Playroom turned Game Room/Lounge
April 6, 2009
We are fortunate enough to have a bonus space in our home. When we were first married, we used this space as a formal dining room. When the munchkins were born, we gave up our formal dining room to have a toddler playroom, rather than have their toys scattered all over the house. (I stayed up late one night painting it butter yellow and celery green. I blame the hormones because pregnancy will make you do some crazy things.) Playskool ruled this roost for several years, until I decided to take the space back.
Here’s the before (notice the exhausted Dad):
Here’s the after:
Here’s the story:
The whole goal was to create a more mature space that would multitask as a place for the kids to entertain themselves and friends with games, puzzles, movies, art projects, and eventually, be a place to do homework. I had to blend two wood tones as well: maple and walnut.
The first thing that had to go was the pastel paint job. I chose an earthier color to compliment the rest of the house. It’s a tan based mustardy shade of green called ‘Beachwalk’ by Behr. The window wall is painted an entire shade darker. The rug is a pale green, very soft chenille from Home Decorators.
The next big project was the Map Wall. National Geographic makes a map of the world in “earth-tone” colors instead of the traditional red/blue color scheme as seen in most classrooms. It was $99, and this map covers a 10 x 6.5 ft space. When you consider the price of art for an entire wall, this was relatively cheap. Instead of applying adhesive to the back like wallpaper, I stapled it to the wall with a stapler, then trimmed it in a moulding from Home Depot that I spray painted chocolate brown to form a frame around the edges. I had it cut with a chop saw and applied it to the wall with a nail gun.
I think this map would also make a great backdrop to any guest room, office, kid’s room, or basement wall. It is educational and quite a conversation piece for all who enter.
I spray painted a $5 iron grill and some letters to create a wall compass.
Next, I hung a no sew valance (see this other post), and spray painted some white $2 letters from Michaels. (I applied painter’s tape to the edges to give them a two toned look.) The paint color is Cinnamon from the American Accents collection by Rustoleum.
I dressed up some standard 2 x 4 ft. corkboards with hot glue and chocolate colored ribbon to blend the two wood tones. The boards provide for a rotating art display, and these inexpensive cabinets keep movies, games, and supplies organized. The orange art boxes and magazine (book) holders are from The Container Store.
The green legged, drop leaf table with the walnut wood top is from Target ($100 on clearance). The parsons chairs I’ve had for years, and they are from Ballard Designs – slip covered in their latte velvet.
On the opposite wall is a shelving system we’ve had since we were first married ten years ago, when maple wood was all the rage. It works well to organize their puzzles, toys, instruments, fuzzy friends, blocks, and other games. Someday soon we will get a more modern TV, and perhaps a darker wood shelving system.
I really like the extra large clothesline style clips for art display, and someday they will be used for the kids’ game or school schedules. I picked those up at Pottery Barn last year. The stacking lime green baskets are from Target ($3 each).
This ‘Melissa and Doug’ brand solid wood tree house is a favorite in our family, complete with rope ladder, swings, and a trap door.
On the north wall (opposite the window) is a stacking unit from The Company Store. The bright colored bins are from the Land of Nod. That’s another earth-tone map of the United States from National Geographic.
The children help keep everything organized with these homemade labels.
The extra floor pillows come in handy when guests arrive or for movie night.
The sofa is bone colored leather from Jennifer Convertibles. It folds out for overnight guests or impromptu slumber parties.
The coffee table was a floor sample – it provides more storage, and another place to play, or have snacks.
The whole family now uses this room. With the more mature color scheme, it can be updated very simply through the years with age appropriate belongings.
[April 23rd Author’s Note: This room can also be seen featured on Young House Love and on Apartment Therapy’s OhDeeDoh]
Love it! You did an amazing job. I love the world map idea. Thank you so much for sharing.
I love your room, but one thing confuses me.
Why would you suggest that the map would be appropriate for a boy’s room but not a girl’s room?
I am baffled that a map of the world is considered gender-specific.
I swear, you must be another twin I’ve found in blogland. I LOVE this room!! I’m in the process of changing our loft to our son’s toy room. It has been SO fun! I’m almost done but now you’ve given me another idea. GREAT.
I also LOVE this room! Where did you get the pillows/fabric for the pillows? I must have them! Thanks for sharing.
I’m a new reader via This Young House and I love what you’ve done with the room. It’s at once grown up and elegant but also so down to earth and playful. Fabulous job!
Camilla, http://www.hyggenook.com
Love this room! Can I ask where you found the iron grill for the compass?
Hi Anon,
That grill was from Joann’s Fabrics – I found it for $5, and taped off the green sections to preserve the color, and spray painted the rest of it. Then I added some small letters for “direction” that I found at Michaels.
What a great transformation! Wouldn’t it be fun to cover your “explore” letters with fun paper like your inspiration letters form the antique market?!
This is absolutely incredible! I love everything about this room! You have integrated the perfect mixture of class, comfortableness, and practicality! It’s adorable!
Wow, amazing. How long did this project take you? I would love to know more about your planning process…
I’m here from One Pretty Thing. Wow! I am completely impressed. I just wish I had a house full of children, or even one anymore, to create a playroom. I love this so much!!
Very nice.
What a terrific space for your family to enjoy!! I really really like this a lot–you did a great job!
~ Sarah
Fantastic! I’d sort of like to steal the map idea for our living room.
Great playroom makeover … makes me want to run upstairs and revamp our gameroom. Thanks for all the fun ideas.
BEAUTIFUL!! I am re-doing my playroom soon and you have some GREAT ideas here.
Love it all. I’m very impressed with how you made it all work together, even with all the different wood finishes. That’s no easy job! It’s beautiful.
I am dying to redo our playroom and this is totally inspiring!
We used to have that little tyke sofa! I’m sure I’ve got a picture of my husband sleeping on it, too!
The map is amazing. Nice job.
~Heather
My map just came via UPS today (thanks for tipping me off to the sale) and I can’t wait to put it up! I noticed it comes in pieces, so hopefully I can line everything up correctly
Thanks again for this wonderful posting. I have linked to it in a round up of great craft projects!
Hi there! So we are in the process of putting our map up and we were wondering since it comes in 3 pieces how did you get the middle edges to lay flat? I know you said you stapled it up but did you staple the pieces together as well?
Thanks for such a wonderful idea……just love your blog!
Wow! I'm at a loss for words. This actually deserves to be featured in Apartment Therapy! or their version for baby nurseries at Ohdeeoh (sp?).
I'm at a travel wanderlust right now and this just fits right in!
Oh my gosh, I'm so happy to have found you!! I love love this, and it is really just so inspirational!
Hi Kate! I'm catching up on some of your old posts~ I've always dreamed of having a gargantuan map in a family room/playroom and love that you gave the link and everything. Thank you! Now, I just need a room to put it in
Love the warmth and functionality of this room. As always, fantastic!
I'm completely in love with it! I discovered your site thanks to Kimba at A Soft Place to Land and I'm so glad I did! This room is a complete inspiration and totally took my breath away at first glance. Thanks for all the details!
[...] 2006. The coffee table was a floor sample from Jennifer Convertibles that used to sit in the kids’ playroom. It was $89. The plywood and paint was $30. Total for my media center? $317 [...]
Wow! This room is amazing! I wish that I had even 1/10th of your decorating skills.
Happy SITS day!
I love the map-my hubby would like it as well! I think I’ll try to sell the idea to him for his office–or what the heck, get it for Christmas. Happy SITS day!
AMAZING!!!!!! I am not by any means a DIY girl, except for my brief try with blogger DIY. You are just amazing. Happy SITS day!
I’m trying to create a slight masculine feel in our home office and love your look! Would you mind telling me what the wall color is?
[...] #4 Playroom Transformed [...]
I love how you transformed this playroom into a tranquil lounge room for adults and a place of wonder for children! The world map and compass encourage learning and the word “Explore” on the wall really ties together the theme. I also love the relaxing color schemes and modernly comfortable pillows…awesome job on this fun room for the entire family!
Hi! I love this room and I am thinking of incorporating the map in my family room. Did this come in 3 sheets, or was it a single sheet? Thanks!
Love, love, love it!! You are such an inspiration! Where did you get the letters for the homemade labels?
I was looking at pottery barn for those giant clips and i do not think they still have them. Did you get them from PB Kids? and do you know where I could find them?
I love this room. SO many great ideas. I wondered what the name of the fabric you used for the floor pillows. I have been looking for a stripe with those colours for a while. Thanks!
[...] Here’s a glimpse of the wall from last year’s post about the map room: [...]
awesome re-do! I love it, and I bet they do to!
I love this room! It looks grown-up friendly, yet totally kid-centered. My favorite part is the wall-sized map. Can’t wait to use your inspiration when our basement is finished! Found you through Young House Love.
[...] few months ago, I repainted the kids playroom a pale green color. It’s a combination of the leftover BM ‘Camouflage’ from the [...]