Designing Spaces for Kids

My husband, two kids (ages 5 and 7), and I recently went on a road trip—a big road trip. After about mile 5 of the journey, I really wished we were home or in a place where we could spread out, and the kids could run free and play.

It doesn’t matter if you have a large 5-bedroom home, a 2-bedroom apartment, or the backseat of your SUV; if you have kiddos in your life, they need their own space. There are plenty of ways to implement this in all sizes of homes, whether you have one kid or 7. 

Here’s a look at a few tips and tricks for creating fun (and practical) kids’ spaces. P.S. At the end, I’ll share how I did this on our recent road trip.

If you have multiple kids at home and they all have their own space, consider doubling up on bedrooms. This would allow for an extra bedroom that can be designed and explicitly utilized as a playroom. Throw all toys, games, and play equipment into the playroom. Keep it basic in terms of decorations, or get creative and paint the walls bold, vibrant colors.

If you have one kid at home, divide their bedroom into two separate sections, allowing one side to be a play area. 

Now that we’ve knocked out the logistics, let’s chat about the must-haves to make a kid’s space, well, kid-friendly. 

Let’s start with furniture. Kids can get messy very quickly. So, furniture in a playroom should be functional yet comfy and cozy. Wooden tables and chairs are ideal for making cleaning up quick and easy. If you want to think bigger by adding a recliner, rocking chair, or loveseat, pick darker neutral colors that hide messes easily. Leather or performance fabrics are also great for avoiding stains.

Soft Foam Ball Pit

Mid-Century My First Play Chairs

Quinn White Washed Toy Chest

When designing an ideal space for kids, having an attraction feature is key. Maybe this looks like a ball pit in the corner of the room, a climbing wall, jungle gyms, or even a swing hanging from the ceiling. It’s the space where all the kids want to go when they come over for a play date.

The next item on the list can be a bit controversial among parents, but let’s talk about it anyway. If you want to put electronics in the space, consider some things. First, a playroom can be a separate space to hide the Xbox, PS4, iPads, computers, etc. That way you can have your house back.

You could set up a TV with all of your kids’ electronics, but keep in mind to hide away the cords and keep the outlets covered.

Let’s talk about arts and crafts. I love crafts, but the thought of doing them with toddlers stresses me out. I have a friend who has a designated playroom for her kids and whatever goes in that space—and I mean everything! It’s their space to be creative. But, if I know myself, even if I did have a designated area like this, I’m not sure I could muster it. So, for now, I have a kid-friendly table and chairs that clean easily, and if all else fails, I sit them outside to get wild and messy with paints and crayons.

Dinosaur Bean Bag Chair

Mini Camper Play Tent

Barrentine Area Rug

Finally, toys. That is the purpose of this room, right? While we hope this room doesn’t look like a bomb just went off, with Legos, Barbie dolls, and play food all over the floor, we know it’s going to happen. Colored bins, baskets, and bookshelves are a great way to keep toys organized and picked up. Keep these bins in an easy-to-reach place for kids to play. Adding labels can help your kiddo organize their toys at the end of the day, or week, to help keep the playroom clean.

Road Trip

How did I keep my sanity? I pulled a few baskets out of my pantry and stocked them with snacks, toys, tablets, coloring books, crayons, small games, etc. One basket went between their car seats and the other in the floorboard. So they were able to pick and choose what they wanted, and it actually did help eliminate a few, “Mama! I’m bored. Mama! Can you get me a snack?”