Playroom Coming Along, Can Use Some Input - Please!!

[Crazy8]

Been working on it since Friday... I pulled everything out and painted, DH put the trim along the floor. Then I built all these bookcases/cubbies to try to make more sections in the room. AND everything I thought would work on paper didn't work in the room, LOL!

Please help me come up with a layout that works based on what I have here:



This is a view from my dining room. I have the block table as soon as you walk in the gate from the front door (getting a new slightly smaller, darker wood one Wed.). Those cubbies will be blocks, cars, trains.

Then the top left corner is the kitchen, workbench, dress up bin. Will add a mirror to that wall. The cubbies there will hold all different toys I think.

Right wall has sling book holder and upholstered chair. Then a cubbie wall to block the changing table.

Back of the room (where pic is taken from) has a bookcase/cubbies for things that can be done at the table and the higher shelves will be the paint, etc.

Now... my biggest problems are 1 - that there is just a little "too much" space on both sides of the room - neither is really big enough to make another section. 2 - I have no spot for the baby toys (see a few sitting in the middle of the room there??? I need a little area for them, I always have a baby in the house! 3 - I feel like maybe I have TOO MANY cubbies and 4 - I don't feel like the "reading" area is at all secluded, actually none of the areas are as cubical like as I had thought.

Oh, and my new changing table is on its way... I know this one looks horrible in there!

Should I totally scrap this layout and start over or is there a way to make this work better????

[PitterPatter]

Been working on it since Friday... I pulled everything out and painted, DH put the trim along the floor. Then I built all these bookcases/cubbies to try to make more sections in the room. AND everything I thought would work on paper didn't work in the room, LOL!

Please help me come up with a layout that works based on what I have here:



This is a view from my dining room. I have the block table as soon as you walk in the gate from the front door (getting a new slightly smaller, darker wood one Wed.). Those cubbies will be blocks, cars, trains.

Then the top left corner is the kitchen, workbench, dress up bin. Will add a mirror to that wall. The cubbies there will hold all different toys I think.

Right wall has sling book holder and upholstered chair. Then a cubbie wall to block the changing table.

Back of the room (where pic is taken from) has a bookcase/cubbies for things that can be done at the table and the higher shelves will be the paint, etc.

Now... my biggest problems are 1 - that there is just a little "too much" space on both sides of the room - neither is really big enough to make another section. 2 - I have no spot for the baby toys (see a few sitting in the middle of the room there??? I need a little area for them, I always have a baby in the house! 3 - I feel like maybe I have TOO MANY cubbies and 4 - I don't feel like the "reading" area is at all secluded, actually none of the areas are as cubical like as I had thought.

Oh, and my new changing table is on its way... I know this one looks horrible in there!

Should I totally scrap this layout and start over or is there a way to make this work better????

I'm sorry that I don't have any great advise for u but I did want to say it looks very nice and cozy. U did a great job. I too have a small area and I ended up having to just line the walls around the room and leave the center open. It works out ok I guess as we do need a large area for our circle time but I do envy the sectioned off 'work areas' that a lot of providers have. I still have a book area and a kitchen area etc but they are in a row along the walls.

[Crazy8]

oops, when I sized it down I realized you can't really see it as well. Here's another angle....



I put the diaper cabinet on the small wall to free up space - but as I said, it just doesn't give enough space to do anything with so I moved it back to the other wall so that the changing table doesn't stick out so far - I need that space in front of the table anyway to be able to stand there.

[Crazy8]

I'm sorry that I don't have any great advise for u but I did want to say it looks very nice and cozy. U did a great job. I too have a small area and I ended up having to just line the walls around the room and leave the center open. It works out ok I guess as we do need a large area for our circle time but I do envy the sectioned off 'work areas' that a lot of providers have. I still have a book area and a kitchen area etc but they are in a row along the walls.

If you see my original post that was how mine was originally too - everything along the walls - I was trying to do it different but it just isn't working as well as I planned.

[PitterPatter]

If you see my original post that was how mine was originally too - everything along the walls - I was trying to do it different but it just isn't working as well as I planned.

Either way u have a very nice set up! Can I ask where u got the slotted bookcase? I want 1 of those, I am forver straightening up books because the kids just shove them and then they don't fit or get torn etc. I would love to find a cheap but nice book display unit like yours. Good golly Molly not that YOURS is cheap in anyway I just mean reasonably priced that is LIKE yours. If that comes out any better. sorry its late!

[Crazy8]

Either way u have a very nice set up! Can I ask where u got the slotted bookcase? I want 1 of those, I am forver straightening up books because the kids just shove them and then they don't fit or get torn etc. I would love to find a cheap but nice book display unit like yours. Good golly Molly not that YOURS is cheap in anyway I just mean reasonably priced that is LIKE yours. If that comes out any better. sorry its late!

LOL, I know what you mean - I am all about inexpensive too!! DH is balking at how much I spent this week on this room but I have pretty much gone 5 years without buying much and even that was just when because we moved and I needed new cubbies, etc. to fit the space. My changing table was over 10 years old!!
The bookcase came from One Step Ahead - I think it was $69 but there are some coupon codes floating around to make it a little cheaper. Its not as dark wood as I wanted - its called espresso and I know that is a different shade depending on the mfg. but I'd really call this cherry. Hope it works to get the kids to READ the books instead of dump them on the floor. ::

And thank you for the compliments on the room!!

[CheekyChick]

I LOVE the paint and the tiny chair by the book shelve. Soooo cute. I also like the dark wood shelves. Everything looks great!!!

[SimpleMom]

Looks great! Love that you made the furniture!! Maybe put the diaper table against the wall, section off the kids' table?? So hard to write it out KYou could always see how the kids react with the set up and arrange it as you go. I find that works the best here. As kids go through stages (i.e. climbing) I rearrange as I go LOL. Anyway, beautiful set-up.

[countrymom]

I would put the reading center in the corner where the tall cabinet is, a cozy corner for reading. I would put your table with the kitchen center so the kids can use it when they play. Let me look again

[countrymom]

I would also put the furniture against the wall, I know you had it before but it all depends what you have and where. and I would put the train/lego table where your other table is, this way the kids would use it more. are you getting some area rugs, you can seperate areas with rugs. My stuff is against the wall but seperat in sections so the kids have more room in the middle. I love the color of your walls and furniture.

[mac60]

It looks nice. I love the paint color....can you tell me what it is and who makes it. Very pretty.

[Crazy8]

It looks nice. I love the paint color....can you tell me what it is and who makes it. Very pretty.

thanks, the color is called Haven by Sherwin Williams.

[Crazy8]

I would put the reading center in the corner where the tall cabinet is, a cozy corner for reading. I would put your table with the kitchen center so the kids can use it when they play. Let me look again

I really can't put anything in that corner but the changing table - its the only spot where you won't walk in and see the changing area right away, you know?

I wanted a reading corner and a toddler toy corner but just can't do them - I need more corners, LOL!!! I tried the kitchen & workbench flat against one wall and it was terrible - takes up a good 8 feet of a 16 foot wall and then in front of it was all "dead" space.

[erinalexmom]

could you use the kitchen as a seperator? Like stick it out FROM the wall? It would section your "pretend play" area off and then it wouldnt take as much wall space from your other areas. Just a thought

[erinalexmom]

or flip your train table and put the end against the wall that way kids could get to both sides of it