Styling/storage ideas for a kids “play room” off the front entry?
Hi! I’ve posted a few other things here recently about a home are interested in purchasing. One of the requirements for us was having a dedicated kids room to store their toys, etc. In this home, there is a room directly to the left of the front entry (used as a sitting room by the current owners) that would work for this - but since it’s the first thing people will see when entering, I don’t want it to look like a colorful mess of toys and multi colored tot boxes / storage bins. I want it to look nice and neutral. I am thinking we will need to get creative with storage (we have a LOT of toys - kids are ages 2, 4 and 6). I would eventually like this room to be a place where the kids can do crafts, homework, etc. Please send me your ideas for this space. :)
Side note - there are other ”bonus rooms” in the home - but one is the office toward the back of the house, which has french doors and a walkout to the back deck. I will likely use that for my office since I work from home. Theres also a dining room to the right of the front entry but that is likely where we will put our kitchen table since there isn’t a space for it in the actual kitchen— and that room is right off the kitchen. Lastly, the basement has a media room as soon as you walk down the stairs, and there is a basement bedroom off of that. We could probably use that bedroom for any overflow of toys.
Thank you!
Photos of the room for context:
Comments (12)
PROUser
2 years agoI have young kids that have lots of toys and I gotta say that I would really dislike seeing all of their stuff right at the entry into the home, organized or not. I would first rethink the location of their playroom. However, if you are set on it staying in this location I would do a few things. I would look into enclosing the space with french doors, flanked with windows and transom windows. Then, I would add storage with doors along the *new* small walls and 3/4 of the right wall.
(interior view of the playroom - add doors to the shelves)
Just some ideas!
jlynn1187
2 years agoRelated Discussions
Oversized 2 Car Side Entry or 3 Car Front Entry??
Comments (11)There is significant disappointment on our end as well as the builder that this was missed by the architect along the way. In fairness to the architect, the builder allowed us to work with the architect to develop the plans we love prior to any $ commitment from us but he did not want to pay for the survey until we were invested. So, here we are. We are disappointed because the length of the home has been established for several months and the width of the property has as well. The survey and site plan were just officially performed but the inputs are the same and have been known...so we are disappointed but still love the floorplan, location, etc. and want to make the best runner up choice we can :)...See MoreFront Deck Ideas Needed to add interest to a small house entrance
Comments (6)@Anna & @NHBabs- I was trying to say add an above window pergola...not add a window =) We definitely don't have the room for that inside. I think with Dougs design a pergola would be too much though. We can definitely do a smaller, more affordable version of that gorgeous front deck. We are experienced DIYers and can do much or all of the work ourselves and with a few changes its completely affordable. I actually have more of the pavers from our walkway that can be added to the front area to widen that landing out some, though we won't go as wide on the left side as is shown because our yard gets narrower there against the neighbors yard. We can do stone that matches our existing stone out back on the steps and instead of stone columns we can do thick wood posts with black metal caps, and the affordable black aluminum railings that we had planned anyway, which would match our new back deck perfectly. We have considered stone in the chimney at some point in the future, though it won't be next year. It won't be quite as grand as Dougs design but gives a very similar look for alot less $$. I think to the left of the door we can add a long, covered, decorative bench box for wood storage in that space. That way we have wood for a week in the winter without trudging to the fire wood shelters out back every day or so. (We have 2 wood stoves that get used alot in the winters here.) We never use our entrance unless we are going out the front door for mail, and all our friends use the back entrance as there is ample parking out there. I can see us sitting out there on the deck with a glass of wine in the shade though. Since the only visitors we get out front are deliveries and people selling stuff, we probably don't need to add anything for sheltering them lol. Still struggling with house color. Currently its a pale yellowish color my husband hates (ditto for me) and it clashes with our new stone. We were thinking maybe something more earthy in a brown/gray...meaning not just brown or gray, something with a mix of both. Or maybe a darker beige. We'd like to darken it up a bit. The shingles are a dark gray but do have a little brown/tan in them along with the black and gray. Its called Canadian Driftwood....See MoreSpare Room- Pantry or Play Room?
Comments (21)Thanks for the suggestions! The previous owners who built the house used it as an office. There is no window as it is in the middle of the house surrounded on all sides. I would love to use the bonus room upstairs as a playroom later on but not until I feel comfortable w our youngest going up and down stairs well. We are leaning towards using it as mainly a storage/pantry room. The kids rooms are so big I think they can share one and the other room will be the playroom. Then when they are older they can have their own rooms and use the upstairs as a hangout space....See MoreWhat to do with room off of entryway?
Comments (6)I don’t have a floor plan, but the first 3 pictures are the enclosed room off the entry. Down the front hall is the second space leading into the kitchen area. Lighting is being address for sure. The seller was blind and used fluorescent lighting to help her move around....See MoreSammie J
2 years agoI have to agree with Glo - it will be hard to use that space as a toy/craft/homework room and keep it neat. It will really depend on how much you want to pick up, or watch over the kids so that they pick up. I'd probably use the basement bedroom or media space for the toys, and make the entry space a "library" type room for homework and perhaps crafts,....love Glo's idea of "glassing-off" the opening to the space, and then adding built-ins with some storage for homework.
- PRO
User
2 years ago jlynn1187
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agolynzy1
2 years agoSammie J
2 years agoI get wanting to have a dedicated guest space, especially if it has a bathroom. Another option to close off the entry space that might be less expensive than full glass...
RTHawk
2 years agolast modified: 2 years ago- PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
2 years ago jlynn1187
2 years agoNaturalLight
2 years ago
partim