If you have a baby or a toddler, you’re probably up to your neck in toys by this point. Designating a space in your home to store all of your child’s toys, as well as a place for them to play, can make your life so much easier. I put together some playroom ideas for toddlers to help give you some inspiration and direction when creating this space.
You can still design a modern playroom that fits in with your home decor. Many homes now have more modern playrooms and brands are opting for more neutral and toned down colors when it comes to baby gear and toddler gadgets. For example, you don’t need to have rainbow colored jumperoos and play kitchens because they make them in whites, greys, and neutrals.
Just because it’s a space to store all of our kids toys doesn’t mean it needs to look like a child designed it. There are plenty of ways to make your playroom a space that feels more part of your home, rather than just a play place.
Here are a few tips on designing and organizing a playroom that has a modern and chic feel to it, while still giving your toddler a fun environment, as well as how to keep it clean. View all of the inspirational photos I used for my playroom here.
This post may contain affiliate links which I would receive a small commission should you make a purchase.
Related: 22 Chic Toddler Playroom Inspirations That Even Mom Would Love to Play In
12 Playroom Ideas for Toddlers: How to Design the Space
If you want a playroom space, you need to know what to include. Here are some playroom ideas for toddlers that everyone will love.
Light and Neutral Walls
I wanted to keep my the base of my daughter’s playroom light and neutral so I could add pops of color in a sophisticated way. Painting the walls white or very light greys and beiges is a great start to keeping the playroom more tasteful.
Trust me, there will be plenty of color once you add in all of your child’s belongings so keep the walls light.
Covered Storage
Cube organizers are fantastic for playrooms. If you want to keep all the toys and materials hidden well, this is a perfect way to do it. The cube organizer can be used a piece of furniture and can also create a nice wall display. This cube organizer from Target is a great, affordable option (bins are sold separately).
You can choose how much stuff you want to be seen by keeping everything behind closed bins or leaving some toys out for display. The cube bins allow you to keep the toys put away and covered, as well as quick cleaning.
Plus, there are so many different varieties of colors and style of these bins that you can always find something to match your room.
Another benefit of using cube storage is that you can easily rotate toys. If you feel like your child has way too many toys, rotating the toys that are out helps them play with everything.
Try labeling all of your bins by category for easy clean up and storage. This can also help your child work on sight words and letters by beginning to recognize the word for the items that go in the bin.
You can even further compartmentalize those bins with this set of small plastic storage bins from Target to hold all those little pieces that always get lost. Lids are great because it keeps the items contained, as well as hides the mess!
If you need to do a last minute sweep of the room because company is coming over, you can easily throw everything into the bins and throw the cover on it. It also gives your toddler a place to be able to put their stuff away if she’s starting to clean up after herself.
Lastly, for lidded storage, I just have to recommend these large bins that I use all over my house, not just the playroom. They are especially great for baby toys, blankets, burp cloths, shoes, and all the things you sometimes need easy access to and they tend to be scattered all over the house. I love the neutral ivory color and it blends in so well with my decor so I don’t mind leaving them out to be seen. Then when I need to do a quick clean, I just throw everything in the bin and close the lid.
Compartmentalize Areas
Your playroom can have mini stations in each corner to break up the room a bit. You can have an art station, reading nook, dress up corner, jumping space, kitchen cafe, and a sitting area, to name a few.
Find what your child’s passions are and make the room come to life with their favorite things to do.
I like having a designated art space for my kids; it’s one of my top playroom ideas for toddlers. This is the area where I keep all of their art supplies like crayons, stickers, glue, and paint. It decreases the mess, and you can lay down a rug if you want to protect your flooring.
White Furniture
I’m a lover of all things white and bright, even children’s furniture. I love the way it finishes off a room. White makes spaces look larger and brighter and in turn, makes us happier.
I know it seems crazy to have a child coloring on a white table because it will probably be marked up within a matter of minutes. However, it’s worth it to me!
All you need is a lifetime supply of Magic Erasers, and you’re good to go – I’m not joking either.
Related Post: How to Get Your Toddler to Stop Refusing to Brush Their Teeth
Fun & Interesting Wall Decor
Even though I like playrooms very neutral, it is a space for kids, afterall. Adding pops of color with fun wall decor can brighten up the space and make it more welcoming for your toddler.
You can paint a mural on the wall, use chalkboard paint to create a wall size chalk board, designate an accent wall, or paint the ABC’s to add some educational fun.
Comfortable Seating
Toddlers will actually be comfortable sitting anywhere. Whether it be a hardwood floor or concrete, they usually don’t complain.
However, you want to make their playroom a cozy space to sit and read, color, play or watch tv. Soft textured rugs, bean bags, a cozy chair, or some pillows are great for lounging.
Related Post: Ultimate Guide to Surviving a Family Vacation With a Baby or Toddler
Display Their Art Work
A beautiful way to add color and fun to the playroom is to display your child’s artwork. Even if it’s just scribbles and stickers from your 1 year old, they will feel so proud of themselves to see their work hanging up.
It shows them that they are drawing and coloring for a reason and not just to make marks on a paper.
You can use a piece of string or twine with clothespins to hang work along the room or this Look What I Did sign is so cute for display.
Space to Let Loose & Be Free
Kids will be kids and they need space to run around. Of course, outdoors is the best place for that, but during the winter you just don’t have that option. If you have room for it, a spacious area where they can jump, swing, and go a little wild would be perfect for that energetic toddler.
Check out this small trampoline, hammock swing, or teeter totter that your kids will love!
This indoor hammock chair swing would be the perfect unique addition to any playroom and your child will be so excited to jump right in it! It nestles them in a little cocoon where they can relax, read a book, or just calm down.
If you don’t have room for a large piece of equipment like that, an open space will do just fine. Leave the middle of the room clear with a rug or mat so they can have the opportunity to get their energy out.
Activity Table & Art Center
Add a desk with hard wooden chairs for your children to sit at when coloring, doing puzzles, or having a tea party. Make sure all of their art supplies are close by like crayons, markers, stickers, and construction paper.
You can even put all the materials in cute little storage containers, as well. See the photo above of a great way to organize materials and display artwork together.
Try hanging some art smocks on a few hooks as well to teach your child to cover up before making a mess.
Related Post: Simple Activities You Should Be Doing With Your 1 Year Old
Reading Nook or Quiet Space
Building a quiet, cozy space for reading or relaxing is one of the best playroom ideas for toddlers. If you have a small tent (like this castle one) or tee-pee (this is the one I used to make my daughter’s calm space) that should work great. However, you can also just use a corner of a room or build a little fort with a sheet.
Throw some soft pillows, blankets, and stuffed animals in there to make it a cozy, restful spot. You can also put anything that you find helps your child calm down. Perhaps they will also use this spot to quietly read or play.
Related Post: 21 Calming Sensory Activities for Your Overstimulated Toddler
Another seating option for your cozy space is one of these Softkin Leather Kids Sofas. They are so soft and perfect for cuddling up with a book or blanket.
Pretend Play Area
Toddlers love to play pretend. They want to imitate everything that they see mom, dad, and older siblings do. Pretend play materials and toys are great for a playroom because you will really see your child’s imagination run wild.
Pretend play items will be gadgets that one would use in real life, whether it’s the real thing or a toy version of it. If the real thing is safe for them to use, that would be best. However, in most cases, they won’t be able to tell the difference from real or a pretend version.
Think of real life activities that your child watches you do.
For example, cooking in the kitchen, changing baby brother’s diaper, folding laundry, typing n the computer, pouring yourself a glass of water, watering the plants, etc. Pretend play includes everything that occurs in real life because your child will pretend they are doing it themselves.
You can find so many pretend play stations including kitchens, tool benches, dressing rooms, store fronts, and houses. In these stations you can have toy food, tools, dress-up costumes, cash registers, plants and watering cans.
These types of play stations used to be very toy-looking, but now they have really upgraded them. For example, you can get a very modern kitchen (complete with tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances!) like this one by Naomi Kids from Amazon. Your child will have a blast pretending to cook on the stove and wash the dishes- if only they could do it for us in real life!
A Dress Up Area
What little girl wouldn’t love to play dress up with her princess and fairy costumes? Or a little boy to pretend he’s a superhero or police officer?
Kids love playing pretend and imitating what they see in real life as well on tv. Make them a space where they can do just that! You can use a rack to display all their costumes and even make a little dress up area for them.
It’s fun to gather your playroom ideas for toddlers to create a space your child will love and want to spend plenty of time. I hope these inspiring ideas helped you!
The post 12 Playroom Ideas for Toddlers: How to Create a Useful Space appeared first on Just Simply Mom.