Welcome to our toddler playroom with built-ins reveal! It’s been a LONG time coming. I started this project over the summer, got it about 80% complete, and took a huge break. My parents visiting for the holidays gave me the opportunity to finally finish it. It helped that my mom is an amazing seamstress and willingly sewed my cushions, curtains, and pillows though, Ha! SO grateful for her help! This post will share finished images of the space as well as some in progress shots. For more behind the scenes footage, check my instagram stories under “DIY Playroom.” For a video tour of the space click the video below to watch my YouTube Channel!
Playroom Design consideration #1: Storage
The main thing that was not working for us with our playroom was storage. (The problem in all our playrooms, I believe). We were using an old TV console I built which worked great for a playing surface but forced us into using bins. We all know what young children do with bins of toys. They take them out and dump them. Multiple times a day. It turns your life into a never-ending cycle of tidying up emptied out toy bins and dreaming about throwing all the toys away.
The mess was driving me NUTS. Our playroom is in a sunroom off of the kitchen and main living. All day long I would stare at or clean up the little bins of toys. Not to mention the dramatic play items that were just stuffed into a side of the console and constantly pulled out into a pile.
With that in mind, I went to Pinterest to see HOW people keep the clutter down in playrooms! Somehow I stumbled across a YouTube video by Mr. Build It’s sharing his DIY reading nook built-ins and fell in love! I decided to start with his design and adapt it for our playroom built-ins needs.
Playroom Design consideration #2: Versatility
The other consideration I made was how to create built ins that could grow with our toddler daughter. I knew I wanted this space to be adaptable for the future. When I made my bench measurements, I made sure the seat was at a normal chair seat height. This way we can add a table or footrest in front of it if we need to. It allows us to use this room as a playroom, an eat in kitchen, an office, a homework station, or library. The cabinet that is now the dramatic play closet can have its closet rod easily removed and more shelves added.
It was also important to me to create storage that decreased the amount of clutter visible from the kitchen but still allowed Emme to access her art supplies and games. I previously had the games and art supplies in a high kitchen cabinet and I found that without her being able to access them, she rarely remembered to ask for them and I rarely remembered to pull them out. What’s the point of games and art supplies if you can’t use them?!
Designing the Playroom Built-ins with window bench
The other main reason we wanted a window bench in our playroom built-ins for a play space was simply because we had limited seating before. A mom needs a place to drink coffee and supervise play, people. I also knew I need that bench to have drawers, NOT open spaces for bins (see paragraph above, lol). So, I turned to one of my favorite DIYers, Ana White.
Ana White’s blog actually got me into using power tools years and years ago! She has a great set of plans for a mudroom bench with drawers that used a 2×4 framework instead of plywood. This saves SO much money because we all know a sheet of cabinet grade plywood costs almost $90 right now! Plus, the measurements for her bench was sooo close to what I needed. I modified for my measurements and decided that was the way I would do the bench seat! (THANK YOU ANA!)
Then I just needed to make my side cabinets so I used Mr. Build It’s advice and purchase MDF and Plywood for that, and then did a bunch of research on inset-cabinet doors, lol. We always want to minimize sharp edges in a toddler play space so that was what informed my decision to find a way to build inset cabinet doors from scratch.
Building the playroom built-ins
This was obviously the most expensive and difficult part of the project. In particular, the drawers and cabinet doors were the most difficult for me, (surprise) lol. Our house is notorious for having basically zero plum and level walls so that made everything very challenging. I started by building a 2×4 toe kick platform and got that nice and level to help myself out. That is tied into studs in the wall with 3” construction screws. I did not screw into the floor to allow for expansion and contraction and because we have a floating LVP floor under it.
With that level and done, I tackled the giant cabinet boxes and got the shelves in them added for support. These are 8 ft tall, and with the toe kick they are 8 foot 3.6 inches (I am 6′ tall, lol). There is only a top, middle, and bottom support across the back, and that is where I screwed the cabinet into the back wall at (had not added all of those in my selfie below). I had lowes cut the MDF boards to 16″ strips to fit them in my car, and that is how deep they are. My husband helped me heft those in there after I assembled them and then we attached them to studs and checked my measurements for the bench before I started assembling that.
The AWFUL work of leveling and attaching the drawer slides began after the bench frame was wedged in. I still have one drawer that is a little tight and janky but it was SUCH a frustrating process I eventually gave up perfecting that drawer. Done is typically better than none in my book. The drawer faces on these are basically just frames which is simple and saves on materials! From there, I made face frames for the bench and each cabinet. I screwed the cabinet ones on and I am not sure why I didn’t just nail them. I think I was worried about them unattaching and falling on my daughter?
Finishing Touches
Lastly it was all filling holes, sanding, painting, caulking, and adding decorative trim! Which, admittedly, I should have taken more time to do carefully. 🫣 I added some boards to the top of the bookshelves to add a piece of crown moulding and have them reach the top of my 9ft ceilings. Another painstaking final touch was ripping off the old windowsill. I had to repair my window seams and add caulk everywhere. Then I patch my drywall and painted so that there is no longer anything poking you in the back when you sit on the bench.
The paint I used for the cabinets was a Magnolia Home Cabinet paint that Lowes had. I just used the white base color. Had a great assistant for the painting. 🤣 I decided to leave the bench raw because it has an expensive piece of plywood on it I couldn’t bear painting. LOL. For Decor, I added a simple gallery wall with a few of my daughters paintings, a photograph I took of she and her cousins, and a poster that used to be in her nursery.
The window got a totally new treatment as well. The existing cellular blinds no longer functioned (one of them was stuck in the down position and the other could only go down so far). They were also an aged almond color. I order one new top-down cellular blind from Target who amazingly had one that fit my window like it was a custom job! This is more functional for us because I can let in some light through the top. That allows me to light my kitchen without Emme being blinded by the morning sun. My mom also hemmed some old curtains I had. They matched the ones I already had hanging on the big patio sliding door so that worked great!
Accessory Sources
The shelves have a library of books for reading, a few low-light plants (TBD on if they make it), backstock art supplies, seasonal books packed away, and some extra toys. I got SO lucky I already had all of these IKEA bins in my color because they fit PERFECTLY. I really did not have a spot for them in this house so I was jumping for joy when I realized they fit! That larger seafoam color planter can be found here on amazon (affiliate link). The matte black handles can also be found here on Amazon and I would highly recommend those (affiliate link)! I also used these (not pictured) hooks in here to organize necklaces and play cameras, binoculars, etc and they are holding up amazingly well.
The rugs on the floor are this scalloped gathre mat and a smaller version of the rug that is in my office.
I ordered three cushions from Foam Factory and this fabric from fabric guru to cover them. The fabric is Crypton which is about the best you can do for wear and tear! The floral fabric is a japanese fabric I had on hand from our time living there and I am so happy I saved it! The curtains were hannalill curtains from IKEA years ago that they no longer make in light blue. The last thing I need to do in here is create some drawer dividers for the drawers so they are better organized.
Toy Sources
In my YouTube video, I discuss the things I might have done differently if I could go back in time. Otherwise, this is pretty much it. We love the playroom and are excited for how versatile it will be. Before you go I will list as many purchasable sources as possible. If there is something you have a question about, comment on the YouTube video and I will get back to you!
- Wooden Dollhouse (an easy DIY!)
- Dollhouse furniture
- Babydoll Highchair
- Babydoll (we think these are the BEST, not creepy looking, soft bodies, and smell great lol)
- Play Kitchen
- Play All Day banner
- Cuddle and Kind Deer
- Cuddle and Kind Bunny
Looking for more DIY Ideas?
Check out this list of relevant posts!