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living room Home Decorating dining room

dining to playroom conversion

5 months ago

Starting to plan converting the dining room into playroom. We currently have a small table in kitchen that we eat at daily and don’t use the dining room unless we have company over for meals - doesn’t happen that often. We have a 2 yr old and one on the way so wanting more main floor play space.
Will have to change the light fixture for sure to something closer to ceiling.
Thinking will keep the toys towards the back wall and wall where toy box is that way it’s somewhat hidden from front door - located through living room.
Then eventually want to do some diy built ins beside the fireplace in living room.
Not sure what to put on the living room side of that short wall, if anything.
Is this stupid to giving up the dining room space? Thinking we will sell the table and chairs and We can make the switch back when we have older kids.
Looking for any layout/design suggestions! Thanks!

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Comments (4)

Susan
5 months ago
I think it’s great that you are willing to make trade offs so your home can function better for you/your family. While the kids are young, this is a great option, and especially since the new playroom will be adjacent to the adult living room and just off the kitchen…it’s perfect! Make sure to relocate all of the kid stuff that is in the living room…make that an adult haven!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Bravo!!!
KW PNW Z8
5 months ago
last modified: 5 months ago
I agree that we need to make our homes work for us and not be a slave to the builder’s intended use for each room. Those are just suggestions anyway - not rules. You don’t show where that small table in kitchen is but I’d just make sure it’s going to work with a high chair & 3 chairs & then with 4 chairs. Otherwise, I might try to just have a smaller dining table for your main eating area in this DR- assuming this dining room you show is open to kitchen. Then you could change the kitchen eating area to some family use. If you do convert the dining room to play room, consider adding a comfy recliner or love seat & a lamp so you can sit & read while kids play or even more important, a parent & 2 kids can sit on it while parent reads to kids.
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Hi Susan! That seems like a really long room- def. a challenge. Do you feel like you can spilt it?... let’s say the sitting area toward the window, and the dining toward the kitchen/bar? If that’s possible, then I sketched out an idea... Swing the sofa to the center as the divider. Either use the sofa you have (it may be too large/wide for now, scoot it to the left side) or find a two cushion love seat. The coffee table in front. The rocker in the corner. Move the charger from the entryway to the right side wall... (that cleans up that entry too). The dining table- if round now- might work in the dining space. Personally I love stools at bar height spaces, and they take up less space visually. The entry area with the sconces and the mirror will be less cluttered... maybe find a low seated storage bench? I didn’t see much in the playroom area- but that beautiful ladder shelf could work in the sitting area, maybe? If not, I’d at least move it away from the window a bit, better spacing. Maybe? ...just some ideas! I’m working on the kids room myself... and a wine bar area... and a library... and a guest room... and an office!! So doing a LOT of idea work too!
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Lovely view. I think the bed and the crib are in the best places already. Try moving the tea getting ready station under the window behind your desk. Or on the end of your desk near the window. That way it is out of the way of you and the little one. Place the babies changing station/dresser along the same wall as crib, where the soft chair is now. Move the soft chair in front of your desk under the window at an angle facing view out slider and room. Put a beautiful rug in front of the slider, it will delineate the play/lounging space in front of desk. Properly use (one or more depending on your needed amp load) high quality power strip with surge protection for the computer and other office equip (mounted on the desk not under it for safety) and turn them all off before bed. https://shedheads.net/power-strip-buyer-guide No or a very limited number of plants and only on a desk or dresser not on the floor in pots.
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Rho Dodendron
5 months ago
"Is this stupid to giving up the dining room space? "

Giving up a dining room space that you rarely use VS a playroom that will be used every day for the next 5,6,7 years? not stupid at all.
eld6161
5 months ago
We had an L- shaped dining/ living room. We used it as play space and brought in a folding table and folding chairs when we had guests.

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