40 Imaginative Playroom Ideas – Fun Playroom Decorating Tips

Designed by Dane Austin, this playroom in a modern home is extra playful and kid-friendly, but it also stays true to the overall design objective throughout the home. “It was very important to the homeowners that we stay true to the home’s natural wooded surroundings,” Austin says—so there are plenty of earthy materials throughout. With clever storage cubbies, a modern crafting table, and striking artwork, everyone will be happy!

Place a pretty clothing rack in the playroom to keep dress-up costumes and props organized. This way, they’ll be just as easy to put away as they are to pick out. We’re loving how April Tomlin added little house structures to make games even more immersive.

In this play gym, designer Darryl Carter added swings and a basketball hoop for a crew of growing boys. Being able to get in real exercise is a major plus, especially in the cooler month when hauling to the playground requires a bit more effort.

There’s just something therapeutic about making a mess, isn’t there? This playroom designed by Kiki Slaughter includes drapes that enhance privacy and provide a very exciting canvas for scribbles.

This curtained stage, designed by Phillip Sides, adds drama to everything from guitar practice to spontaneous productions. If your kids love music and the performing arts, consider setting up a similar space that can double as a rehearsal and performance arena (those curtains and wall-to-wall carpeting help absorb noise for a makeshift “soundproof” room.

Instead of putting a mattress down on the lower bunk platform, design firm Marsh & Sea turned it into a dedicated “play zone.” The warm wood and crisp white paint create a solid foundation, and though each piece feels kid-friendly, it proves that even the tiniest of spaces can still make room for playtime.

Decorate from a kid’s perspective, especially if your little one is still little—like literally get on your hands and knees to see what height their toys and furniture should reach. Even the artwork in this cute playroom designed by Regan Baker is scaled at a lower level to accommodate kids.

A converted garage by LH Designs has a wall storage system for activities and toys. If you can park on the street or have enough space in the garage for a separate play space, take note!

Once brimming with the client’s books, this wood-paneled library was converted into a playroom by designer Bruce Shostak, who added hot pink, turquoise, and raspberry accents to make room for some younger inhabitants.

We all know that children love places where their imaginations can run wild, so design with this quality in mind! Brittney Bromely installed a classic wallpaper in a sunny yellow hue and applied it to the ceiling for a fully immersive experience.

When the play space doubles as a bedroom or might need to be repurposed into a family room, office, or anything else, use storage furniture and decor that will be timeless enough to go with the flow. In this sweet children’s room designed by Alexandra Kaehler, storage bins with scalloped linens and a brass étagère will last for years to come.

Even the hardware in this playroom designed by Hilary Matt is fun and kid-friendly! Opt for fun polka dot knobs like these on both drawers and cabinets for cute design upgrades that won’t require a ton of money and effort, or eat into the floor space.

Designer Ariel Okin embellished this room for her daughter with Farrow & Ball paints green ground and citron in a wipeable modern emulsion finish to relieve the stress of discovering stray markings on the walls. Piles of cushions make the room cozier and allow for floor time.

For her family’s historic Nantucket summer home, designer Elizabeth Georgantas drew inspiration from the island’s seafaring roots to create a lower-level playroom filled with nautical details like a rope bridge, porthole-shaped cubbies and an overhead star map.

For a top-floor playroom in a Manhattan brownstone, designer Jenny Vorhoff of Studio Riga used an eggshell paint finish on the trim, which hides little fingerprints better than a flat or matte finish and is easier to clean.

Faced with a “weird, unusable eave” in an upstairs sitting area, Elizabeth Georgantas decided to turn the space into a mountain-themed hideaway by lining it with a forest photo mural. Kids can throw boulder-shaped rocks through the “Swiss cheese” holes in the wall.

Elsewhere in the house, Georgantas showed off more of her creativity with unexpected materials. Look closely at that bright blue wall—it’s actually covered in Lego baseplates, so the kids can build vertically!

For a client with young children, Tulsa-based Mel Bean designed a playroom with multi-function furniture. The Restoration Hardware Baby & Child playhouse is actually a lofted bed—perfect for sleepovers—while the Moroccan poufs can be rearranged for reading, crafting or lounging.

Designer Bailey Austin Bird didn’t pull any punches for this family’s playroom, covering the floor and walls in a rainbow of hues.

Investing in a stylish ping-pong table will ensure that everyone has fun but it also blends into the space and looks upscale. In this room designed by Emily Henderson, the pin pong table reflects the dark hardwood floors. Just make sure no one ruins it with a game of beer pong (adults-only, of course).