Organized spaces make me so happy. I tend to function much better when things are organized and I can easily find them. Plus, what is that saying? When mom is happy everyone else is happy right? So let’s make mom happy:)
As part of my monthly inspirational home post with At Home, I am showing you how I organized the kids play room using some of their products. This room also serves as a reading corner, homework station, kids craft area and home office area (So it is sort of a multi-purpose room). One of our kids has started Kindergarten and we needed to get organized for easy access of school necessities and all the papers that have already started to circle in from school. There are yet so many other areas around here that still need organizing because nothing gets all done in one day when you move. At first, I thought I would work on the laundry room/mudroom. In fact, this lovely print was purchased for that reason (laundry room inspo), but then I decided it would be more beneficial to get the this room done first.
Might I be so brave to show you a before? It is actually how it looked when we moved in – we put everything in there until I figured how to organize it. These were all in different kids rooms before so maybe putting them all together like this shows how much junk kids accumulate. And this picture does not even show the boxes of toys still in boxes. Hmmm, I wonder where all these things came from. I thought we got rid off a bunch of stuff before moving. Sigh.
It took a while to get it done because every time I went in to set something up the kids came right behind me and made another mess. I finally decided that enough was enough, got rid of a bunch of stuff and got this room organized. I still need to get rid of some stuff they no longer enjoy. But for now, I love that it is organized and everyone can find their stuff.
Note: What you will not see is a fancy high class room that limits the kids. But what you will see is various organized little corners to accommodate the needs and wants of the kids and that has been working for us. So welcome to the tour. You can find the links to the various items I used from At Home at the bottom of the post including the link to this gorgeous print.
This is my printing corner and other organizational pieces I already had. In our home, a printer is so necessary. I feel like I am always printing something. My husband also uses it when he is not at work and needs to print something, too.
This is the homework and activity corner. Those empty picture frames will be used for displaying kids art or whatever they create on paper. I glued a tiny clothespin unto each one to hold the papers in place.
My kids love the reading corner. That chair is a keeper! Only problem is that it is a struggle to see who gets to sit on the chair. Most times, two will sit on it at a time. That “Dream Big” pillow though. Don’t we all want our kids to have big dreams and to do great things. I thought it was very fitting to include it here. It is not only for bedrooms.
I had another really cute white pillow with pink tassels that I really loved. We had seen it before and my daughter who was with me at the time, loved it, too. But when I went back to purchase it I got side-tracked in the store and forgot to put it in the cart. On that day while I was out shopping, I was also invited to a Back-to-College event with Maria Bailey from Mom Talk Radio and At Home stores. In the process of meeting and chatting with other bloggers in the local area and taking videos and Instagram shots, I forgot all about cute pillow with tassels. “Dream Big” is standing alone and rocking this area, though!!
These large letters make such a statement in this corner. You definitely cannot miss it! They are of two different styles – one plain and the other more rustic. Love them both.
Every kid should have a reading corner, don’t you agree. It is such a great way to encourage reading or watch picture books. Although this little one is in school, we still love to encourage reading at home whether alone or with a parent.
The cute pink and white chevron fabric basket holds a few favorite books. And that little table has got to be a favorite. I found it on sale at half off. When I was carrying it to the register it dropped from the cart and I was so worried that it had broken. It didn’t but it bruised a bit. An additional 10% of the already marked down price was taken off. I love it right next to the widow and reading area. It will hold various school papers that need to be sorted – one drawer for “to do” and the other one for “done”.
The other side of the room is really nothing fancy. Everything has its place over here. But it is not always easy to keep it looking this way. When the kids play, things get all over the room. The good news? It is easy to organize again because everything has a place to call its own.
Here is a sample of their dress-up clothes. I bet they have one of each of Disney’s 12 Princesses dresses and more. And don’t even ask about the shoes – 8 pairs of princess slippers maybe?
The girls love playing dress-up. But between birthday gifts from us and from friends and after Halloween clearance, and a few thrifted ones from earlier on, they have accumulated so much of their play dress-up items. During our recent move, I decluttered some dresses that were falling apart; it might be time to go through them again.
Note: One kid was playing dress-up with a Cinderella gown while I was taking these photos.
Yesterday, I showed you how easy it was to make this P.L.A.Y sign. You can see the post here. This play kitchen did not come cheap, I tell you. It was an investment a few years ago but some of the parts have chipped off a bit during moving and not to mention all the times I moved it around in our previous home to find the correct corner for it.
Next to the kitchen, I keep another organized area with a few toys, kids craft supplies, and extra school supplies. These other fabric baskets, aren’t they cute? They are really handy for organizing various items and could be used anywhere in the home. Seriously!!
I love how they are hiding the little things. The bigger one is even large enough to fit another organizing container inside.
And finally, organizing with cubicals. I have always had a bunch of them around the home and did away with two when we moved. Now I want them back!! But these are inexpensive and easy to use for organizing.
If you are wondering why I organized everything to the wall and nothing in the middle here is why. I am a big fan of opened spaces for kids to play. Kids love to run around, roll on the floor and just be kids. I like to keep their play areas opened so they can feel free to play without bumping into things. So that’s why there is nothing in the middle. And no curtains? Nope for now. The room is a bit dark with this paint color. Opening the blinds and letting all the natural light in is one of my favorite things to do.
And because I want a fur chair like this in every corner in our home, I’ll share it again. It is such a fun cozy and comfi chair to have around. Don’t you just love how comfi it looks?
So that is our organized multi-functional room. I may need to go through and declutter some toys.
Here is a link to all the organizational items or similar that I found from At Home stores:
Faux Fur Folding Butterfly Chair
“Dream Big” pillow
“Hello Gorgeous” Print
Have you organized your kids space yet before things get crazy with back to school yet? I would love to know about it in the comments.
This post was written in collaboration with At Home Stores, but all text, images, and opinions of the products are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that help support At Home with Zan.
I love so many things about your playroom/multi-functional room. The chair and that fuzzy pillow is so inviting and I love how you added R E A D to the wall of the reading space. The Dream Big pillow is adorable and such a positive quote for your kids to learn. You are so organized and I imagine you have the most organized playroom out there. Love it! Did I say love enough times? 🙂
Ha ha ha…Thank you so much Alli! I am glad you love it. I decided to just try not to make it staged but rather functional for everyone. Oh, reminds me I need to add the link to the Dream Big Pillow!!
If I was a small child I would never come out of this room. My favorite area is the dress up corner with all the fun dresses and shoes!
It’s nice that you share the space with your work area too because little one’s love for their Momma to be right there so I know they love that too.
You are so well organized! I love the At Home Store! They have some awesome pieces, don’t they!!
Ahhh.. Sometimes I myself want to be a kid again for that dress-up area, too. It is so much fun for them. Thank you for the sweet comment and yes, At Homes has lots of awesome pieces.
Great Job, Zan!! I agree on the open spaces for kids — even if it isn’t always the “design” choice. I adore that dress stand, where did you find it? And the kitchen is adorable! You made some great organization picks — cubicles are always great in kid spaces.
Keeping kids things organized is a must or else they will be all over the house. I found the dress rack on Amazon. It helps keep those dresses in one spot for sure.
I love how the room turned out! The open middle is a great idea – let the kids be kids 🙂 How nice that you have your own space in there to do some work while the kids play. I especially love the “READ” letters next to that comfy chair. I’m sure you kids love the space! And, one can never have too many princess dresses 😉
Oh Zan this room looks so beautiful and inviting. I love how you organized the room and how you have a designated areas. You did such an amazing job here!
a room won’t be tidy like that with more than 3 kids. your girl is very obedient not disordering this room. i’ll learn the way you arrange kid’s room when i have a daughter,too xD
Actually, they make a mess – but then when it is time to clean up – everything has a place to go back.
I’m really impressed with the way design the room but impressed more with the way you organize it. You did a great job. Sometimes I can’t understand why kids can make a mess on a beautiful room like that. haha. Anw, thanks for sharing