Amazing Room: Kids' playrooms

Home and Garden

Interior designer Marcia Singleton of McDermott and Singleton Interiors in Buckhead offers her suggestions for creating a kid's playroom. See photos of great examples.

Interior designer Marcia Singleton of McDermott and Singleton Interiors in Buckhead says the choice of flooring and furniture in a playroom is important. Floors, she said, should be able to take some spills. "The floor is a big consideration. We like color-block carpet, because if you mess up a piece, you can take up that piece and replace it without replacing the entire carpet," Singleton said.

Kid-sized furniture is also important, Singleton said. Chairs scaled to tot level should be included in the room as well as tables and benches for artwork and crafts.

Ample storage, like these double-duty bench seats provide, is an essential element of a playroom, Singleton said. "For toddlers, it's important to have storage areas so they can learn to put things up," Singleton said.

Kids like to have furniture that's easy to move around and rearrange according to their whim. "Things on wheels are great," Singleton said.

Play spaces should be "functional but fun," Singleton said. Washable paint on walls and slipcovered furniture works best because they make spills, goofs and bumps easier to erase.

"The room should have comfortable places to sit with tables to put things on," Singleton said.

Kids love tucked-away places where they can free their imaginations. Creating private child-sized spaces like this one can stimulate youthful curiosity and ingenuity. "Sometimes we build in little secret, hiding-type rooms," Singleton said. "We always like to incorporate something kind of secretive."

For older children, open play space should morph into spots for gathering with friends and leisure pursuits. "As they get older, they want more lounging area," Singleton said.

Life-sized depictions of a kid's passions, such as sports, can have an inspirational effect. This room, created by radio host Frank Ski for his son, also includes moveable beanbag chairs for playtime as well as storage for lots of toys and activity supplies.

Busy teens, like Tanner Smith shown here in his Vern Yip-designed activity room, may need to have snacks close at hand. Where possible, Singleton recommends a small refrigerator and a secure cabinet space for food and beverage storage. "Definitely with teens, they're going to bring food up there anyway," Singleton said.

Teens need a well-equipped desk and work space for homework and Web surfing. Good light is essential, Singleton said.

Don't shy away from converting offbeat spaces into play areas. Kids are drawn to the unconventional, and unusual configurations can often produce creative uses. "Oddly shaped spaces can end up being very unique," Singleton said.

A well-planned playroom need not be expensive to produce. Singleton said less than $1,000 can turn an unused room into a child's beloved sanctuary.

Singleton's top three considerations for parents who want to build a playroom include: 1) "Involve your children." Children who have a hand in making the space are more likely to use it. 2) "Remember good storage." Providing ample, organized storage will help keep the space from becoming a chaotic wreck. 3) "Furniture that moves." Children change as they grow and their spaces should be adaptable as they do.

1/14

Interior designer Marcia Singleton of McDermott and Singleton Interiors in Buckhead says the choice of flooring and furniture in a playroom is important. Floors, she said, should be able to take some spills. "The floor is a big consideration. We like color-block carpet, because if you mess up a piece, you can take up that piece and replace it without replacing the entire carpet," Singleton said.

Today's Gallery Headlines

Alerts

PHOTOS: Motorists fall for checkpoint ruse

PHOTOS: UGA Pro Day draws Falcons, others

PHOTOS: St. Patrick's Day Parade in Savannah

PHOTOS: Murphy Crossing renderings 2026