New playroom! LONG post

[cheerfuldom]

We are doing a major overhaul of our playroom. I am so excited. My husband is building a loft play area and some Waldorf inspired playstands/arches.

I have a few questions about other things though.....

What is your reading nook like? I have done a covered baby crib mattress with pillows, small kids sized furniture and also a lower couch. Still havent decided what I like the best. What do you suggest? Keep in mind my age group is not really reading so much as looking at pictures or using the space as a quiet area to get away from the other kids.

I want to do one portion of the wall in chalkboard paint. Am I going to regret this? LOL

What do you suggest for dressup area/storage? Right now I cant decide if I should go with dress up outfits OR fabrics and accessories (hats, etc.). Our selection of dresses is horribly ratty so should I just make the switch to fabrics/play silks only? My own daughters love dressing up but, and I really hate this, they always strip down to put dress up on and I am trying to avoid that! Maybe going to fabrics will the easier way to stop this habit.

Our playroom will have the following:
*loft I cant find a picture similar to what we are doing but it is going to be great!

*reading corner ....need help on this!

*climbing foam items, I already own something similar to this

http://www.creativityinstitute.com/Childrens-Factory-Soft-Tunnel-Climber-CF321-049.aspx

*baby doll area ....would love ideas on this

*dress up area ....needs ideas here

*possibly one wall that is chalkboard paint, I also have a large oil drip pan for magnets and a large mirror, plus a discovery board which has switches and latches on it

*construction area which is currently large cardboard blocks, wooden blocks and duplos

*play kitchen/washer/dryer and accessories

*cars areas, cars of all sorts

*changing table area

*storage area for diaper bags, etc.

*hubby also making desk/art area so it will be one long desk/table top build along one wall. would love other ideas about storage for supplies with this.

*flooring is currently poured painting concrete covered in the foam matting squares, which I hate because it is loud primary colors. Do I have any other options besides purchasing a large area rug? I want the room to be cozy and that concrete floor gets chilly!

besides everything listed above, I have to add storage for a small assortment of kids games and educational items, our little people collection, lego collection, and a small assortment of other toys. I am also purchasing nice quality large rubber animal figurines. We are pretty minimalist so I dont have a whole lot outside of what has been mentioned, not a lot of small random things or mismatched toys, but do you think I am missing any got-to-have toys or activities? We dont have screens or battery operated toys downstairs and also dont eat downstairs. Keep in mind the age of kids is 1 year to 3 year olds almost all the time. I have 4 and 6 year olds that join us outside of school hours but generally it is at max 6 kids ages 1 to 3 so we dont need accommodations for babies or school agers. Is there anything I am totally blanking on that needs to be in this room??? I typed all this out to help me get my thoughts together before planning and appreciate all responses.

[childcaremom]

Our reading nook area is actually 2 waldorf arches together with a playsilk over top. The kids love to hang out in there. I put board books on the shelves and added a few cozy pillows and blankets. If they aren't being used for the reading nook, I have them out in the larger room where they've been puppet theatres, markets, shelving, etc. I love them!

I have area rugs (our floor gets cold, too) so that we can sit on the floor but left some areas bare so the kids could play and build with blocks, etc.

I only have a few accessories for dress up and have a huge selection of playsilks. I have put a few halloween costumes in the mix but mostly the playsilks get used. I have hooks on the wall where the costumes can hang and then the silks are in a bucket on the shelf. Not organized as nicely as it could be but the kids all know where everything is and can access it easily.

I have a long activity table, too and got a wall storage shelf from Ikea. Trovast I think? The buckets are quite small so I wish I had gotten two. I have it hung up out of reach but it would work well down low if you want them to be able to access it on their own.

I have open shelving and use baskets to store items like little people. I also have the larger Ikea storage units with buckets. I prefer the look of open shelving but the Ikea stuff does hold quite a bit and "tidies" up the look.

I love the idea of a chalk wall but imagine that will get messy. I would prefer a magnet wall, my group loves magnets.

Right now, we have:
*reading nook
*activity table
*play kitchen, sink, baby area
*blocks and building
*puzzles
*theme/nature table
*sensory bin
*one of the walls is our 'museum wall' where we hang all of our art. Once it is filled, I send it home.

My group is all 1-3, too.

[llpa]

Our reading nook area is a crib mattress w lots of pillows and low Ikea shelving w The large Ikea leaves hung from the ceiling over top of the mattress. I have also used a blow up swimming pool w lots of pillows inside.

Our areas are reading corner, blocks, housekeeping & babies, trucks and trains, discover/art/science table and sensory bins. I have chalkboards to use but not painted on the wall...hate the chalkdust!

[MarinaVanessa]

About the floor ... I don't know of something "cozy" per say but if you don't like your multi-colored primary color foam mat flooring you can always replace it with black. Not sure if you'd be okay with black but it would be less "busy". I wish they had a dark mocha colored mat but they don't. Lowe's has black ones.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_295099-47189-MB06014_4294742219__?productId=3111467&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar%7C1&facetInfo=