Perhaps add a wall of Ikea's Billy cabinets?

They can be anchored to the wall using L-brackets -- and there are options to configure the shelves to hold all kinds of "stuff" (including doors etc.)

Then add a lower play/craft table and kid chairs .... perhaps from Ikea too?

Then add a couple of larger cork bulletin boards -- for each child (maybe with names, photos and room for hanging stuff)

Just some thoughts! Love the orange walls!

((and the cats are wonderful too! :))

I love the bench idea. You ask if kids will sit on them. I suspect they might, but even if not, I'm pretty sure they will kneel in front of them and use the surfaces to play on - drive their vehicles or set up games, etc.

The problem with the cubbies is that the spaces are fixed. There's no flexibility. As your kids grow, their toys will change and the cubbies might not work anymore.

Perhaps bookcases with baskets/bins? This is what my SIL has. Actually, hers are built-in shelves that wrap around a corner in the family room. The shelves are adjustable, so that as the kids' tastes change, she can make spaces that are large enough for all the toys.

Her bins are labeled and color-coded. Even before the kids could read, they could tell you which toy went into which bin, by the color of the bin and the shelf it was on.

As for clothes storage, you could use more shelves and bins, or simply get a dresser or two that coordinates with the storage system you decide on.

Oh no...everyone is wrong LOL (ok maybe not) I have those very cabinets (the first IKEA pic). I have one tall one like that in the play room (anchored to the wall) and three eight cube cubbies along the other walls which are on wheels and totally stable (they've been climbed on). I use baskets in the cubbies (which are a little bit over 13.5" wide and deep...and 15ish tall). All of the cubbies below waist level in the room have wicker (woven) baskets which are wire built...very strong....that hold all of the small stuff. I have trains in some, cars, etc.

The empty cubbies are the top ones and they hold very large toys. Fire trucks, train stations, etc. Those items too tall for those sit on the half height cabinets on wheels (which I love because they are so easy to move and find little stuff..as well as clean around). As to cube size, the size they came in fit us well so we leave it as is, but you actually can leave out the small partitions and make double wide or bigger shelves if you so desire.

We use two other large ones out in the dress up room as well. I use nylon cubbies for those on the bottom half and then have books on the top. The nylon cubbies work well for the play cloths and wigs, hats, etc. They would work just as well for folded storage.

These things are sturdy. I just bought three more for our cottage for storage because they look so nice. I also have done my entire sewing room in them, only I have drawers and doors as well as clear plastic bins for fabric. The clear plastic are not a good choice for kids as they can break if they are not handled well.

I love these things as you can tell. The system is really flexible...stand them on their base, sides, hang them on the wall (you have to adapt them safely for this)...they do it all and they do it stylishly.

I live in a victorian and try to keep it traditional, but toy storage in armoires, dressers, as well as buffets, gad I tried it all...it just does not work, not for a toy room nor for a sewing room. These look great against my brick walls and while not being victorian, aren't so bad that they don't flow well. Would I put them in the parlor....well no, but they work great in these spaces and I am so so so happy I took the plunge and went with this system.

I did also go with a plastic bin in pine system (found in the kids section) for the art area. It works better for paper and pens and the like. THat sits on another wall in the play room.

I finally broke down and got one of those Ikea things for my kid's room.

They really are great. For a living room I might be tempted to find a similar item in actual wood--they do look sort of...um...Ikea. Or paint one. We got the shiny red one because it looks a step up from melamine coated, but that would really look wrong!

Functionally, though, it's wonderful. Can be used as a room divider too if you want to make it extra fun and stick a reading nook and a beanbag in the corner.
They're good

I just wanted to say that I think it is great that you are changing your dining room to make it more useful for your family. Someday they will be grown and gone and you can have your dining set back, but until then it is not wasted space! I think my kids must be older than yours but our dining room is similar in that it is very much their space. They have their desks in there and use the walls to hang up whatever they want - and we still eat in there every day too! The buffet stores their coloring books and craft supplies. It is always a welcome "mess" in this room and very well used!

I like the white cubbies, it seems like the spaces are fairly big for some of your larger toys.

The bench would maybe work for a place to store your clothing? They could sit down as they put on a pair of socks, etc.

I think the orange walls with white furniture would make a fun kids' space.

They have the white in a high gloss now that's very pretty or gray and then red as noted above. I went with black because it feels more appropriate next to the brick walls than high gloss would and I like it with the baskets better.

In my sewing room I'm actually covering them in decopaged wallpaper from a bunch of antique paper I found in the attic :) They are incredibly flexible if you want to make changes....so much so there is a website for people who alter ikea stuff :p

I'm glad you posted, Igloo. I didn't know you could leave out some of the partitions.

My sister made her DR into a playroom. It got a ton of use.

I would not do benches but I'd put at least one comfy spot for YOU. I always like comfort . . .also would be nice to curl up with a book (for them). You could put a canopy there unless they'll pull on it. If you are really brave . . .a swing. IKEA has a cheap one:

The other thing you might think of is a table. IKEA sells customizable ones . . .we got two for our craft room. One has fixed legs for the older kids, and the other has adjustable legs for the younger ones.

I love the Expedit from Ikea too. In my daughter's room she has two 2x8 units flanking a 1x5 unit that is on its side and sits on the floor. Sometimes she sits on it like a bench to read and sometimes she kneels in front of it and plays on the top surface. That's her favorite Lego spot.

Ikea also has inserts you can add to each cubby to add doors or drawers. She has both. And some cubbies she has large fabric bins from Target.

We are thinking of adding the desk on to one of the 2x8 units as she is leaving the play on the floor stage and entering the do projects at a desk stage.

And the dividers can definitely be left out! Also, the black-brown finish scratches a lot more easily and shows more dust than the white.

I also have that very same bookcase you posted, but in black. I bought it for my DS when he started middle school (now he's in college so it has had many years of use and abuse and still looks great), but could've easily used it for him when he was a child. It is incredible versatile and sturdy and I highly recommend it. IKEA makes many different baskets and even drawers and door inserts so it's a piece that you can grow with over the years. I have used it both horizontally and vertically in the room at various times. If you did it 1/2 height you could store the larger sized toys on top so everything is within reach. The reason kids climb is because stuff it out of reach. Then above you could do your art wire or some such thing. Then when your kids outgrow the toys stage, it can be used as a study area to store textbooks, etc. It is deeper than their Billy bookcases. While white looks more kid friendly, for longer term use I'd consider the black.

This post was edited by valinsv on Tue, Dec 18, 12 at 21:01

What about a couple Hemnes bookcases from Ikea? Those are made from wood and they are actually pretty nice. We put 2 in my husband's home office (in white) and the shelves adjust so you could change the storage options as they grow. And then someday, when they have their own bedroom(s) they can be used to hold books.

In the same series they have wardrobes and a linen cabinet that I LOVE but it only comes in red :(. But, a wardrobe might work for clothing storage ... Or one of the dressers they have in that series.

Are you looking for furniture you can reuse in their rooms someday, or furniture you can use in other parts of the house?

Yes, Hemnes is another good choice. I forgot about that line. It was my first choice because of the solid wood, but the dimensions didn't work in my DD's space. Bookcases, TV units (as low storage and seating), cabinets with drawers (with or without the glass doors), wardrobes, etc. Lots of options!

Here is a link that might be useful: Hemnes Playroom

[URL=http://s46.photobucket.com/albums/f101/madeyna/?action=view&current=septpupps-1.jpg][IMG]http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f101/madeyna/th_septpupps-1.jpg[/IMG][/URL][URL=http://s46.photobucket.com/albums/f101/madeyna/?action=view&current=septpupps007-1.jpg][IMG]http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f101/madeyna/th_septpupps007-1.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Here are a few older shots of my 13 foot long window seat with toy storage underneath .This seat has been the primary play spot for both my kids for 8 years . It gets used everyday. Its 28 inchs wide so they can set up their doll house villages and barns and keep them set up and off the floor. They sit on it while they play. The only thing I would do differently is the toy storage is under mine. You have to lift the 28 wide seats to get toys out of it. I love that its wide enough for them to sit on it and play at the same time but it would be nicer if the toy access was from the front instead of having to lift the seat.a If you have a chance to build one I would go for it .Its a warm comfortable place for them to play up off the floor. Its really nice for them to have that space up off the floor and out of the way to set up more elaberate villages and things that take awhile to build.

Here are your photos, madeyna. Cute models!

This post was edited by tracie.erin on Thu, Dec 20, 12 at 10:34

Thankyou for the fix :)

Thankyou for the fix :)

I would check Pinterest for storage unit ideas....there are some beautiful things there.

Timely post.

I'm living a crash course on toddler care at age 60 (long story). Today when I first put 2 year old David down for a nap, I was very very comforted to know that the IKEA Expedit cubbies were well anchored to the wall in there...

My apologies for not posting back sooner. DH and DS's all have had the horrible stomach virus going around. I have no idea how I managed to escape it, especially with not sleeping for 3 nights!

Anyway, thank you all so much. you have given me lots to think about. We did manage to empty the room before the virus hit us!

The kids do not want to leave the room. I realized after reading your responses I should have said they are 3.5 and 8 months old.

I had forgotten that the heater wraps around part of the back corner of the room. So I am thinking that I will put one of the large (72") expedit bookcases on the back wall, then put a chair in the corner next to it. I have to decide if I am going to get it reupholstered. For some reason I always say I am going to get things redone and then I don't. I think I have a fear of picking the wrong fabric. Silly I guess. but it needs to be redone! Not sure if it is worth it maybe that should be another post. :)

then on the wall in between the windows some ikea spice racks holding books I think.

{{!gwi}}

I was thinking in the corner where the chair is now if it will fit two of the thinner expedit and maybe I can store their clothes in there till they have bedrooms.

I am planning on taking down the curtains and cutting the fabric on the sheers to hit the sill.

I would like some seating for the kids, but havent found anything I like yet. Not sure if I need it if I have to two small wingbacks in there. MIght not be necessary.

I do love the idea of the bench and storage, but the more I look at the room the more I think it is too small for that.

Those puppies are so cute madeyna.

Of course if anyone would like to share pictures of their expedits that would be great too. but it is good to hear so many positive comments about the ikea products. I am going to try to get there next week.

Celticmoon - good luck to you and young david. I am in my early 40's and it can be a lot chasing around after the two of them. He is lucky to have you!

I would find a slip cover for the chair and wait on re-upholstering..this time will go quickly it may not be worth the expense. I would look at having a storage box/bench made for a register cover. If you leave a leg on it the heat will still get out. It would be a custom piece but would be wonderful for storage and with a cushion top it would make a nice reading corner. Too bad the windows are right there--you might want some sort of guard across their bottom half to prevent anyone from going through them. I would go w/o curtains..no privacy needed..maybe a pull shade, no cords, blinds are dust catchers and not great for children/allergies. I can see a play kitchen on the back wall. You can find some adorable ones made out of old entertainment centers! Yes boys need a play kitchen too!! Mine loved his. If not go for a tool bench. My husband made a low table with roads and such painted on it for train/car play. What a wonderful space this will be!!

Boop, do you have an IKEA near you? DD2 saw that with shipping, it's close to storage shelves at Pottery Barn Kids. We can't do IKEA in ATL with J, since rear seats would have to fold down - then car seat won't work. I haven't looked at either website yet, but will shortly. I've been looking for table and 2 chairs here and there and haven't found what we're looking for either. Part of being picky and not wanting to spend $200 a chair!

We removed her guest bedroom bed Thursday night and laid the FLOR carpet tiles. The look on J's face when he got up Friday morning was priceless when he saw the colorful flooring and his tent in what used to be a bedroom. ;D

I would get Expedit, http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10196431/#/10103088 They are deeper, come in several sizes and colors, and now also have doors. They can also be used when the children are older or in a library/den. And you can use them for benches or to build a storage bed.

Here is a link that might be useful: Expedit in playrooms

Hmm. Maybe I have to look more for readymade slip covers. they all seem to be made for T cushion chairs. I like these chairs because they have been in the family for ever (obviously by their fabric :) ) and they are pretty small, but pretty comfy and have held up will. I think I will start a new post about them.

I am going to go to Ikea next week I think if I can duck out of work for a bit or early one day. There is one about 15-20 minutes away from my office. Of course the oppostie direction from home.

Land of Nod is having a 15% off sale Allison - not sure if you liked any of their stuff.

I actually think the table and stools at ikea look really cute, but they might be too big for this room.

Well, the playroom is coming along. I can't believe about a month ago it was the DR, and never used but to dump stuff and now my son plays in there every afternoon and loves it. :)

Still working on fabric for this chair. I stole drapes from another room. I like them in here. I need to get some sheers now....

I also still need some bins for their clothes. I am having the toughest time deciding which ones to get for some reason!

Please excuse the mess in the LR. :) the stuff from the DR has not been put away yet. I also still have a few pics left on the wall in the Playroom that need to come down. Not sure what else I am going to put up on the wall.

I do have a plate I made when I was three. my mom put the year on it. My oldest DS is 3 so I thought I would have him make a plate. Then I can do the same when youngest is three. I am going to hand the two plates in the meantime somewhere.

I got a star, but DH said no way. :) the kids are too young for the exposed bulbs. so I am going to put that in the hallway.

I have to convince DH to move that huge playhouse outside when it gets nice as well. I am also getting a bookrack to put where the trofast bins are (red, blue, white) that was something DH picked up and was not in my plan. :) He went on the IKEA run and got a few extras.

Of course he loves it, it looks like a blast! The play house looks fabulous for winter play!! He looks like he would love a Nerf BB hoop, and maybe a chalk wall or easel. There will be so much you can do in that room now that it is all for the kids.

It turned out great!

There's no reason to take down the art unless you have a spot for it somewhere else or you need to put something else in its spot. Kids don't mind and sometimes even enjoy it. I love it when little kids notice a painting they've been exposed to since birth and realize it's something.

What a fun and fabulous room! You did a wonderful job- what lucky kiddos.

What an amazing transformation. I would just use the IKEA baskets for clothes bins or maybe Expedit door or drawer inserts. Also, look for IKEA hacker and the ideas there.

Here is a link that might be useful: expedit

Nice dining room to playroom transformation I bet the kids love it

Your new room looks fantastic! And as your children grow you can easily change it to their needs and interest.

I have to ask you something though that I can't believe no one else has asked.....in the very first picture what is that animal on the left? Is it a wallaby? or just a cat in a strange position? Or are my eyes really getting that bad, lol.

The room changes are fantastic, what lucky kids. I think you have really followed Magnaverde's rule.

In my day I got a card table, tv trays and sheets. Imagination is all your little ones need. Love the artwork too.

Yeah, what is that animal?!

What a wonderfully colorful playroom! The drapes are perfect for the room. Your kids will enjoy playing there for many years.

I like how you have hung their artwork on lines. Another way to display special artwork is to frame it. My DIL did that with some of my GC's art and it looks very good and makes it feel extra special. Since I see you have some empty wall space it might be something to consider.

It's wonderful, Boop!!!

Boop, you did a great job. What lucky children!

Very impressive! Where did you find the knobs that are holding the 'clothes line'? I love that idea for display of their handy work.

Thanks everyone. I am so excited with how much DS1 loves the room. Makes it all worth it. :)

The animal is my cat, named Boopadaboo :)

It is funny you mention that fori. I was thinking of getting some monet posters or something like that. Then I remembered I have these really cute four seasons pictures in my bedroom. They were my mom's. I think I will hang them in the room.

annz, the art is hanging on a curtain wire set from IKEA. I read it on a blog. It is called DEKA. It comes with the clips and is $6.99. I have one more to hang.

I can definitely see the room growing with them - eventually desks and computers.

I like the idea of framing some art Luckygal. that is a good idea. I actually saw a frame that holds about 10 pages stacked, you can rotate the picture.

In regards to the bins nosoccormom, I have become a bit obsessed!

I don't like the ones that fit the entire space for clothes. I think it would be a pain to get things in and out. I have been looking for days. I have narrowed it down some. :) I know I don't like tapered bins and I think if I can't find the perfect fit I would rather have something that goes across the whole width and is a little short in the back then the opposite.

These are under consideration...

{{!gwi}}

I can't figure out how low is good though. The cube is 13" high, so 10"? 8"? I dont 'know yet. :)

It comes in colors too. Maybe I am overthinking this...

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

Any thoughts? Go with green and blue? brown? keep looking?

I hung the four seasons pics, love them in the room!

I used the old hooks though so I have to move one. :)

Wonderful job. This is the kind of room your kids will use and love for years to come. Yours is so cheerful and happy, and you are a great Mom for seeing that at this stage in your young family's life, the need for a playroom is a higher priority than a formal dining room. You'll get your dining room back some day, and when you do, you may wonder why you wanted one so much!

We had one for the longest time and when we redid our kitchen we eliminated it from the floor plan. That's right, We got rid of our dining room voluntarily and turned it into a cozy TV lounge that our whole family enjoys every single day of the year. We discovered that, when entertaining, everyone liked hanging out in the kitchen anyway and the dining room was just wasted space. Some people do entertain formally and that's great, but as a hostess I tended to always do a buffet. If I didn't, I had to pop up and down from the dining table, serving and fetching things. If I had a staff do do that, okay that would be different. But I'm a one woman show!

We still wanted to have the ability to feed and seat a crowd so, When we ordered a new table for the kitchen, we got one that can adjust from a small size of 3.5 feet x 6 ft to a giant can-seat-12-for-dinner size of 3.5 feet x 10 feet! We have room for it in our (spacious and nice, recently renovated) kitchen. Honestly though, I've gone to many a thanksgiving dinner that takes place on folding rented banquet tables and have never minded ONE BIT.

Also, another nice thing about a playroom is that the children are happy and safe, you can keep all their things in one place, and they have fun playing there with their friends.

Great job, boop! We did the same with a living room when our kids were small, had it for about two years.

Only one suggestion: cut off that ruffle at the bottom of your wing chair. It will instantly look updated and you can paint the legs white or black, and---- most importantly----stuff will not get lost under the chair. And removing the ruffle means you could get one of those clingy, stretchy slipcovers that fit better.

I almost missed your update. So glad I didn't!

You did a great job. I'll bet your kids are feeling special to have their own space, and your house is feeling more spacious now that all the "stuff" is corralled in one place.

Thanks for sharing!

Dee

I almost missed your update. So glad I didn't!

You did a great job. I'll bet your kids are feeling special to have their own space, and your house is feeling more spacious now that all the "stuff" is corralled in one place.

Thanks for sharing!

Dee

Ahh what a lovely shiny kitty it is : )

Great job on the room!

I love it, such a fun, happy room, I like the green and blue baskets. The curtains are perfect too.

I always wanted to do something like this

Thank you Judith, Dee, kswl, farmchic, and IRuehl!

gmp3 - thanks, I LOVE the curtains too. One of my better ebay purchases. :) I think they were $25 for the set! Of course the room I had them in looks funny with out them so now I am on the hunt again and I can only find expensive scenic drapes.

I went ahead and ordered the blue and green baskests. the price wasn't bad and I was spending way too much time obsessing. I still have to finish obsessing over the fabric for the chair. :)

One more thing of the to do list in this room. The baskets are here....

I love the colors. I think a little shorter would be better, but on well!

Left to do... Labels for the baskets, the book rack, and finishing the chair.

Boop - It looks great! I bet the kids are loving it.

May I ask what storage system you went with? Ikea?

I recently came to the realization that I'm going to need to come up with some type of toy storage in our LR and wanted to start looking around now. I was also thinking of other closed storage areas I could put kid items in eventually (buffet drawers, etc.).

How are the rest of the to do items coming along?

We have the Ikea Expedit cubbies and they fit a fair amount. Our living room currently doubles as the playroom so we got the cubbies in a dark brown black so it looked more furniture-like. We halve the half height one (2 rowns if cubbies) and place any larger toys on top.

We did go with Ikea, the expedit. I LOVE them! I keep bugging DH to go back and get a couple more for our basement. I think they are great storage.

I did think about using some of my DR furniture for storage and keeping it, but I just didn't think it would work for me.

There are doors they make for the Expedits and some people paint them. There are amazing pics all over pinterest. I saved some to my playroom board and have it linked below, but there are so many good ideas.

Here is a link that might be useful: Playroom pics