How to Design an Art Room Playroom & Our Art Room Playroom

Apr 27

Our kid’s playroom has morphed into many things. First it was a hybrid extra guest room/nursery. Then it was a guest room slash my Poshmark reselling room. Then it was just a playroom. Now it is an art room playroom. And here is where I think it will remain for quite some time.

I’ve spent a lot of time rearranging and organizing their art room playroom. It’s taken some time to get it to where it is today. We’ve upgraded their kid’s table to a larger table to provide more room for their materials. I sold or gave away toys that were hardly played with or didn’t inspire creative play (puzzles, tangrams, lacing cards, board games). I also had to get better organizing bins to fit the art materials better.

Long story short, my kids spend hours in this room cutting paper, coloring, building, laughing, and feeling proud of the things they are doing.

WHAT IS AN ART ROOM PLAYROOM?

An art room playroom is a cozy space where children can play and create. An art room playroom fosters autonomy, independence, perseverance, problem solving, and creativity. Children have the ability to choose which materials to use and what to play with. They learn to get toys and tools on their own and how to take care of their materials. When something doesn’t work like a structure keeps falling down or the glue isn’t sticking right, they gain the stamina and endurance to keep trying different solutions or strategies. Maybe tape works better or they may realize they need a bigger base for their structure. When they have exposure to different types of materials they become more creative and inventive. There are no boundaries for what they are capable of and an art room playroom provides them a safe place to design, create, fail, and try again. My daughter recently made hair clips out of clothespins, paper, twistables, and glue!

HOW TO SET UP AN ART ROOM PLAYROOM

STEP 1: Donate or sell any toys that do not inspire creative play or that are no longer played with.

STEP 2: Use shelving to display materials. This could be wall shelving, a bookcase, or a tiered rolling cart.

STEP 3: Make everything kid friendly. If necessary, add a stool. Kids should be able to get materials or toys themselves.

STEP 4: Use bins and baskets. For art materials I prefer clear bins so kids can see what is in them. You could also label bins with words and pictures like this ⬇️.

STEP 5: Use wall hooks and ceiling hooks. Wall hooks are nice for hanging paint jackets, extra clothing (sweatshirts, jackets etc.), or hanging projects (necklaces, hats, mobiles).

STEP 6: Keep similar items in the same area. All art materials should be near each other as well as similar toys placed together.

STEP 7: Add a place to display artwork. Use a cork board, tape to the wall, or make a wire line with clothespins. A display shelf is nice for constructed projects.

After you’ve set up your space, don’t be afraid to move things around… again 🤪. I’ve taken down shelves and moved them around so many times. It’s only after I’ve been able to use the new setup for a bit, that I sometimes discover an item would be better in a different location.

WHERE TO GET FURNITURE AND ORGANIZING MATERIALS

I like to look on Facebook marketplace for furniture first. Facebook marketplace is where I found the barristers bookcase or lawyer’s bookshelf. I also found the vintage-esque little bookshelf on FB marketplace. My black rolling cart came from Target.

I used to use tin cans for art materials. I liked them because they were free! However, after a while, it was hard to fit all the cans on the rolling cart we were using so I started using the Brightroom medium plastic trays from Target. They are actually in the bathroom section but they are the perfect size! Plus they are clear and stackable.

The other bins I use are clear, stackable, mini crayon boxes from Michaels. They are nice for smaller items like sequins, gems, googly eyes, pom poms etc.

We use a 2’ x 4’ Lifetime folding table from Costco. I like this one because it is easy to clean and the legs are adjustable. This way the table can grow with the girls. Also, if we need an extra table for another use we can grab this one.

I’ll also check the thrift stores for wicker baskets, plastic bins, trays, furniture, and art supplies.