We made it! The playroom is finished just under the wire.
At the beginning of the New Year, Robert and I made a goal for ourselves that we would have this room cranked out before March. Ha! Crossing this finish line feels pretty awesome.
This space is so very different from the rest of our house, as it should be for a little girl (and another biddy on the way), since it’s a bit more modern and much more colorful than the other rooms we’ve spiffed up so far.
Definitely not quite as colorful as the bright yellow it was before though…
Once we donated the junk, hauled that sofa out (which was just taking up space because Olivia really only used it as a stuffed animal keeper), painted the walls, built some proper storage, and came up with a more sensible flow, this room became the savior of my sanity.
Everything has a place, and I feel like we’re no longer drowning in toys!
Yesterday, I finally worked up the energy to lime wash the fireplace in here too. This playroom actually used to be the living room back when our house was built in the 1960s, but our current living room was an addition built in the 1980s, so that left us with a quirky playroom fireplace.
We didn’t want to totally seal off the fireplace since it’s still in great shape and could be a good selling point one day if we move again, so I just stuck Olivia’s little $10 dollhouse in front of it that I found at the thrift store and fixed up.
(When the baby comes along in the fall, I might attach a metal fireplace screen with alphabet magnets or chalkboard to attach to the front to keep the little one from crawling in, but we don’t need to worry about that yet.)
This corner of the room has improved so much thanks to good ol’ purging and organizing.
I came up with some much needed wall art too so Olivia could make this room feel like it was an expression of her.
On the other side of the room, we had this clunky wall cabinet that we’re guessing used to sit above a desk for an office nook.
But it did us no good at all, so we ripped it down and anchored our DIY Narnia reading nook wardrobe in its place.
And those shelves we built from IKEA bookcases might be the best thing we’ve EVER done to get our house more organized.
These baskets with these toy labels are the bomb-diggity. I tell Olivia to clean her playroom now, and she has it done within minutes because she knows where everything goes! Hallelujah!
Getting a table and chairs in here with plenty of space for creating art projects was definitely the right move too since coloring and Play-Doh is something Olivia does on a daily basis.
There are already so many sweet memories that have been made in this playroom, and I can’t wait to see how it will grow with our little one(s) as the years go on.
But even when this room isn’t organized- when toys are strewn all over the floor and crayons are spilled all over the table and I find slime stuck in my hair, I’m thankful for the crazy chaotic stage of the young years. They go by so quickly, and I’ll be holding on tight for as long as I can.
If you want to know about any of the sources or projects we used in this makeover, you can find them all here: (Some affiliate links are provided below.)
- Wall color: Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee
- Trim color: Benjamin Moore Simply White
- Door color: Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron
- Built-In & Mantel Color: Sherwin Williams Tree Swallow
- Rug
- Table with Adjustable Legs
- Metal Chairs
- Baskets
- Built-In Shelving
- Sugar Mold Marker/Crayon Holder
- Pendant Light
- DIY Narnia Reading Nook
- DIY Lime Washed Fireplace
- DIY Storybook Art
- Large Watercolor Map Art (Discontinued but similar one here)
- Letterboard
- 16″ Square Frames
- Cork Board
- Lion Pillow
- Crown Pillow
- Stuffed Animal Storage Basket
- Lion Art
- Goat/Lamb Art
Apparently this is the year of the kid spaces for us because now that this one is finished, Olivia’s bedroom is next on the list, and then the nursery! There’s going to be SO much cuteness. I don’t know if my mama heart can take it!
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where did you stash all the “big toys”?? chalk board, dolls, etc..??? the room is great for all those little things, but I’m wondering if there’s a big closet that i missed to stash those bigger and bulkier items that just don’t fit in a basket??
We put her doll crib and doll stroller in front of the window beside the fireplace (you can sort of see in one of the pictures). And her play kitchen is beside the reading nook. We got rid of the chalk board easel because it was completely broken beyond repair, and she didn’t really play with it anyway since she prefers to color/draw at a table. We purged a few of the stuffed animals and kept the special ones in a big basket on the other side of the reading nook. Her dolls are in one of the baskets, and her dollhouse is in front of the fireplace. She had outgrown the big stuffed pink chair in the before pics, so we donated that as well. Those were really all of the big toys though.
It’s gorgeous! Great job!
Absolutely beautiful! Special space for a special girl and her Mom and Dad.
Congratulations! Can’t wait to see what you have lined up for a Nursery.
Judy
I. Can’t. Even!!!! It looks sooooo good. Love that fireplace.
This is fantastic! I love how the space is laid out. So organized and functional but also a place where kids can be free to play. Great colour choices too!
Just gorgeous! What a fortunate little girl, she will have so much fun in her beautiful playroom.
The room is really cute. How does Olivia get up into her reading nook? Does she have a step stool?
She’s tall enough to climb up, but she also has a step stool. The wardrobe is anchored to the wall.
Wonderful room! A win-win for both children and adults! What fun the children will have in there for years to come.
Great job! Love the practicality and function, the colors and choices you made bring the room together! She is one lucky girl! Looking forward to seeing her bedroom and the nursery also. Congrats!
What a beautiful room, I love the colors. Great location too for you to keep an eye on her.
Have you thought about putting a piece of sheet rock (or similar item) in the fireplace hole, maybe covered with some cool wallpaper? That would be a nice back drop for the doll house. I love the room.
Christine
Amherst, NH
What a beautiful room, I love the colors. Great location too for you to keep an eye on her.
Have you thought about putting a piece of sheet rock (or similar item) in the fireplace hole, maybe covered with some cool wallpaper? That would be a nice back drop for the doll house. I love the room.
Well,you have knocked it out of the park. The play room is beautiful and so inviting to a child. Olivia and the biddy will have great times playing. I snorted when you called the baby the biddy.
Such a lovely Playroom for Olivia! You and your husband have done a wonderful job! Olivia is going to enjoy this for years!
Lovely! I would’ve been too afraid to use the Tree Swallow color on the mantel, but it looks perfect, especially with the rug.
Lauren it is not only beautifully done but practical too. And here I thought there was no way you could surpass yourself with the last playroom!
What an amazing space for fun and creativity!!! I love the light fixture too, what a beautiful makeover Lauren 🙂
Lauren~
Oh my goodness!!!!!! What do I love in this playroom?…….well everything!!!! Yes! Every. Single. Thing. 🙂 🙂 However, my most favorite thing EVER to date that you have ever done is, hands down, the Narnia Reading Nook. It just captivates my decorating soul. 🙂 Seriously!!! It turned out beautiful, and I am sure your little princess will spend many, many hours reading and playing and dreaming and imagining all sorts of sweet things.
Deb 🙂
Wonderful space! I wish I had a space like this for the grandkids. Do you have a post about limewashing? I’m so curious about it.
Hi Lauri, I sure do!
Here’s the post: https://www.blesserhouse.com/2017/08/diy-lime-washed-brick-fireplace.html
It’s soooo super-darling. Love the Tree Swallow shade and the fireplace looks beautiful.
What a super play space for your growing family.
Ok, tge final decision is in, everything you do is drop dead fabulous. You always get me when I see your email. I can hardly wait to open it, because I know it will be out of this world gorgeous
Can big people play in that room too? Lots of hard work but oh so worth it huh? Congrats on new baby coming, exciting for you all. Fantastic job kids.
Your children are BLESSED to grow up in a room like this. It’s every child’s dream! I love the blue that you picked and the layout is fabulous!
Love this space! So inspiring!
I love how it turned out! I just finished revamping a former dining room into a playroom and know the struggles. 🙂 I LOVE the fireplace. I’m looking into doing a lime wash on mine. I looked back at your first tutorial to see the steps you took and the fireplace in the playroom seems to have more texture than the one in your living room. What did you do different?
Hi Melissa,
I followed the same procedure as in this post: https://www.blesserhouse.com/2017/08/diy-lime-washed-brick-fireplace.html
This time it has more brick color showing through. It just depends on the look you want as to how much of the limewash you want to rub off.
Tell Olivia that I will be over to play soon!
Grandma
What a transformation! I absolutely adore what you did with the armoir!
It looks amazing!! Can you share what line wash color you used on the fireplace? It’s stunning!!
Hi Mary,
Thank you. This is the post I wrote which has everything you need to know.
https://www.blesserhouse.com/2017/08/diy-lime-washed-brick-fireplace.html
Where did you get the chest that has the globe sitting on top???
It came from IKEA a couple of years ago, but sadly they don’t make it anymore. No idea why! I get asked about it a lot.
Could you print those storyboard art pics on like an 8X10 or 5X7 scale if I wanted to put them on a top shelf of my girls book shelf??? I don’t have room to hang above the bookshelf because I have floating shelves with some of their figurines and pictures of my twin girls from when they were infants already above the actual bookshelf! I follow you all the time and love everything! I totally stole everything from your pantry cabinet designs! Thanks for always posting your finds at the end of the blog post for each project! I’ve turned friends on to you!
Hi Rebekah,
You can definitely print them as an 8×10. Just set your printer settings to see if you can shrink it to a 5×7. I am glad you enjoy the blog and thanks for telling your friends!
First of all, it’s amazing!!! You have a gift for tying all the things together, it just is mind boggling!
I have a question on an item in your before photo, as I really like the colors in the blue rug outside this room I that photo. Do you have a source you can share?
Hi Tammy! Thank you so much! Yes, the blue rug link is here: http://amzn.to/2oLAGks
What a fun playroom! Your kids will have so many memories in it! Where is the wood colored pencil holder from? I assume its been repurposed but my little artist is always looking for storage! Great blog, it’s so fun to follow!
Thanks, Brittany! I found the colored pencil holder in an antique shop. It’s an old sugar mold. 🙂 They’re all over Etsy if you don’t have luck finding them in stores.
I love this! Great ideas and I am always a fan of blue and white. 🙂
I Just ADORE the playroom fireplace with the blue mantle. This playroom makes me wish I still had itty-bitties myself instead of all grown up ones.
Oh my goodness!! Love the room and love the Pier One watercolor map! If you ever sell it please let me know! Seriously! 🙂 It would work perfectly in my homeschool room!! 🙂 You do such an amazing job decorating, keep up the good work!! Love your blog!! Blessings!! 🙂
Where did you get the idea for the Narnia wardrobe? It’s amazing!
The idea popped into my head one day. Probably my favorite light bulb moment ever. 🙂