I need advice on where and how to set up our playroom for Beckham (and future kids). I have a couple options, but wanted to see what your thoughts were, especially from those who already have playrooms and know what works.
First let me show you the dining room and office space we have so you can better understand the spaces….don’t judge the mess. 🙂 We’re in the middle of cleaning out lots and trying to figure out this situation so it’s a mess.
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| Dining Room |
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| Office |
Option 1: Make the office a playroom ONLY. And turn the dining room (which we never use) into an open office. I would put the new desk we’re going to buy on the wall against the office (left) with the filing cabinet next to it. On the opposite wall I would have the bookshelf from our current office, with a big fat chair next to it. Probably would have the plant on that side too. And would change the curtains since those are more formal dining curtains.
Pros: Commit one room to “play” room and could decorate accordingly with MUCH MORE space for toys and such! It would also give use to the dining room since we never use it.
Cons: Selling the dining room furniture. It was expensive and is REALLY good furniture. The look of a dining room probably is more appealing than an office when you first walk in (but I would make the “office” look more like a formal living area).
Option 2: Keep the formal dining area and make the office a playroom/office. One side (where the desk currently is) would be office (filing cabinet, desk, bookshelf) and the other side would be playroom.
Pros: Wouldn’t have to “transform” as much. Wouldn’t have to sell furniture. Look might be better.
Cons: Playroom would be more like a play corner. I couldn’t really paint room a “playful” color, or if I did it might look funny with office (the office is what you would see through the doors. Biggest con is that the space of both playroom and office would be cut down tremendously.
I might add we are painting the office and putting “blinds/shades” on the doors no matter what.
Hey girl, I had no clue you had a blog…I will add you to my friend list and send you an invite to mine. 🙂 I would go with Option 1…most people under utilize their formal dining area and use their kitchen nook primarily. Sell the dining room furniture on Craig's List, and make that the big playroom…you'll be glad you did. Of course, this is only my opinion. 🙂
I suggest other options: 3. Use the kitchen's outer wall to place a desk to store the computer with filing cabinet. Get rid of the bookshelf. The rolling chair may have to go too to save space, but this would allow for a playroom and dining room; 4. use Beckham's room as a playroom. He only sleeps in there right now; 5. transform the guest room to a playroom. We only have 1 kid right now (at least for another year) so why not use the room? Noone sleeps over since the family is local. Just some thoughts…see where this goes.
I have to clarify that the above comment is from my husband Ryan! He does not like my Option 1.
Is Beckham's room too small? Could some re-organizaiton (some strategic shelves, for example) in his room help contain everything there? My mom dedicated a spare bedroom to being my playroom when I was a kid, and it was really a waste. I played in there only occasionally. I really preferred being in my room or in the living room with the family. So, at the end of the day, I was still just dragging my toys to the living room and putting them away at the end of the day.
I'm kind of with Ryan on this one. I would hate for you to have to give up your beautiful formal dining area… this coming from someone who doesn't have one and desperately wants one! I would be worried about having the computer/workspace in the same room with a toddler who will eventually be in to everything. Peyton's room has his bed/dresser and all of his toys in it. We moved the toys he grew out of in to the attic to make space for the toys he plays with now. I would do that or make the guest bedroom into a playroom for now! Hope this helps!
We decided with Option 3, which Ryan added in the comment section. We will be putting our desk in the kitchen area and making the office a playroom. Not my first choice, but we'll try it out and see how it works. Pics soon of the transformation!
Thanks for sharing, it looks interesting!