Children only

How do you design a dream playroom for the kids in a basement that the whole family uses? By calling on some clever and creative ideas! Raising the floor defines the kids’ own space and, by adding plenty of storage, colourful decor and comfy furnishings, you’ll create a special, bright area that your children will love.

Project guide service
Paint calculator
Colour it!
Related Projects
Page 1/1
Shelving with a splash!
Just like the park
Snuggle up with a book
Centre stage
Tidy toys
Dressing up lighting

Shelving with a splash!

Dolls, soft toys and storybooks look quite at home on these enchanting wavy shelves. Painted lime green against the orange backdrop, they create a vibrant contrast that echoes the children’s constant activity and provides imaginative storage space. A clothesline strung just beneath the shelves allows budding young artists to peg up their pictures, livening up the space and providing an attractive alternative to the traditional bulletin board. A few carefully positioned spotlights highlight this practical, decorative corner.

Just like the park

On rainy days, when the kids can’t get to the park, they need somewhere to burn their energy, and this play area will brighten up even the dullest days. No arrivals will go unnoticed in this "park" — the stairs have been replaced by a slide! Brilliant, when you think about it! Here, the slide is firmly attached to the mezzanine above and to a wooden base below, which is painted with a bright-green grass motif. Long grass has been painted on the bottom of the slide, too, continuing the realistic outdoor theme. If you don’t have a mezzanine, a games area entirely at ground level or a pit of plastic balls are also great alternatives. Hours of fun ahead!
To continue the playground theme, little ones will love this swing, which is firmly fixed to the ceiling joists. All you’ll need are two sturdy ropes, an orange-painted board for the seat, and two strong hooks. Dangling from one of the ropes, Chimp seems to be inviting his friends to play and join in the fun. If you don’t have enough swinging space, you can hang a suspended wicker chair or a hammock, where children can sit for a quiet moment or read.

Snuggle up with a book

A curved seating area set amongst the greenery, a pretty mural painted in bright primary colours on the orange walls, and a few soft cushions make an ideal corner for youngsters to lose themselves in their favourite fairy tales or comic books. Similarly, lots of coloured floor cushions, a bench or small sofa would also make a great place for them to sit and rest, hang out with their friends, or maybe even do homework.

Centre stage

This portable wooden castle can be a puppet theatre, dolls’ house, or even a hideout depending on the moment — the possibilities are endless! To make the castle, we used very strong cardboard and cut the sides to the desired shape, with windows and an opening in the front panel. We painted it royal blue all over, using white paint to create the light effects. Grass was then painted around the base to blend with the rest of the area. Kids will love this prop, which gives their imagination full rein, while adding a romantic touch to the decor. If your children prefer painting, cooking or playing store, you could replace the castle with a small table and chairs, a counter with cash register, or a mini kitchen with space for storing plastic utensils.

Tidy toys

The free space under the raised floor is optimized by creating spacious, easy-to-reach storage compartments. The doors are made from simple wooden panels painted in the same green as the podium, with holes cut out for handles. Building blocks, balls, dolls, cars and trucks and all those other small toys can be quickly stashed away at the end of the day. An ingenious storage solution for instant tidying!

Dressing up lighting

To add soft, diffused light to an otherwise dark corner, we chose to jazz up the ceiling fixture by creating a column of light. The effect was achieved by sewing a cylinder of cream sheer organza and fixing it around the lampshade. Pretty, original and easy-to-make. All in all, a very bright idea!
There are all sorts of ways to create a basement play area that your kids will really enjoy. Give walls a new lease of life with a coat of paint, make use of fabrics and leftover pieces of wood, or try adapting outdoor items to indoor use to achieve a fun, cheerful atmosphere that will suit your kids down to the ground. Have fun and use your imagination — go on, impress them!
Page 1/1