Designing Playrooms

Moss abstract curtain panels hanging on a rod behind a white day bed in a. nursery with a pink gingham tent and rattan kid's furniture

 

Designer Tips for Making Playrooms Shine

It’s time to jazz up your kids’ playroom! Rather than letting this area of the home become a chaos zone full of toys and games galore, take some of the designer-approved tips below into account and give your playroom a bit of a refresh. After all, kids and adults alike will appreciate stepping into a room that is cheerful, well-organized, and full of style.

Sky blue abstract wallpaper in a kid's playroom with small white and tan chairs styled with needlepoint pillows

 

Incorporate Pops of Color

Your kids’ playroom should be fun and inspiring, and pops of color will go a long way in making little ones feel more welcome in a space. To kick things off, tackle the walls. “Playrooms are a great area to use wallpaper or use millwork and a more saturated paint to create a fun mood,” explains Tama Bell, the founder of Tama Bell Design. Pepper’s wallpaper samples make it easy to scope out various patterns that are calling your name before committing to a particular print. Not sure what hues to use? “We tend to lean into more saturated, muddy colors so that adults also feel comfortable in the space and it still feels playful and inviting for children,” explains Nicole Cole, the founder of vestige HOME. “Purples, blues, and greens are a great base with accents of yellow and pink to accent the room, if you want to add punches of brighter colors, those accent colors can be the place to lean into that.”

 

Frame Kids’ Handmade Works

Once you’ve added paint or wallcoverings to the playroom walls, it’s time to add artwork to the space. Rather than shopping for all brand new pieces, consider framing some of the creations that your little ones have made at school or daycare to honor their artistic talent. “Decorating the walls with the children's artwork is a really fun and personalized way to brighten up the space,” notes Bailey Ward, the founder of Bailey Ward Interiors. Kids will be thrilled to see their special pieces getting so much love at home. 

Bright and clean playroom with white bookshelves and bench seat with pink tiger pillows and green velvet pillows next to a small kid's table

 

Prioritize Storage

This is a no-brainer in the playroom, as there are plenty of objects large and small that will need a home. Kristin Kong of K Kong Designs likes to work multifunctional pieces, such as storage benches, into playrooms. When it comes to book storage, she’s drawn to lucite shelves, which “allow the children’s books to be the art in the playroom.”

Wardrobe style cabinets aren’t just for the bedroom; they can come in handy keeping the playroom nice and organized, too, says Meg Fontaine, the founder of Seacoast Staging & Design Co. This way, she explains, “We can hang dress up costumes and have drawer storage for puzzles, games, and crafts.” Best of all, everything will be neatly tucked out of sight when it isn’t in use.

Blue patterned curtains hanging in front of a window behind a daybed with blue tiger pillows and a blue tiger fabric stool

 

Bring in Cozy Furnishings

Even if your playroom already features a sofa, think beyond this bulky piece of furniture. “Furnishing should be comfy enough for both kids and adults if they are also spending time in the space with their children,” Cole says. “Think about more informal (but still comfortable) cushioned style furniture.” Why not add in some portable options? Molly Basile, the founder of Molly Basile Interiors, likes to use poufs or ottomans in playrooms. “They're a great way to add extra seating or a place to rest your feet,” she says.

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