• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
If Only April
  • MEET APRIL
  • DIY PROJECTS
    • Kids projects
    • DIY furniture
    • Design plans
    • DIY holiday projects
    • Macrame
    • Transformations
    • Woodworking
  • VIDEOS
  • CONTACT
  • SHOP
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • MEET APRIL
  • DIY PROJECTS
    • Kids projects
    • DIY furniture
    • Design plans
    • DIY holiday projects
    • Macrame
    • Transformations
    • Woodworking
  • VIDEOS
  • CONTACT
  • SHOP
×

Design plans for a kids playroom makeover { + mood board}

Please note, that some of the links below are affiliate links and I will earn a commission if you purchase through those links (at no additional cost to you). Thanks for your support this way.

FacebookPinPrintEmail

Since my kids were little they never really had a playroom. When we lived in a New York apartment our living room was my daughter's playroom. Even when we moved to Connecticut, she still had a play area in the living room. It wasn't ideal, but we made it work. This kid's playroom makeover is so long overdue.

Recently I built my kids a bunk bed, which made it possible for us to move things around and as a result, I've got an office/studio space and kids got a playroom. The playroom was so disorganized and disinviting for so long that I decided to do some changes and do a kid's playroom makeover.

The only condition I have for this room is to be budget-friendly. Basically, I want to spend as little as possible on this makeover. This means I'll thrift some furniture, make decor myself and will get creative. I'll give you a breakdown of all the costs when I'm done.

RELATED POSTS:

TROFAST toy storage hack

How to make an arched bookshelf

Thrifted dresser makeover

Before

the terrifying "before" photo

We used to have a Montessori-inspired toy shelf before. This is in fact my first built ever, you can read about it here. I love the Montessori approach and find it extremely beneficial for kids, but it also requires a lot of time from a parent to be involved. Toy rotation is beautiful and the concept of having toys on trays is also inspiring. We tried it, it worked for us for a while till it didn't anymore. Some changes clearly had to be made.

Our books used to be in the kid's bedroom on the ledger wall-mounted shelves, which I also made a few years back 😀

I stored most of the toys that are not in use in plastic containers in the closet, but with this room makeover I want to make space for all the toys, all the book,s etc so it's contained in one room.

That being said, let's talk about must-haves for this room.

Must-haves for my kid's playroom makeover

  •  a lot of storage
  • bright happy colors
  • a nook for reading
  • Art display

Inspiration for a design

I saw this image online and thought that it would be fun to incorporate that 70s-80s retro vibe into the kid's playroom space. Not sure they'll appreciate it as much as I do, but hey, I'm enjoying the process of it coming together!

I like the "Good vibes only" vibe and planning to incorporate it into the playroom.

It's been so long in the brewing that I really felt I'll be done with it super quickly. Well, not so fast! Since I decided to make most of the furniture myself, thrift some of the pieces, and repurpose what we already had, the process of this makeover taking longer than I expected. Ugh! It's ok though! It's about the journey, not the destination, right?

 

Plans

One of the biggest decisions I need to make is whether I want to make a mural or not. This room was previously my office and there is a mural on the wall that I'll have to cover up! That's exciting! This room will be like a blank canvas for me.

I'll leave it open till I gather all the furniture and see how I feel about the mural then!

When I asked the kids what they want in the room, the only request from my 4-year-old was to have "a bed" haha (I showed her the nugget play couch before and she clearly remembered). She also asked for a pink table! Well, I'll do my best but can't promise anything, kid!

I want this room to look like a furnished room, not like a kid's playroom. Does it make sense? But at the same time to be playful and transmit a retro vibe!

Haha, maybe I'm asking for too much! Let's see!

Color palette

I want this room to feel happy and bright but retro at the same time. It took me a while to decide on a perfect paint color for walls but I found it! It's a "Whisper white" by Behr.

I also absolutely love the combination of Dandelion wish, Vanilla paste, Rasberry smoothie, and monologue. It gives me a happy vibe while still staying girly and retro. I chose to have yellow Dandelion wish as the first main color and Rasberry smoothie for small accents. I might actually paint the tabletop trim for the play table with it as well! I recently thrifted a Nilo lego tabletop from the Facebook marketplace for free! And so excited to bring it back to life!

Mood board for our kid's playroom

I created an inspirational mood board for the kid's playroom in retro style.

I'll be honest with you, I made it mid-progress when I already built a bookshelf and made an IKEA toy storage hack.

I think the posters will really make this place feel retro. See for yourself!

Sources:

  1. Behr paint colors. Read about the exact color above.
  2. Arched bookshelf. I haven't seen anything like this on the market, but you can make it yourself 🙂
  3. Solid Semi-Sheer Curtain Panels. I love the color. It seems like a perfect fit.
  4. The Nugget play couch. I ordered it a few weeks ago so I guess it will take a while till we get it.
  5. 9-drawer dresser. Since I thrifted mine and gave it a makeover I found a similar one for you.
  6. Nilo Lego table. I have only a tabletop and planning to add Harpin legs to it.
  7. Harpin legs. They elevate any piece of furniture and add a modern feel.
  8. IKEA toy storage hack. Read all the details on how to make the same one here.
  9. Heather table lamp. Absolutely love bronze textured base.
  10. Brass cabinet door knobs. I added those for a dresser makeover.
  11. Mid-century tapered legs. I also added them to a dresser to make it look more modern.
  12. Harrison Arc Bronze floor lamp. Absolutely love the look of this lamp, especially the arch.
  13. Good vibes only print. Retro prints will be a final touch to add a retro vibe.

What do you think about this mood board for a kid's playroom makeover? I've been thinking about it for so long that would definitely appreciate your comments and your ideas 😉

xoxo,

April

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Print
« DIY bathtub caddy for a relaxing end of the day
The before + design plans for screened-in porch | One room challenge. Week 1. »
FacebookPinPrintEmail

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Hi, I'm April! I love woodworking and making things! I hope you will stay for a while and get inspired to make something!

More about me →

Popular

  • The progress of Sia's bedroom and my favorite finds for her room
  • 10 LEGO table ideas that kids would be excited about
  • Sia's room makeover moodboard
  • Step-by-step tutorial on how to reupholster a chair

ifonlyapril

DIY single mom | 📍CT
Hi 👋🏻 I haven't done this in awhile so thoug Hi 👋🏻
I haven't done this in awhile so thought I'd introduce myself.

Im a DIYer by passion, art business MA by education. 

I came to USA from Russia 13 years ago. I had an itching urge for adventures 😅

I lived in NYC for the most part and worked at the auction house till I had kids and had to move and adjust to suburban life. 

My passion for DIY started when I had my first baby and saw a Montessori baby gym. So I thought.. I probably can make it too! 

And I did 😅 

When we already moved to CT, I saw a Montessori floor house bed that was well over my budget, so I thought I'd try it out too... 

That's when I got my first power tools as an anniversary gift and the rest was history😂

Now I'm a single mom to 2 little girls (Sasha and Sia) and a beautiful long coat German Shepard puppy, named Drogo (after khal Drogo from GOT😁)

We bought our first house in the summer - a 1900s beauty so I had to switch gears from woodworking and start working on room renovations, to make this house our home. 

The progress is very slow, since life always gets on the way🤦🏻‍♀️ but my motto is progress, even slow is better than nothing. 

I can't wait to get a shed so I can pick up my woodworking projects again. Working out of my porch in the winter is not pleasant 🥶

If you'd like to know me more, sign up for my newsletter in link in bio! ☺️

Thank you for following my journey, now tell me something about yourself! 

#introduction #ifonlyapril
I'll get a cookie if I'll finish this bedroom at s I'll get a cookie if I'll finish this bedroom at some point 🤣 it's moving so slow but progress is good😁  @spoonflower 
#kidsbedroom #diykidsroom #homeimprovement  #ryobi #behrpaint #spoonflower
Three evenings well spent. Amazing DIY project, gr Three evenings well spent. Amazing DIY project, great conversations and now I have a beautiful 3-D book nook on my library shelves😍❤️ @byanavrin #diybooknook #ifonlyapril_diy
Yep, another "progress shot"... although I feel th Yep, another "progress shot"... although I feel the end is near 😁 follow @ifonlyapril to see this room transformation for my little bunny🤗☺️ 
#diyroomtransformation #diymakeover #diykidsbedroommakeover #makersgonnamake #kidsroominspiration #kidsroomdesign
I can't express it in any other words then... I ju I can't express it in any other words then... I just hate it🤷🏻‍♀️#roommakeover #kidsroommakeover #ifonlyapril_diy #ihateprimer #paintingdoors
We all love beautiful "before" and "after" room tr We all love beautiful "before" and "after" room transformations. But truth is... there is a lot of "work in progress" in between 😁 #diyroommakeover #diy #roomtransformation
Haha so here is a thing... I'm not sure how often Haha so here is a thing... I'm not sure how often you wash your hair, but I do it every 4-5 days. And my entire schedule depends on a "hair day"🤣

I'd never do a workout or a messy project if I just did my hair that morning😁 

Making videos every day with fresh hair is quite hard lol 

Now I'm trying out a new thing... I make "lifestyle", nice reels on my hair day and leave all messy projects for "not a hair day" 🙈😁

Can you relate? Or am I the only one?😁
Would you ever do a workout or a messy project if you just did your hair in the morning? 😅 
#dayhairdontcare #dontmesswithmyhair
Haha New Yorkers has seen it all 😅 so who cares Haha New Yorkers has seen it all 😅 so who cares🤣 #hairstyles #hairstylegoeswrong #funny #lifemoments
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Disclaimer

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact
  • Media Kit

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © IfOnlyApril 2023

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!