Kids’ Rooms: Well Designed Playrooms to Fire the Imagination
From adventure to creativity, these 10 inspirational playrooms show how to get it right when it comes to design for kids
Whether your playroom is a separate space, part of the bedroom, or a corner of the house elsewhere (such as a loft or landing), it pays to use clever design to make it the perfect place to play. A well-designed playroom goes beyond brightly coloured walls and fun, sturdy furniture – you also need to consider safety, storage and the age of your child. Check out these fabulous designs for inspiration.
Be adventurous
Create adventure in your playroom. Whether it’s a hideaway, a castle or a ship, an adventure theme will be loved by your child for years to come. A well thought-out theme is one that sparks your little one’s imagination and encourages active play. Once you’ve chosen the right theme, you can achieve the look both with themed furniture (like this dual-purpose boat/bed) or with wall murals.
See imaginative lighting to brighten a child’s room
Create adventure in your playroom. Whether it’s a hideaway, a castle or a ship, an adventure theme will be loved by your child for years to come. A well thought-out theme is one that sparks your little one’s imagination and encourages active play. Once you’ve chosen the right theme, you can achieve the look both with themed furniture (like this dual-purpose boat/bed) or with wall murals.
See imaginative lighting to brighten a child’s room
Colour it bright
No one can deny kids’ fascination with bright colours. Colours also have an effect on the mood and bright shades of blue are associated with calm energy. What better place to feature happy colours than the playroom? Use contrasting colours, so vibrant hues are balanced with calmer ones, for an energising but not exhausting space.
No one can deny kids’ fascination with bright colours. Colours also have an effect on the mood and bright shades of blue are associated with calm energy. What better place to feature happy colours than the playroom? Use contrasting colours, so vibrant hues are balanced with calmer ones, for an energising but not exhausting space.
Make it comfortable
Soft areas provide space for relaxing and reading. Here, a comfortable sofa is given a playful touch with bright red piping, stuffed toys and colourful cushions. Soft, textured beanbags provide fun alternative lounging spots. The designer chose a soft but colourful scheme for this room. ‘It had to be lots of fun, but also provide ample storage to hide away and display toys and books,’ she explains.
Soft areas provide space for relaxing and reading. Here, a comfortable sofa is given a playful touch with bright red piping, stuffed toys and colourful cushions. Soft, textured beanbags provide fun alternative lounging spots. The designer chose a soft but colourful scheme for this room. ‘It had to be lots of fun, but also provide ample storage to hide away and display toys and books,’ she explains.
Think outside the box
This fabulous seating idea adds drama to the room, but is functional as well, providing a fun place for children to hide away and read. Hire a designer to create quirky seating and storage areas that make good use of unusual nooks and corners – you’ll be surprised at what they can come up with. The climbing wall, meanwhile, takes care of energetic play when reading time is over.
This fabulous seating idea adds drama to the room, but is functional as well, providing a fun place for children to hide away and read. Hire a designer to create quirky seating and storage areas that make good use of unusual nooks and corners – you’ll be surprised at what they can come up with. The climbing wall, meanwhile, takes care of energetic play when reading time is over.
Add lots of storage
Clever use of space for storage allows more of a playroom to be used for creative play, rather than clutter. Providing ample storage has many benefits, from making sure things are stored neatly out of sight, to preventing accidents and the painful experience of stepping on a piece of Lego with bare feet!
Clever use of space for storage allows more of a playroom to be used for creative play, rather than clutter. Providing ample storage has many benefits, from making sure things are stored neatly out of sight, to preventing accidents and the painful experience of stepping on a piece of Lego with bare feet!
Focus on the toys
A white playroom sounds like an oxymoron, as it’s missing the element all playrooms seem to have – bright colours. But if you want to keep your home streamlined and painted in a single shade throughout, introducing colours through the furniture, books and toys can be very effective. This playroom does it beautifully.
A white playroom sounds like an oxymoron, as it’s missing the element all playrooms seem to have – bright colours. But if you want to keep your home streamlined and painted in a single shade throughout, introducing colours through the furniture, books and toys can be very effective. This playroom does it beautifully.
Include the whole family
This family room doubles up as a playroom for all ages, including the grown-ups. Map out a play area within a large family room and include classic family games to encourage quality time together. Use this area as your family’s wall of fame, displaying artwork, certificates, photos of happy family moments, and records of achievements.
This family room doubles up as a playroom for all ages, including the grown-ups. Map out a play area within a large family room and include classic family games to encourage quality time together. Use this area as your family’s wall of fame, displaying artwork, certificates, photos of happy family moments, and records of achievements.
Future-proof the playroom
Older children will appreciate their recreational needs being catered for, too, and as they grow up they will want to use the space more for socialising than for playing. Ensure your playroom can transition into a space that meets their needs, from playing video games and watching films to chatting with friends, by providing comfortable seating. This playful but stylish design is just right for your teenagers to show off to their friends. Involve your teen in the design of the space for the best results.
Check out 10 homework areas that get the teenage stamp of approval
Older children will appreciate their recreational needs being catered for, too, and as they grow up they will want to use the space more for socialising than for playing. Ensure your playroom can transition into a space that meets their needs, from playing video games and watching films to chatting with friends, by providing comfortable seating. This playful but stylish design is just right for your teenagers to show off to their friends. Involve your teen in the design of the space for the best results.
Check out 10 homework areas that get the teenage stamp of approval
Let their imagination run free
Getting the contents of a playroom right is just as important as its look. A table and chair is essential for drawing, painting and other creative activities. Here, the clean curves of the seesaw and racetrack wall sticker provide a blank canvas with plenty of scope for a child’s imagination to run wild.
TELL US…
Have you created a playroom in your home? Please share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
Getting the contents of a playroom right is just as important as its look. A table and chair is essential for drawing, painting and other creative activities. Here, the clean curves of the seesaw and racetrack wall sticker provide a blank canvas with plenty of scope for a child’s imagination to run wild.
TELL US…
Have you created a playroom in your home? Please share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
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Some chalk and a wall painted with blackboard paint can provide the perfect outlet for those artistic urges. This is the one time when it’s OK to write on the walls! Here, the black frame of the storage unit blends in with the dark wall, creating a backdrop for the brighter colours in the rest of the room.