Kids need room to play and enjoy their childhood and parents need a place to make sure those pesky LEGOs aren’t going to be stepped on first thing in the morning. So, of course, a playroom is the solution to all of these issues. However, thinking about converting a room into a play room can be a lot of stress when you think about how much it’ll cost to keep it up to standards. There’s a lot of short cuts you can take to ensure your kids love their playroom and are going to get the most benefit out of it. There’s also a couple ways to take the cost out of keeping the room a safe place to play. So, get out your planning book because your next household project is going to make the kids jump for joy without sending your wallet into a dark depression.
1. Build Up
If you have a small space to work in then you should consider building up in order to provide the kids with more room. Building up will work magic in a playroom, especially if you have high ceilings. These ceilings open up plenty of room to build an indoor tree house that will make playing inside on rainy days seem all the more enticing. If you don’t have high ceilings then a simple platform can transform the amount of space children have to play. When you choose to build one of these items try to use wood you have laying around the house. You should always check the condition of the wood though, just to be safe. If you don’t have wood at home then look online for anyone trying to get rid of wood for cheap or free. You can also buy cheaper woods, like plywood or scrap wood, from your local lumber or hardware store. When it comes to building with these items reinforcement is key so make sure you have a game plan. You can also add more space for physical activity with rope climbing or rock walls for older children. These items are cheaper than you’d expect to build! Of course, you should also build shelves to help keep storage off the ground.
2. Refurbish items
Creating a playroom for the kids doesn’t mean you also have to go out and buy all new furniture to fill the room with. Instead, check out some of those items you have in storage to see if they’ll work. A lot of items like old boxes, TV stands, night stands and so on can be transformed into toy boxes or cute little work areas. If you have a small entertainment center then try to convert it into a mini kitchen or tool area for younger children. With a little paint and a spark of imagination you can create your child’s new favorite toy for next to nothing. Old doors are also a great item to incorporate into your children’s playroom. You can easily transform a door into an arts and crafts table or a place for children to play with larger toys like a train set. Finally, chairs that may not match your current decor can be reupholstered with kid friendly designs to add a comfortable place to read in the room.
3. Tape
You may wonder how tape can save you money in a playroom, but there’s a whole lot of reasons to add it into the design budget. With a little tape your children can burn off quite a bit of energy when they’re playing indoors! To begin with, you can create a simple hop scotch design on the floor for hours of entertainment. You may also consider tic-tac-toe or a beanbag toss game too. With the right tape you can easily remove it from hardwood flooring or carpet without a problem. You can also use the same tactic on the wall for tic-tac-toe and other simple games. Just tape pieces of Velcro to the wall and game pieces and your children will have a fun game that takes up no floor space. Of course, tape can also be used for decor. With a little patience you can add your children’s names to the wall as well as the alphabet and numbers or create fun frames around their art work. This is especially great for younger children as you won’t have to worry about heavy glass frames falling as they play.
4. Rugs
Making the playroom comfortable for playtime can be hard when you have tiled or wooden floors as it’s not very comfortable to sit on. If you have rugs laying around the house that aren’t in use then this is probably your cheapest way to add comfort to the area without spending money. Rugs can sometimes be a bit hazardous though, especially if the children are very active in the room. So, when you put them in add a strip of velcro to each side and to the floor to keep the rugs from slipping out of place. If you do, however, have rugs in your budget then try to look for cheap rugs that can dual as a play area. For instance, many children’s stores will sell rugs that have a hopscotch design as well as those that have a railroad track or simple road with scenery. These will work as play places which will keep children busier and more satisfied with their designated area. You may also want to consider picking up carpet samples which are cheap to free at some stores. These can be moved around the room, so your children are comfortable wherever they choose to play. Another option is to buy foam puzzle pieces, which may run you more money, but will add a burst of color and comfort to the room.
5. Rotate Toys
Toy storage may end up costing you a lot of money if you’re not careful. It can also take up a lot of space, thus limiting the play area for your children. Rather than overburdening the room with storage, try to rotate toys every few months. Ask the children which toys they’d like to play with the most and pack up the rest. After a few months swap some toys and watch as they light up with excitement over the toys they probably forgot they had. Of course, not all children will be up for this. If this is the case then go through and pack away items they rarely use when they’re not home. After a few months swap them out. This will cut down on the amount of toys in the room and will also keep your from spending a lot of money on toys throughout the year.
6. Pools
Kids’ pools aren’t just for swimming! In fact, you can use these for a lot of fun activities inside the home. If you have younger children then a simple plastic or blow up pool can quickly be transformed into an indoor sandbox that will bring hours of fun. You may want to put a tarp down underneath the pool to help catch excess sand that falls off the children when they’re finished playing. A blow up pool can also be turned into a fun ball pit that will drive toddlers wild. You can cheaply pick up balls in bulk online, which will keep your budget low. The best thing is, you won’t have to take your kids to the ball pit anymore which will save on time and germs! A blow up pool also makes a great play pin for younger children who aren’t quite walking. The soft exterior makes it a great bumper for falling and it can hold several toys and provides and cozy nap area. As the seasons transform back into summer you can always take the pool back outside!
7. Use the Walls
Avoid taking up too much space on the floor by using your walls for play and storage. If your child has a lot of small items then consider hanging up bins or baskets to add to the decor of the room and keep the toys in order. You can also take shoe organizers and place them on the wall or back of doors. In these you can store medium sized figurines and dolls as well as craft supplies. The walls can also be transformed into one large easel for kids that love doodling and showing off their art work. Try painting the lower portion of a wall with chalkboard paint which will allow children the ability to draw and erase as they please. Of course, you could also splurge a bit and buy wallpaper designed for coloring. A cheaper option is to hang rolled paper on the wall. This allows you to easily save some of the art and cleanup will take mere seconds.
8. Primary Colors
Painting the room is a big concern for many parents as it may be hard to suit all of the children’s interests. One simple way to avoid fighting over the paint job is to stick with primary colors. These colors are known to help promote brain stimulation in children so they’ll get a whole lot more out of their play time. If you aren’t keen on simple blue, red and yellow then try to incorporate the colors into the decor and keep the walls simple with a soothing color that won’t tire the children’s eyes. This will not only create a relaxed setting, but will trigger brain stimulation that encourages more creative thinking while also helping the brain absorb lessons from educational toys and books. Sticking to primary colors will also ensure you can match other decor with ease and will also prevent you from having to keep repainting the room to suit your child’s needs.
9. Skip the Theme
Kids’ interests change on a daily basis, so choosing a theme for a playroom isn’t a wise choice. Instead of spending a small fortune on items they’re going to be bored of within a week try to go for a gender neutral color. This will help keep all the children happy without spending too much on themed decor. If the children really want something themed in the room then think as simple and frugal as possible. Try displaying some of the kids’ toys on shelves or allowing some of their favorite DVD covers to show. If this isn’t working then a simple poster or print out from online will offer the theme they need without forcing you to spend over $5. Of course, you may also want to consider wall or window decals which are slightly more expensive, but easy to remove when the interest passes.
10. Clear Bins
Finally, choose bins that won’t make your playroom look smaller. Clear bins are always a safe option and they offer a world of benefits. For instance, with clear bins you can always see what’s in a box, so snacks, tissues or other non-playroom friendly items won’t end up hanging out in the toy area. It will also allow children to see what toys they have and where they belong which helps with clean up as well as keeping the child entertained. Clear bins will also leave the room feeling larger as they aren’t a big opaque item taking up space. Thus, the room will feel breezier and a lot more comfortable for everyone.
Setting up a playroom can be easier and cheaper than you’d ever expect. However, a lot of people have a hard time picking just what should go in their room. With these simple tips you should be able to set up a room that isn’t just fun for the kids, but will help their mind’s achieve greatness. With a little TLC on your end and a few money saving tips your children will be more than happy with the amazing space you provide them.
