Playrooms: Emphasis on Fun and Function

By Pam O'Hallaron

In this article:
Activity Centers
Focus on Functionality
Furnishings for Fun
Safety and Style Tips

Put the "play" in your child's playroom with these helpful decorative tips to make your child's space practical and safe.

Looking for inspiration to create a harmonious play environment for your child? Encourage creativity and imagination by designing a play area that will grow with your little one. Here are some easy ideas to get you started.

Activity Centers

A special playroom can be created in a corner of a large living room, an area off the kitchen, or an extra room in the home. Consider dividing the space by activity. Does your child enjoy dress-up, crafts, reading, board games, miniature cars, or computer games? You'll want to furnish the play area appropriately. Look for storage boxes, low shelves, and a child-sized table and chairs to accommodate your youngster's playthings.

Working with compact areas can be a challenge, but you can create a dual playroom and living room by finding good places for your child to put away her toys and books. Attractive baskets and storage boxes as well as ottomans that double as child chairs, coffee tables that serve as play tables, and floor pillows all make great additions to a living room that serve double-duty as activity centers and an area for adults to gather after the kids have gone to bed.

Focus on Functionality

Be sure not to overlook an essential element when designing your playroom: managing messiness. Flooring should be simple to clean, especially in the art area. Consider using tile or vinyl squares in interesting geometrical patterns. Carpeting is appropriate for cozy spaces like book nooks and game corners. Another option is inexpensive, interlocking rubber tiles found at most large home centers and carpet retail stores. Tile sets are available in bright colors with numbers, letters, and pictures.

If your budget allows, hire a muralist to paint a fanciful playtime scene on walls. Borders and stencils are affordable options and great do-it-yourself family projects. Remember to protect your walls with easy-to-clean finishes such as colorful semi-gloss paint, chalkboard paint, or washable wallpaper.