have fun and will always be keeping busy.

So, how can you create the best playroom for your kids? What do you need?

This guide covers the following:

  1. Furniture
  2. Organizing
  3. Decor
  4. Mix room
  5. Safety
  6. Educational benefits

Top 10 playroom essentials items

ProductsCategoriesPriceLinks
1Floor matFlooring$Shop
2RugFlooring$$$Shop
3Bean bagSeating$$Shop
4BookcaseFurniture$$$$Shop
5Table and chairsSeating$$Shop
6BinsOrganization$$Shop
7BasketsOrganization$Shop
8Wall storageOrganization$$Shop
9Wall decalsDecor$$Shop
10TeepeeDecor$$$Shop
Playroom
Photo credit @ Kristin Jackson

Playroom Furniture That Kids Will Love

When you’re thinking about the furniture you need for your playroom, you’ll want to make sure that you create different areas for designated activities, even if it is a small area. While you should have a specific location (table or desk) to draw/work/study, there should also be a place to play on the floor.

Playhouse in little girl playroom
Photo credit @ Kaunis Pieni Elama

1. Rugs and playmats

A good idea for your playroom flooring is to use floor mats, play mats, or even rugs. They will allow your kids to play on the ground without getting cold and they will definitely be more comfortable.

Beanbags seating in playroom
Photo credit @ Wildfire Teepees

2. Seating

Then, consider having an area where you can place a bean bag, sofa or some chairs for adults. This will allow you to participate in their games or be present with them. Besides, it can be a great place to hang out with their friends when they are older.

3. Bookcase

Having a bookcase is something essential. After all, kids love to use their imagination. There is nothing better than a couple of books to bring them the inspiration they need. Not only does reading stories to your kids to increase their love for reading, it also motivates them to read on their own when the time will come.

4. Table and chairs for kids

So, with this said, you also need to have a table and some chairs specially designed for kids. These usually tend to have bright, appealing colours.

Workstation/desk in kid playroom
Photo credit @ Bloggaibagis

5. Workstation / desk

When most people think about a playroom, they tend to assume that it is only for playtime, you can have a specific area dedicated to the child’s homework. That said, it’s a good idea to include a desk or a workstation where the child can study and do other creative work using different materials.

Are you looking to put a desk in your kid’s room? If so, you should definitely consider one of those bunk beds with a workstation underneath. Such a great solution for a small bedroom.

6. Repurpose Old Furniture

Now you may be thinking that it sure sounds like a lot of furniture to buy… Perhaps, you have a really small budget, and you just can’t afford making substantial purchases. However, you need to think about the big picture. The reality is that we all have some furniture that we don’t use anymore and that it is simply stored away gathering dust. Some people even have old chairs and sofas they don’t use anymore because they just don’t match the new decor of your home.

So, why not take advantage of all these items and repurpose the old furniture? If your kids are old enough, get them involved! You can bet they will be thrilled to help you with the decoration of their new playroom.

Organizing Your Playroom

One of the biggest questions that most people have when they are decorating a playroom is related to its organization. The reality is that books come in different sizes, and toys also come in different sizes and shapes.

So, how can you have an accessible, organized playroom in which your children can easily find all their stuff?

Modern playroom with plenty of storage
Photo credit @ I Spy DIY

7. Storage ideas

The trick is in finding the right kinds of storage. And the truth is that you need to have different kinds of storage recipients. For example, it’s always a good idea to have a couple of bins, baskets, shelves, and even some wall storage.

The smaller the area you are using for the playroom, the smarter you need to be with the storage. So, instead of extra large bins and baskets, try using smaller ones that can be mixed with other boxes. Wall storage tends to work well for bookshelves as well as for keeping games, DVDs, CDs, among others.

In the workstation or desk, think of incorporating some drawers to keep all the school material well organized as well as other materials that your kids like to use for painting, for example.

8. Organization tips

If there is something that you will always need to do on a regular basis is to get rid of all that stuff that your kids just don’t use. Even if the area that you’re going to use for the playroom is big, you can be sure that things will tend to accumulate.

Sooner or later, you’ll need to start purging stuff and getting rid of it. So, why not start fresh? After all, you already need to sort out the things you want to place in there.

Play kitchen with table and chairs

Playroom Decoration Ideas

9. Colors

One of the things that all playrooms have in common is several different, bright colors that make for a lively stimulating environment. This can be the starting point for your decor. However, what else can you do besides painting the walls yellow, red or green?

Wall decals in playroom
Photo credit @ Mamma Line

10. Wall decals

There are a number of things you can do to make your playroom very attractive for your children. Even though you can have all of the walls painted with bright colors, you can opt to have some of them (or all) with wall decals or wall stickers. There are a plethora of different patterns, with some specially adapted to children. In fact, your kids can help you choose one pattern they like.

For more wall art inspiration, you should check my selection of the best wall art. I have searched the whole internet to find the cutest wall decals for your kid’s bedroom or playroom.

Modern decor playroom with tent
Photo credit @

11. Flooring

With regards to flooring, you want to make sure that your kids will be comfortable when sitting on the ground. Most kids prefer to play with their favourite toys on the ground and not on a desk, for example. So, using a rug or a play mat can be a great idea. Just think about a colour or pattern that appeals to your kids.

12. Curtains

Then, you just can’t forget about the lighting. Lighting is absolutely crucial and you want to make sure that your kids are able to see everything, everywhere. So, if there is a window in the playroom, please ensure that you use some curtains that allow some natural light to get inside.

13. Lighting

However, you also need to be prepared for the days where the sun is content to sit in the clouds. In this case, consider having some small lamps spread through the area and a bigger ceiling fixture. If you decide to have a desk or workstation in the playroom, plan for the appropriate type of lighting there as well, especially if you want your kids to study in this area.

Reading corner in playroom
Photo credit @ White Fox Styling

14. Reading corner

One of the things that we like to see in a playroom is a reading corner. You can just have some pillows spread on the ground or a few small bean bags to make this little corner cozy and comfortable.

Playroom with swings and large sofa
Photo credit @ Chango & Co.

15. Kid’s gym: Climbing wall and monkey bar

If you have space, why not have monkey bars or a climbing wall installed? Most kids love these types of features. Plus, it will be perfect for those special days when they need to burn off their excess energy.

Playroom with play kitchen
Photo credit @ Hello Baby Brown

Why Not Create A Mixed (Multi-Purpose) Room

Even though most people would like to have a big house with a huge playroom for their children, not all of us can afford it. Besides, even if you have a big house, you may want to keep an eye on your kids and keep them closeby. So one of the best things you can do is to create a mix room. What is a mix room, you ask?

16. Office/playroom

Let’s say that you work from home or that you have the freedom to bring work home on some days. If this is the case for you, you may want to include the playroom in your office. How? By designating a space for your desk, computer and everything that you need, and dedicate the rest of the room to the playroom.

18. Kitchen with a play corner

Other parents like to have their kids’ playroom next to the kitchen. When both parents work, one of the most common places for the family to hang out together is in the kitchen. So, you can set aside a part of your kitchen near to the eating area, for example, for the playroom. This way, you can pay attention to your kids while you’re cooking and cleaning, and talking to them at the same time.

Playroom with table and chairs
Photo credit @ Green Wedding Shoes

19. Art studio

If you believe that one of the most important tasks as a parent is to stimulate your children’s creativity and imagination, then an art studio is an excellent way of achieving this objective. You can create an extremely cozy area where your kids can play games, draw, and paint on their craft table.

Playroom chalkboard
Photo credit @ Juju Zozo

Think About Your Kids Safety

As a parent, you want to make sure that there are no accidents involving your children. However, no matter if your kids are babies, toddlers or even older children, accidents can still happen. So, make sure to take preventive safety measures to avoid any mishaps.

20. Don’t forget the corded blinds

One of the things that most parents tend to forget about is corded blinds. Even though these types of blinds may look stunning in the playroom’s overall decor, make sure that you don’t leave the cords hanging out. A baby or a toddler can reach for the cords and cause great harm to themselves.

21. Cabinet doors

The smaller the children, the more careful you need to be. For example, equip all cabinet doors and corners where your kids may bump into with their heads with adequate child-protection features.

22. Paint

If your children love to paint, just remember never to leave paint accessible to them. While for a 5 or 6-year old child this may not be a problem, a baby or a toddler can easily swallow the paint and suffer from an intoxication.

23. Renovation work

If you’re taking our advice, you’ll be repurposing old furniture and making some electrical changes, among other tasks. A smart strategy is to do all the heavy work by yourself and far away from the children. Once the new environment is safe for little ones, they can come in and help you with some fun decoration tasks. However, when you are dealing with heavy tools, toxic products, and electricity, it’s best for them to stay away from the work area.

Monochrome decor playroom
Photo credit @ The Home and The Kid

The Educational Benefits of Having a Playroom

One of the activities on which most pediatricians tend to agree that are beneficial to children is pretend play. This is an activity that can be easily integrated into the playroom that you are creating.

You could just arrange space for the dress-up closet and a small corner for the curtained stage. However, pretend play can also come into place by reading or listening to a story.

The reality is that pretend play has many benefits. One of the most important ones is the development of social and emotional skills. After all, when your child is in pretend play, he is playing someone else’s role and trying to understand their attitudes and feelings.

Besides, this is a fantastic way for children to learn how to share their space with others, develop problem-solving, and sharing responsibility. Moreover, pretend play also has a significant impact on language skills. Even if your child is still a toddler, you’ll be surprised when hearing the words he might say when he is playing alone. If you arrange a playdate with another toddler, he will be discovering that he can decide to end the story in a different way if he wants to.

Another major benefit of pretend play is related to problem-solving. The truth is that no matter if the children are looking to play the best part of the show or if they just want the same role, they will need to develop thinking abilities that will help them solve the problem they are having, without having to ask for their parents’ help continually.

Dreamy teepee in kid playroom
Photo credit @ Smallable

Conclusion

As you can see, there is a lot that you can do to make a playroom a pleasant area for your children. Even though there are tons of things you can do, you should think (and ask) about the activities that your children want to do in this specific room. It can make all the difference in the wall decoration, the materials that are used, as well as the furniture to store all their stuff in a way that it is still accessible to them, among others.

P.S. If you’re looking for more decor inspiration, you should check my selection of the best wall art for kid’s room. I have searched the whole internet to find the cutest wall decals for a kid’s bedroom or playroom.

Also, teepee and tent are fun for playtime. Therefore you should consider one of those cool looking teepees for kids.

Sources:

Sylvain Marengere

Sylvain is managing the Sleepy Monkey website, in addition to curating the artwork we present.

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