Toys… 

Any parent of young children cringes a little bit when they hear the word toys…

It’s not that we dislike toys. It’s just that, once you have kids, Toys.Are.Everywhere. 

In the bath, in the kitchen, in the living room of course, in closets and cupboards and on the fridge, sometimes in the fridge! 

As your baby grows, your environment is suddenly taken over by a multitude of colorful little objects you’d love to get rid of, but really can’t live without. 

If you’re a little design obsessed like I am, toys kinda become a nightmare; and I’m not just talking about that tiny little one that you step on on your way to bed at midnight! In what seems like an instant, toys take the center stage, while your cherished vases and decorative objects are put away because you need to babyproof your space. At least, that’s what happened in our home, well our previous home, actually. 

Our open-concept first floor, did not have much space for storage. So when E and B were toddlers, our living room looked more like a messy playroom than, well, the open-concept trendy space it was supposed to be. 

I became obsessed with finding a way to “hide” the toys. I tried all the classic storage solutions: from baskets and toy chests, to a large cabinet with doors. 

Despite my endeavors, in the end, the toys always ended up stacked in piles, along the walls of the room. Because nothing had its designated space, playtime meant a devastating explosion of toys all over our living space. 

By the time O was born, the added baby gear ravaged any hope of having even the slightest possibility of any kind of interior decorating in the home. We were bursting at the seams, and I secretly blamed the toys. 

Fast forward a few years, and we finally moved into a larger one-floor home. When we were moving in, the girls asked me if they could all share a room. I agreed immediately, of course. I had my eye on the bedroom closest to the kitchen. It was my ticket to finally winning a mother’s war against toys.

The room near the kitchen was fairly large and it could  accommodate all my ideas of grandeur about what a playroom could be, and what the rest of our house could achieve: to become virtually toy free! 

In no time, I eagerly made my plan for the perfect playroom for my girls. 

Playroom Ideas

When it came to designing the girls’ playroom, I had all these ideas, but putting everything together wasn’t so easy. 

I wanted to create 3 defined spaces for the playroom that would accommodate the age difference of the girls and their individual interests. 

The 3 areas were: 

• – A play area for my toddler, O
• – An arts and crafts area for the older ones
• – A reading spot 

I also needed to add my linen cabinets in there for lack of a better space. 

The room already came with a large closet with integrated shelves, so there was no need to create extra storage. 

What I did need to create, was an airy feel despite everything I wanted to fit in the room. Oh, and I also needed to do it on a budget. 

So, here’s what I came up with: 

Playroom Design

The Outcome: Our Playroom’s Pros and Cons 

Playrooms Make for a Tidier Home (PRO)

I bet you are wondering if designing a playroom made all my housekeeping dreams come true and the answer is yes, for the most part! 

Although, at first, the girls were excited about having their own space and loved to keep it neat, the honeymoon phase did not last very long. 

The devastating explosions of toys are back with a vengeance! However, most of the damage stays in the playroom now, so, I’d say I won the battle against toys. 

Having a playroom can make you miss out on some of those special moments (CON)

For as much as it’s nice to keep the mess in one spot, I kind of feel that I sometimes miss out on some of the action. 

Although our playroom is right next to the kitchen, I do not have an open view into the playroom. This means I can hear what is going on, but I cannot see what my little ones are up to in there. 

I therefore feel like I’m missing out on watching my youngest be in her own little world! 

To remedy this, I moved her kitchen set (her favorite) in the kitchen. This way I can watch her be a chef, or lately a baker, while I’m busy working away in the kitchen. 

Toys Sometimes Still Spill to the Rest of the House (REALITY)

I’d love to say that the rest of our home is virtually toy free, but that’s just not true. There’s of course, O’s kitchen set in the kitchen and the kids regularly carry their favorites in other living spaces of our home. However, the thought of having a designated space to put it all away is reassuring to me.

Is a Playroom Worth It?

After having a playroom for over two years now, I can safely say that yes, having a playroom was definitely a game changer for our family. 

That being said, if you are going to take the playroom route, it’s important to take a few factors into account: 

Playroom Dos and Don’ts 

DON’T Turn the Playroom Into Your Home’s Dump Site

The playroom should not become that place where useless things get dumped. A playroom should be designed with a purpose in mind that takes into account what type of activities your family is into. 

DON’T Make the Playroom a Kids Only Space

The point here is not to isolate your kids to the playroom. Make space for parents to join in the fun and, whenever it can be done, make the playroom as close as the main living space of the home as possible, so that you can be close to the action. You’ll miss out on a lot if you don’t.  

DON’T Accumulate Forgotten Toys in Your Playroom

Like every other room in your home, your playroom also needs to be decluttered every once in a while. Keep what your kids are playing with, give away what they are no longer into and store away in a bin those memorable items you just can’t part with yet. 

DO Treat Your Playroom as a Part of Your Living Space

To me, a playroom should be inviting and a part of your family’s living space. This means tidying up daily and cleaning it (dusting, sweeping, vacuuming, etc.) as often as you clean other rooms in your home. 

DO Expect Your Kids to Be Involved in Cleaning and Tidying up the Playroom

My husband R and I believe in giving our children age appropriate chores. Tidying up and cleaning the playroom is definitely one of them. Kids should be proud of their home and respect the space they are in. Working together toward keeping a pleasant, tidy and clean playroom definitely teaches them to respect and love their space. 

DO Have Realistic Expectations About a What a Playroom Can Do

A playroom does not guarantee your home will be clutter or toy free. However, it does provide for a space to put it all away when you have the energy to do it! 

Speaking of realistic expectations, also consider your kids’ ages, when you daydream about what a playroom can do for you. A toddling 1-year old will probably carry her stacking cubes and sit right in the middle of the kitchen floor while you’re cooking—and that’s how it should be! 

A Final Thought 

I realize I might be sounding like a square footage snob and I am totally aware that not everyone can afford to dedicate an entire room to toys and what-nots. 

After all, I got lucky that the girls are so close, and I know that my playroom dream will eventually end when E, my oldest, claims her space back to get her own room. 

So, for all you playroomless mothers out there who are at the forefront of their battle with toys, I leave you with these genius ideas that, I think, can easily be reproduced. 

Playroom Inspiration

The Elephant in the Room 

If you are going to have a play area in your living room, you might as well address the elephant in the room. 

Chelsea from Making Home Base does this beautifully. After all, a little humor goes a long way! 

The Classic Put the Toys Under the Stairs 

It’s not because it’s been done before that it’s a bad idea. As a matter of fact, so many people do this because it’s a great idea! 

Joni from Lay Baby Lay shows us how to do this old trick right! Not only is this toy space super adorable, it is also ultra organized and blends in beautifully with any “adult” space as well.

Create a Wall Of Fame

Here’s yet another fun way to embrace family life and great design! 

Functionality meets great design with this budget-friendly diy wall of storage for toys.

Put Baby in the Corner… literally!

A corner or nook in your living space can easily serve as a dedicated area for toys. 

It can also be an opportunity to add a pop of color in an otherwise neutral space.

Do you have a question or a playroom/dedicated toy space idea you’d like to share? Don’t hesitate to contact me or leave a comment below!  

Talk soon, 

The Working Stay at Home Mom