Once you have children you enter the confusing spiral of constantly wanting them to have more toys so they have a new material to explore and interact with...but then there is the problem of what to do with all those large and sometimes unattractive toys once you get them.
When we moved into our new home a few months ago I made the mistake of thinking that I could have a "toy corner" in our new living room and still have the rest of the room look polished and chic - every time I walked into that room all I saw were those toys staring me in the face!
So we moved the toys downstairs for good and we are now using our downstairs level as a playroom, but it also needs to function as a family room.
To incorporate my daughter's play space into the rest of our family room decor I have picked up a few pieces that I believe blend her toys and books with the rest of the space in an attractive way.
First we bought this bookcase from Crate and Barrel...
When we moved into our new home a few months ago I made the mistake of thinking that I could have a "toy corner" in our new living room and still have the rest of the room look polished and chic - every time I walked into that room all I saw were those toys staring me in the face!
So we moved the toys downstairs for good and we are now using our downstairs level as a playroom, but it also needs to function as a family room.
To incorporate my daughter's play space into the rest of our family room decor I have picked up a few pieces that I believe blend her toys and books with the rest of the space in an attractive way.
First we bought this bookcase from Crate and Barrel...
I am a big fan of this bookcase! Most toy storage solutions include multiple baskets and a bookcase, and are usually upwards of $300 once you buy all the components for the storage system. Like this one below...
One of the things I like so much about the Shift Bookcase from Crate and Barrel besides the low price is that the shelves are at varying levels, with some being high enough to store my daughter's tall toys. Most bookshelves cannot accommodate very large toys, and picking the toys off the ground and putting them on the shelf instantly neatens up our space.
For all of my daughter's smaller toys we are using two of these storage ottomans from Target...
Buying two of these ottomans was a bit of a splurge for us, even given their low price, but I believe it was a great investment as they double as both storage and seating when we have friends over for a play date.
As you can tell from the picture above this room is still a work in progress, but when it is complete I will share photos here.
In the meantime I plan on buying a few lamps to put on top of the bookcase for extra lighting...
As you can tell from the picture above this room is still a work in progress, but when it is complete I will share photos here.
In the meantime I plan on buying a few lamps to put on top of the bookcase for extra lighting...
An acrylic tray that gives the look of lucite for less to hold drinks and snacks...
And to cover up those bare walls I plan on framing images from some of my daughter's favorite books like is shown here on Apartment Therapy...
Do you have any clever ways to elevate the look of your child's play space for less?
