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

[AnythingsPossible]

Could you move the changing table so that it is against the wall, not hanging out over the corner? Possibly turn it, and put the tall cabinet against the corner of your wall where the changing table currently is.

Size is hard to tell in pictures, would you have enough room to place the two 9 cubby shelves back to back by the window. The same way you have the 6 unit now. They would be a little higher the window level, I would then put the kitchen on one side and the work bench on the other.

If you don't need all the shelving, I would repurpose it somewhere else in the house. Where the tall bookcase is, you could move your reading corner there, hang a canopy from the ceilieng(sp?) and put the chair under that with the shelf next to it. Possibly turn the shelf so that it faces into your kitchen area, then you could place the infant things behind the book shelf.

You could take the lego table and place it where the book shelf currently is, and possibly place another one of the large infant items between it and the changing table.

I would turn the table and run it the long way down the room.

So, I don't have an idea for the tall shelf and short shelf, and the ideas I have may not work size wise, but from the look of things, that is what I would try

[Meeko]

Rugs would define different areas and yet pull the room together and add warmth and color.

I love the dark woods...also adds to the warm feel. I have never liked the "institution" feel of some day care facilities (mainly centers). I love the look and feel of a cozy room for kids.

I have this rug in my playroom. The kids like to sit on the circles.

[Crazy8]

Rugs would define different areas and yet pull the room together and add warmth and color.

I love the dark woods...also adds to the warm feel. I have never liked the "institution" feel of some day care facilities (mainly centers). I love the look and feel of a cozy room for kids.

I have this rug in my playroom. The kids like to sit on the circles.

I am definitely getting some rugs but didn't want to buy any until I have an idea of where the furniture is going - so I can get sizes to fit.

[Crazy8]

Could you move the changing table so that it is against the wall, not hanging out over the corner? Possibly turn it, and put the tall cabinet against the corner of your wall where the changing table currently is.

Like one of these:

or


1st won't work because I'm right handed and need to change on that side - cabinet is in the way. 2nd I like but all I'm doing is taking up MORE space on that 9 ft. wall and then having that little wall wasted because the cabinet has to open there.

Size is hard to tell in pictures, would you have enough room to place the two 9 cubby shelves back to back by the window. The same way you have the 6 unit now. They would be a little higher the window level, I would then put the kitchen on one side and the work bench on the other.

The 9 cubbies are too tall to put in front of the windows like that (blocks too much light, etc.). I could do it with 2 6 cubbies but if both "big" toys are on that window wall I am afraid of what the long wall (the focal point wall) is going to look like with a bunch of little stuff.

If you don't need all the shelving, I would repurpose it somewhere else in the house. Where the tall bookcase is, you could move your reading corner there, hang a canopy from the ceilieng(sp?) and put the chair under that with the shelf next to it. Possibly turn the shelf so that it faces into your kitchen area, then you could place the infant things behind the book shelf.

I will get rid of any shelves I don't need - one cubbie unit is already stolen from my DS's toys just to see how it works, LOL!

I will have to play around with some of your other suggestions, THANKS so much for taking the time to give some ideas!!!! I think I just need new eyes on this and of course the problem is if I change one thing it means changing a few others, so if one works I have to make the others work too!!

[Crazy8]

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

the train table is square so not sure I know what you mean??

[jen2651]

For those looking for different bookshelf options, I did the rain gutter bookshelves (as well as a front facing wood shelf) and we rotate our focus books on there as they are within easy reach of all the kids.



These aren't mine, but a picture from google. They are really, really easy and cheap to make, and look super pottery barn-ish!

[Childminder]

Try backing your book holder up to the set of shelves and jutting it out from the wall with the book area facing the changing area. Move your kitchen items closer and move those shelves toward the kitchen a little to give more space for the square table that is moved to the wall and will still be open on three sides. Or jut the large shelf out from the wall to divide the room where you have the shorter one and put the short one in front of the window.

If I had the measurements and layout of your room and equipment I would love to draw you a floor plan. I am always doin it for someone. I used to work at a interior design store.

[Crazy8]

Try backing your book holder up to the set of shelves and jutting it out from the wall with the book area facing the changing area. Move your kitchen items closer and move those shelves toward the kitchen a little to give more space for the square table that is moved to the wall and will still be open on three sides. Or jut the large shelf out from the wall to divide the room where you have the shorter one and put the short one in front of the window.

If I had the measurements and layout of your room and equipment I would love to draw you a floor plan. I am always doin it for someone. I used to work at a interior design store.

Where have you been all my life???? ::

I drew up a little floor plan, even made the pieces to scale - this is the stuff the way it was originally.
Oh, and I turned the gate around so it opens out now so ignore that in the picture!



Window wall is 12 feet (30 inch on one side, 35 on the side by the gate)
Long wall is 16'8"
Short opposite wall is 9 feet but then you have about another 24-30" on a slant along the gate (that is why the sling bookcase is angled that way)
opening to dining room gives a tiny 13" wall on one side and a 30" wall on the other side (where the changing table is)

I think I've come up with a need for these 7 "areas". Need some floor space but not as big as it was before. I don't want to be walking thru a maze of furniture, you know?
1 - big table / craft cabinet (should be near each other)
2 - dramatic play area (kitchen, workbench, dress up)
3 - block/train table area
4 - reading area (bookcase & chair)
5 - regular toys (can possibly incorporate into dramatic play?)
6 - toddler toy area (toddler rocker, that little house thing, etc.)
7 - changing table & cabinet (pretty much needs to be on the wall where it is so that it isn't something you see as soon as you walk in but can be moved if its still semi-hidden).

[Childminder]

This is what I came up with

I like the second one the best at least on paper.

~$e layout 1.doc
~$e layout2.doc

[Crazy8]

I like the second one the best at least on paper.

[ATTACH]538[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]539[/ATTACH]

I can't seem to get these to open.... would love to see what you came up with!!!!

[Childminder]

One more try

Nope won't do it. I'll get my camera and try to get a photo of it.

[Crazy8]

a few new pics now that most toys/stuff are moved back into the room.... going to have to bolt everything to the walls this week so was hoping to come up with a better layout but can't figure anything else out that works and still looks good (yes, the way it looks is almost as important as function, LOL).

view when you walk in:


Block/train area and Dramatic Play area behind it:


table, art cabinet, etc. behind dramatic play:


changing table area (area I try to keep hidden!):


reading area, bins hold mostly baby toys


biggest issue is no space for a toddler area (see misc. bigger toddler toys all over), I have a little extra room on both sides but can't find a way to get that space all together to make a toddler area.

also afraid the "play" space is not big enough now that it's sectioned off but that was also kind of the point - to not have one big play area to make one giant mess in, right??? ::

so far my 2 dcb's and my 2 ds's love it, but it will be different once I have a full house in September again (my 2 will be in school, other kids will be starting).

and yes, I will be adding rugs and things to the walls - just want to make sure I have a definite layout first!!!!!

[SilverSabre25]

I like it! The only thing I don't think looks so good is the cabinet in front of the changing table. Could you get something to hang on the walls to store the diaper supplies in? I have one of these that works very nicely; it holds a couple days worth of diapers per kid and I store the extras elsewhere.

Another suggestion is you could get some nice bright fabric, or something to cover the back of the bookshelf I can see in the picture with the table (third from the top)

[Childminder]

Little Diamonds?

If this doesn't work I give up:confused:

[Crazy8]

I like it! The only thing I don't think looks so good is the cabinet in front of the changing table. Could you get something to hang on the walls to store the diaper supplies in? I have one of these that works very nicely; it holds a couple days worth of diapers per kid and I store the extras elsewhere.

Another suggestion is you could get some nice bright fabric, or something to cover the back of the bookshelf I can see in the picture with the table (third from the top)

I HATE that thing for the diapers too. :: Originally I had a bigger 24" cabinet - its like the one I have for art supplies now (you can kind of see it behind the changing table still in the corner of my dining room). I was trying to make more space so went with that little 12" thing but I do hate it, LOL!!! I have a lot of kids in diapers so liked having the bigger cabinet.

I planned on covering the backs of all the cubbies/shelves with thin plywood and maybe putting some preschool posters on them. In that one spot where the toddler toy is near the table I thought of putting a magnetic chalkboard up for those fridge magnet toys, etc.