How to Use Your Children’s Toys to Style Their Play Space
Work with your child’s clutter, rather than fight it, for a curated yet practical kid-friendly play area
Joanna Thornhill
13 January 2015
You might feel as if you’re fighting a losing battle at times, but with a bit of clever planning, you can actually use your kid’s ever-growing collection of toys and games to form the décor within their play space or bedroom. As well as meaning there’s less to ‘hide away’, by using some of their favourite pieces in this way, you’re adding interest to the space and also (hopefully) encouraging them to ‘tidy’ everything back into its display space at the end of the day, too. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Introduce a little woodland magic
This clever design brings this tree mural to life and provides storage display space, too. Using floating shelves, rather than bracket-supported ones, and painting them the same colour as the mural really helps them blend into the space, and looks all the more magical. Look out for other mural designs this idea might work on, too – a giant Ferris wheel, for example, with short shelves positioned where each carriage sits.
This clever design brings this tree mural to life and provides storage display space, too. Using floating shelves, rather than bracket-supported ones, and painting them the same colour as the mural really helps them blend into the space, and looks all the more magical. Look out for other mural designs this idea might work on, too – a giant Ferris wheel, for example, with short shelves positioned where each carriage sits.
Celebrate small-scale treasures
It’s often the tiny toys that can really get under your feet. Setting up an area comprising small boxes or units to display them in can in itself prove a fun game for kids, and can create interesting wall décor, too. Here, cardboard gift boxes were simply stuck together with double-sided tape and then fixed to the wall with removable sticky pads. Covering their inside backs in decorative paper offcuts keeps things looking pretty.
See more ways to create wall-friendly display spaces
It’s often the tiny toys that can really get under your feet. Setting up an area comprising small boxes or units to display them in can in itself prove a fun game for kids, and can create interesting wall décor, too. Here, cardboard gift boxes were simply stuck together with double-sided tape and then fixed to the wall with removable sticky pads. Covering their inside backs in decorative paper offcuts keeps things looking pretty.
See more ways to create wall-friendly display spaces
Fashion a fireside display
A mantelpiece in a nursery or toddler’s room can offer a cute display space for favourite toys. And if the fire itself isn’t functional, use it to house extra toys or even a small child’s chair, like this one.
A mantelpiece in a nursery or toddler’s room can offer a cute display space for favourite toys. And if the fire itself isn’t functional, use it to house extra toys or even a small child’s chair, like this one.
Harness the beauty of colourful books
A slim picture ledge makes it easy to display favourite books, with their cheery covers brightening up otherwise neutral walls. Mount them low enough that your kids can take, and put back, the books themselves.
Check out the dos and don’ts of perfect playrooms
A slim picture ledge makes it easy to display favourite books, with their cheery covers brightening up otherwise neutral walls. Mount them low enough that your kids can take, and put back, the books themselves.
Check out the dos and don’ts of perfect playrooms
Stick up tiny shelves for a cute display
Creating single plinths for favourite figurines almost turns them into works of art, and keeps them accessible at all times (though you could always keep anything a little more special on higher shelves). Small floating shelves could work well for this purpose, too.
Creating single plinths for favourite figurines almost turns them into works of art, and keeps them accessible at all times (though you could always keep anything a little more special on higher shelves). Small floating shelves could work well for this purpose, too.
Curate some cubbyholes
Display containers always help clutter feel more curated. A set of cubed shelves provides a perfect spot to display vignettes of favourite toys as well as keeping them off the floor. On a larger scale, old wine crates would also work and add a little vintage charm, too.
Display containers always help clutter feel more curated. A set of cubed shelves provides a perfect spot to display vignettes of favourite toys as well as keeping them off the floor. On a larger scale, old wine crates would also work and add a little vintage charm, too.
Get ‘shelfie’ ready
A recent trend on Instagram, interiors-lovers have been offering their own twist on the now ubiquitous selfie with their own version – the shelfie – used to showcase well-styled shelves. Try the same tactic at home and, rather than simply shove your child’s things away, use their nicest toys and books to create considered displays.
A recent trend on Instagram, interiors-lovers have been offering their own twist on the now ubiquitous selfie with their own version – the shelfie – used to showcase well-styled shelves. Try the same tactic at home and, rather than simply shove your child’s things away, use their nicest toys and books to create considered displays.
Work a little jungle chic
Incorporating a dedicated storage space for soft toys makes sense, keeping them out of the way when not in use yet easy to see – and grab – in times of need. Here, this high cubbyhole fits in well with this animal-themed room, acting almost like a mini zoo.
Incorporating a dedicated storage space for soft toys makes sense, keeping them out of the way when not in use yet easy to see – and grab – in times of need. Here, this high cubbyhole fits in well with this animal-themed room, acting almost like a mini zoo.
Exploit space up high
Add a bit of humour into your kid’s play space. This high shelf makes the perfect hiding spot for this crocodile, and maximises the available storage, too.
Add a bit of humour into your kid’s play space. This high shelf makes the perfect hiding spot for this crocodile, and maximises the available storage, too.
Splash out on the perfect play table
If your children are into train sets, consider installing a permanent play table they can set one up on. This will keep pieces off the floor and act as a design statement, too. Adding storage drawers below provides somewhere to hold all the related bits and bobs when it’s not in use. This could also work for Playmobil, Lego and Silvanian Families
TELL US…
Have you come up with any inventive ways to work your children’s toys into your décor? Please share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
If your children are into train sets, consider installing a permanent play table they can set one up on. This will keep pieces off the floor and act as a design statement, too. Adding storage drawers below provides somewhere to hold all the related bits and bobs when it’s not in use. This could also work for Playmobil, Lego and Silvanian Families
TELL US…
Have you come up with any inventive ways to work your children’s toys into your décor? Please share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
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I love the wall stickers you chose for your baby son's room. Can I ask where you got it from? Thanks, S.