Storage

It’s always good to have plenty of storage when designing a playroom. Ideally, it’s good to have some storage options like cupboards where you can hide away the not so pretty toys and also some accessible shelving where kids can take down their favourite books or toys to play with by themselves. Quite often with smaller children, if it’s out of sight then it’s out of mind and they forget what toys they have to play with! If you are lucky enough to have a built-in storage cupboard for toys, then it’s a good idea to invest in some transparent plastic storage boxes so that you can divide the toys up into categories to make tidying up and finding them a lot easier. Place these boxes with a chalkboard label (that way you can erase and re-name easily if you have to) at a level that your child can reach.

Lighting

You can have lots of fun with the lighting in a playroom, but just remember where possible to allow as much natural light as possible. I would also try to add a dimmer switch to the main lighting where possible so that when it gets towards the end of the day, you can create a calmer, cosier play environment. Make sure you have some task lighting at a lower level too, to give more light to darker corners or areas where your children may be drawing or reading. If you are worried about wires and little ones, you can always use battery operated lights, some of which you can programme to come on and go off at the same time every day.

Ceiling

Often overlooked and painted white, the ceiling provides a brilliant opportunity for some colour and fun, especially in a playroom. Whether you wish to use paint to brighten up the ‘fifth wall’ in the room, or a mural which isn’t quite so permanent, using the ceiling is a great way to inject some personality into the room. You can use colour or texture to make a space feel bigger, a low ceiling appear higher than it really is or just as a striking focal point to inject some character. If you are not feeling brave enough to go for a patterned effect, colour-blocking the ceiling will add drama and be equally as stunning.

Decoration

It doesn’t have to cost the earth to decorate a playroom. This is the one room in the house that you can really have fun and go to town on the décor. One way of filling wall space and creating interest is to use wire or string to create a simple but effective artwork gallery. That way, children can hang up their own work and you can rotate their art as and when you want to. You can also display their drawings in brightly coloured frames (Ikea.com and Dunelm.com have a huge selection at really reasonable prices) or on a large corkboard above their desk. Using their artwork gives the room a really unique and personal look.

Seating

Providing a comfortable spot for downtime is almost as important as the play area in a playroom. A cosy armchair or sofa will provide the perfect place for children to snuggle up and read or chill when they have had enough recreation time. It also doubles up as somewhere that parents can sit and interact with their children or watch them as they play. Make sure that you include plenty of soft cushions and blankets for snuggle time too! If you are short on space in the house, you can always use a daybed in the playroom which can double up as a guest bed for when people come to stay.