8 Ideas for Adding a Kids’ Zone to a Room
Make living harmoniously as a family easier by adding a dedicated children’s area to your adult space
Amanda Pollard
26 December 2023
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
Spending time together as a family is lovely, but, let’s face it, things can get messy. How about creating a small area the kids can call their own? These professionals on Houzz have done just that. Take a look to see whether you could adapt any for your home.
1. Value the vertical
If you’re not keen on giving up too much floor space, make use of the walls instead. Here, for example, the team at Integrate Design and Build have created a small play area at the edge of the kitchen.
Shallow shelves stack neatly beneath a blackboard, which the kids can use for drawing and writing while the parents cook. Having the fridge-freezer next to this area is handy, too, as the metal surface creates a space where little ones can get creative with magnets.
See more of this open-plan room.
If you’re not keen on giving up too much floor space, make use of the walls instead. Here, for example, the team at Integrate Design and Build have created a small play area at the edge of the kitchen.
Shallow shelves stack neatly beneath a blackboard, which the kids can use for drawing and writing while the parents cook. Having the fridge-freezer next to this area is handy, too, as the metal surface creates a space where little ones can get creative with magnets.
See more of this open-plan room.
2. Create a practical playroom
If you’re lucky enough to have a spare area or room in your home, try turning it into a play space. In an open-plan set-up, it’s more attractive if it can blend into the rest of the room.
This space, designed by Slightly Quirky, is, in fact, in a separate room, but its design still works harmoniously with the rest of the home. The designers have stuck to a similar colour scheme and chosen a sofa that could work elsewhere – but they’ve ensured it’s all practical for play. The rugs, for example, are easy to vacuum and wash, as well as dirt- and dust-repellent.
Explore this colourful home.
Keen to get cracking on your own renovation? Search the Houzz Professionals Directory for reviewed experts.
If you’re lucky enough to have a spare area or room in your home, try turning it into a play space. In an open-plan set-up, it’s more attractive if it can blend into the rest of the room.
This space, designed by Slightly Quirky, is, in fact, in a separate room, but its design still works harmoniously with the rest of the home. The designers have stuck to a similar colour scheme and chosen a sofa that could work elsewhere – but they’ve ensured it’s all practical for play. The rugs, for example, are easy to vacuum and wash, as well as dirt- and dust-repellent.
Explore this colourful home.
Keen to get cracking on your own renovation? Search the Houzz Professionals Directory for reviewed experts.
3. Open up to close things off
OK, so this is a large space – but it could also work on a smaller scale. Gretchen Trusted of Shake the Sky has created a playzone that can be separated from the rest of the open-plan space whenever the owners like.
A wide door is set on industrial hinges and castors, and is light enough for even the children to swing open. When it’s not in use, the door covers the toy storage unit and looks like part of the wall. The playroom side of the door is covered in blackboard paint, so when it’s open, it turns into a huge art wall.
On a smaller scale, you could try this idea with a large cupboard, painting the insides of the doors with blackboard paint and filling the shelves with toys and craft equipment.
Tour the whole of this Victorian townhouse.
OK, so this is a large space – but it could also work on a smaller scale. Gretchen Trusted of Shake the Sky has created a playzone that can be separated from the rest of the open-plan space whenever the owners like.
A wide door is set on industrial hinges and castors, and is light enough for even the children to swing open. When it’s not in use, the door covers the toy storage unit and looks like part of the wall. The playroom side of the door is covered in blackboard paint, so when it’s open, it turns into a huge art wall.
On a smaller scale, you could try this idea with a large cupboard, painting the insides of the doors with blackboard paint and filling the shelves with toys and craft equipment.
Tour the whole of this Victorian townhouse.
4. Turn the tables
Sometimes, just a small addition can turn an adult space into a kids’ zone. Take this home designed by San Francisco-based Sutro Architects, for example – a tiny table and chairs has been sneaked into the seating area to create a surface for the children.
As this area has been zoned by a rug, it can accommodate different furniture set-ups without encroaching on the rest of the room. The kids can play alongside their parents, but the kitchen doesn’t feel cluttered.
Sometimes, just a small addition can turn an adult space into a kids’ zone. Take this home designed by San Francisco-based Sutro Architects, for example – a tiny table and chairs has been sneaked into the seating area to create a surface for the children.
As this area has been zoned by a rug, it can accommodate different furniture set-ups without encroaching on the rest of the room. The kids can play alongside their parents, but the kitchen doesn’t feel cluttered.
5. Look around
It pays to be creative when it comes to finding space for a kid-friendly area. Here, for instance, the team at elena del bucchia DESIGN have utilised an area below the stairs.
By adding some fun play equipment and accessories, the small space is cosy enough for little ones to have their own private play zone.
It pays to be creative when it comes to finding space for a kid-friendly area. Here, for instance, the team at elena del bucchia DESIGN have utilised an area below the stairs.
By adding some fun play equipment and accessories, the small space is cosy enough for little ones to have their own private play zone.
6. Find low zones
Here’s a nifty idea, dreamt up by Seattle-based MAKE Design Studio. An area below a wall cabinet has been turned into a homework and art zone with the addition of a shelf unit and a small table.
The table is attached to the low shelving, so there are no legs in the way, but this idea could also work with a freestanding table. It’s a good idea to make the most of every inch, as they’ve done here with the blackboard wall squeezed into the space beneath the cabinet.
Here’s a nifty idea, dreamt up by Seattle-based MAKE Design Studio. An area below a wall cabinet has been turned into a homework and art zone with the addition of a shelf unit and a small table.
The table is attached to the low shelving, so there are no legs in the way, but this idea could also work with a freestanding table. It’s a good idea to make the most of every inch, as they’ve done here with the blackboard wall squeezed into the space beneath the cabinet.
claregaskin.com
7. Keep it simple
If you want to add a kids’ area to your living room, the key to success is easy-to-access storage. In this space, a couple of fun baskets are ideal for quickly tidying away toys when it’s time for bed.
The desk is another thoughtful choice, as it’s just the right height to allow light in from the window, and its white colour blends into the room.
If you want to add a kids’ area to your living room, the key to success is easy-to-access storage. In this space, a couple of fun baskets are ideal for quickly tidying away toys when it’s time for bed.
The desk is another thoughtful choice, as it’s just the right height to allow light in from the window, and its white colour blends into the room.
8. Treat it like an adult space
By choosing a few of your child’s most attractive playthings, you can happily integrate a child’s area into your adult space.
In this living room, Caroline Rowland of Patchwork Harmony has given up half of her living room to her young daughter – and it works because she’s designed the space as she would any room.
Everything on display looks gorgeous and there are plenty of storage spots to hide away the bright paraphernalia at the end of the day and turn it back into a restful space where the family can relax.
See more of this family-friendly living room.
Tell us…
How have you squeezed in a play area for your kids at home? Share your photos and ideas in the Comments.
By choosing a few of your child’s most attractive playthings, you can happily integrate a child’s area into your adult space.
In this living room, Caroline Rowland of Patchwork Harmony has given up half of her living room to her young daughter – and it works because she’s designed the space as she would any room.
Everything on display looks gorgeous and there are plenty of storage spots to hide away the bright paraphernalia at the end of the day and turn it back into a restful space where the family can relax.
See more of this family-friendly living room.
Tell us…
How have you squeezed in a play area for your kids at home? Share your photos and ideas in the Comments.
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'Open Up to Close Things Off' is brilliant... creating a kidz play space while doing so...
The harsh reality though isn't nice, tidy zones but toys seemingly oozing everywhere where it's easier to leave stuff where it is than put it away and get it all out again the next day... Back in my day(!!!) children played outside a lot, climbed trees, made go-karts without brakes etc and made do with pots, pans, wooden spoons and the contents of your cupboards! There wasn't this mass of plastic with endless small loseable pieces... Even LEGO then was just chunky pieces and allowed for imaginative play rather than merely creating a pre-designed item by following instructions...
These all look great - except the sad beige room, sorry not a lover of muted shades - but IMHO (mum of 2 under 3) none of these are actually realistic with actual kids rather than in some Pinterest Montessori utopia. Some nice ideas though, like the chalkboard paint.
I also like the moving wall, in theory - in practice, I bet no kid ever will want to play behind a wall when she sees the grown ups are elsewhere. Or maybe my kids just aren’t that age!