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Ok, so hear me out – I know putting toys in your kids’s bedroom may sound like a crazy idea, but what if you could eliminate a need for an extra room dedicated for toys? Or, maybe reduce the amount of toys in a playroom? That’s the question my husband and I had to answer earlier this year. Our kids are now 4.5 years old and 3 years old and let me tell you, the number of toys that come into this house blows my mind. Some have been gifted and some are hand-me-downs from friends and relatives. Some are even bribe gifts for potty training. I’m sure if you’re a parent, you’ve experienced the influx of toys into your home at some point! One thing that makes me cringe is mess that has nowhere to go…ha. We knew we didn’t want to spend too much time or money completely redecorating a space for toys, so I decided to get creative with the space we had. Below are 5 simple and affordable ways to create a play area in your child’s bedroom.
#1 – Add Fun Wall Decor
A fun way to draw the eye to the newly added play area is by adding some fun wall decor that indicates what the area is – a fun play space! Wall decal stickers are an inexpensive way to dress up any wall and there are hundreds if not thousands out there for you to choose from. I knew I didn’t want to completely cover the wall in decals, so I created a flowy design to add some height and length to the wall. The stickers are actually dual purpose – you can’t see it, but two of the decals cover up holes caused by my son pulling a shelf off of wall (don’t forget those anchors, ladies!). Another fun way to add to wall decor is by using frames with fun prints such as letters, numbers, and animals. I consider a play area to be educational, so by adding elements of learning, you’re really adding to the overall energy of the space. I found these watercolor prints on Etsy. They were inexpensive and super easy to download.
#2 – Use Functional Floor Pillows + Area Rugs
Area rugs can be really helpful to center the play area. Not only only does it do that, but it also adds a pop of color and texture to the floor. Floor cushions are also helpful when the kids are playing and during story time. We read stories before bed every single night and use that floor cushion daily. Let’s be honest…I use that pillow just as much as they do!
#3 – Reuse Existing Nursery Furniture, if Possible
At some point or another, you’re going to have to transition your nursery to a toddler room. We were able to convert our cribs to a toddler beds, but I still had a rocking chair on my hands from when my daughter was born (side note, the chair shown in the pic above is from Pottery Barn. It’s no longer available, but PB still has many rocking chair options here). The chair comes in helpful when we are reading bedtime stories and for mommy and daddy to sit occasionally. Don’t forget hand-me-down furniture – we were fortunate to get this tall PB dresser as a hand-me-down from my sister. It’s close to 12 years old, but it’s still in great condition. We store books, toys, and towels in there. You’d be surprised how much stuff I was able to fit into that dresser chest! 🙂
#4 – Add Floating Bookshelves
Adding floating bookshelves is two-fold – 1, you get to display some (or all) of your kids’ favorite books in an area where they or you can easily get to them and 2, floating bookshelves can help balance the open space on a wall, depending on the other wall decor you have chosen. Since the dresser chest is tall, I needed to somehow balance out the height of that against the framed pictures. It worked, and was an inexpensive, functional add-on to the space.
#5 – Make the Most Out of Storage Bins
I love the trendy, flexible, woven bins you’re probably seeing all around social media and the internet right now. I have them scattered throughout our house, including in the kids’ play area. They’re lightweight and versatile and best of all, can be a great place to throw toys into (and I mean literally throw toys into 🙂 ). These bins are fairly inexpensive and add a bit of style to the room. Best of all, you’re more likely to reuse these bins rather than the plastic colored bins you typically see for toy storage. Win win!