Hoping to designate a space in your home as your children’s playroom where your kids can play to their hearts’ content? Here are six tips to help you design and make the most out of it!

1. Go with an open concept

Unlike the other rooms in the house, the playroom is a unique space meant to facilitate your child’s creative development through fun and play. The best room layout to achieve that purpose is an open one, with lots of space for kids to run and move about. This means that other than the key essentials, such as storage for toys and books, furniture should be kept to a minimum so as to free up floor space. If a table for drawing or colouring is needed, consider getting foldable versions to keep the use of space flexible.

If you have limited space to spare, fret not as daylight plays a big role in cheering up a room. So wherever possible, situate the playroom next to a window where natural light can freely enter. The accompanying view of greenery and the sky will also stimulate your child’s imagination.

2. Create a colourful space

Image provided by Renonation

Kids’ rooms are often the most colourful room in the house. This is because young children use colour as a means of organising the information all around them, and respond best to loud colours. You don’t have to stick to primary colours though! Teal, orange, lime, and bright pink are only a few of the many colours you can choose from to deck out the playroom in.

Other than painting bright colours on the walls, another way is to keep the walls white, and feature the vibrant colours in the furniture and furnishings instead. This is a good option for parents who don’t want to change the colour of their walls or who intend for the playroom to be used for another purpose later on. Alternatively, pastel colours make it easy to tie in the playroom with the rest of the house due to its muted nature.

3. Be creative yourself

Image credit: NorthWest Interior Design

An alternative to single washes of wall colour is wall paintings and wall murals. In fact, paintings take much more thought and creativity to create. Inspire your child to create freely as well, by painting murals and images on the playroom walls. Popular images include the galaxy, underwater sea life, and birds soaring in the air.

Not savvy with a paintbrush? Then go for wall decals, which not only help you create a beautifully decorated wall in a jiffy, they are also easy to apply and remove. Most wall decals also come in a collection on a sheet, similar to stickers, so that makes it easy for you to follow a themed decor for your child’s playroom.

4. Make liberal use of chalkboard paint

Kids will be kids. Instead of getting angry when you find out they’ve gone wild on your walls, indulge this need for unrestrained expression with chalkboard paint. Erasable and washable, a chalkboard wall gives your kids license to doodle to their hearts’ content without being reprimanded. You can try covering other surfaces in the playroom with chalkboard paint as well, such as table tops and chairs.

5. Keep safety in mind

Always consider the issue of safety when it comes to the children’s playroom. Make sure any furniture in the playroom is child-friendly. For example, they should be at a height is comfortable for your child, and are durable and easy to maintain. You can also use corner guards to protect your children from rough corners or sharp edges.

Depending on the age of your kid, you may need to pay more attention to choking hazards. For example, bean bags should be tightly sealed and toys should not have small, loose parts that can come apart and be swallowed by your child.

6.Take the opportunity to instill values

Considering that the playroom is where your child loves to spend time in, this is a prime opportunity to teach important values and discipline. Encourage your child to take ownership of the playroom, such as to clean up after playtime and take care of his or her toys and belongings.

For example, you can have a chore board on the door to remind your child to keep the playroom in order. You can also decorate the walls with decals or paintings that convey good values, such as “Sharing is caring” or “Put things back when not in use”.

A children’s playroom encourages learning through play and imagination in the safety of the home. What’s more, you have full control over the colour scheme, furnishings and the layout. However you wish to decorate it, just remember that it’s a space for your kids to let loose and just have fun!

By Leong Pei Xin, Renonation.

This article was first published in The New Age Parents e-magazine.

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Have you been searching high and low and can’t seem to find the right furniture for your child? Fret not! Read our recommendations on where to get children’s furniture in Singapore!

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