Good Design With Kids in Mind: Playrooms are for Encouraging Organized Chaos
by Lynlee Harvey
Children need a place to play and their toys need a place to stay. Usability and functionality are as important when designing a playroom as they are when designing a kitchen or a bathroom. As in life, the key is to find a good balance. Keep the space spirited and playful, while making it functional and practical.
Organized Chaos
A priority, and the most obvious challenge, of a playroom should always be to maintain a sense of order. An easy way to start is to categorize toys by type. Group your toys into common themes and put them in bins. For example, stuffed animals in one bin and building blocks in another.
Another way to stay organized is to store toys in a way that kids can use their toys and then easily put them away without your help. Mom Stephanie Brubaker uses photos to label her bins. She states on her blog that it helps the kids sort toys for themselves.
If you have the space, utilize a storage closet in your play area for overflow items and for toys that are large or are not used very often.
Whether you have an official playroom or just a play area, invest in a storage unit and bins that line the wall. Children of all ages have toys, gadgets and hobbies. By organizing their things in bins it will help keep clutter to a minimum. This will help them enjoy their playtime and you won’t be frantically cleaning after them.
Enchanted Nooks
Children love a special place to call their own, and it is all the better when it has a magical quality. When planning a new home, you can build in these unique places as you plan your floor plan. Or, create a nook in existing areas in your current home by transforming an odd closet or extra attic space.
Pictured above is an indoor playhouse with a loft above. Windows in both areas provide natural light. Reading nooks are a wonderful place for children to unwind alone or for the entire family to gather and play.
Don’t be intimidated to create forts, teepees, kitchens, or art centers. Envision a place that would make your child feel excited, enriched, and at home. Consider this area your child’s own space and even consider allowing them the creative liberty to hang their own art or to decorate the space as they see fit.
Keep it Simple
Kids tend to have a lot of things. And their items always seem to be loud and bright. Balance their intensity with a less-is-more philosophy. Keep your color palette and room décor simple. Also maintain simplicity by having an open area for playtime. An open space on the floor can be an empty canvas for budding imaginations.
A master of detail, Lynlee Harvey is the owner of Lynlee Harvey AT HOME, a consulting firm specializing in new home construction. Lynlee is the mom of two, a CPA, and a former internal audit and information systems consultant. She loves the color turquoise, can’t get enough of the beach and adores Pinterest.
