42 Whimsical Playroom Ideas Designed for Hours of Endless Fun (2024)

Room Design

Kristin Hohenadel

Kristin Hohenadel has written on design for publications including the New York Times, Interior Design, Slate, Fast Company, and the international editions of Elle Decor.

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Updated on 01/17/24

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42 Whimsical Playroom Ideas Designed for Hours of Endless Fun (2)

Creating a dedicated space where kids can explore their interests and let their imaginations run wild is a boon for children and parents alike. Whether you want to create acolorfulspace full of toys, games, and gear, or a dual-purpose room with plenty ofstoragethat parents can enjoy once the kids are in bed, you can turn everything from a main floor alcove to afinished basem*ntoratticinto a playroom that your kids will get lost in for hours.

Get inspired with these stylish and joyful playrooms built for kids of all ages.

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Mix Design Styles

This hip and comfy playroom from Studio Life/Style has a mix of furniture and decor that is stylish enough for kids of all ages. It includes a cognac leather couch, Moroccan rug, woven pendant lights, industrial-style chairs, and wallpaper that resembles a giant chalkboard and adds contrast with exposed wood ceilings.
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Decorate With Animal Shapes

Illustrated wallpaper, pops of bright color, and beech wood elephant chairs designed by Marc Venot make this bright and cheerful playroom from Chango & Co. any kid's dream.
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Hang a Large Chalkboard

In this Park Slope, Brooklyn townhouse from Elizabeth Roberts Architects, a spacious playroom alcove includes built-in shelving to hold books and toys, a large wall-mounted chalkboard, and plenty of clear floor space to give kids space to play.
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Use House-Shaped Storage

This multi-functional New York City playroom from Sissy + Marley Interior Design is equipped with sleek but charming house-shaped storage armoires for toys, clear open floor space for playing, and a large sofa so the grownups can enjoy the room once the kids go to sleep.
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Use Nature-Inspired Tones

Use nature-inspired colors, materials, and forms to bring the outdoors into an indoor playroom.
Eklektik Studio used mixed wood tones, earthy green paint, and animal toys and motifs to create a connection to the outdoors in this sophisticated London playroom.
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Try a Stuffed Animal Mascot

This playroom from Georgia Zikas Design is full of bright colors and childhood whimsy, starting with the stuffed pink flamingo toy mascot holding court in the center of the room.
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Install a Green Wall

Bring the outdoors inside to cheer up rainy days with a faux green wall and an indoor swing, like this spacious playroom from Lisa Gilmore Design.
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Add Custom Storage

This breezy playroom from Tracy Lynn Studio has muted colors, custom-built storage and boho design touches like miniature rattan chairs around the communal table.
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Organize Books By Color

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Interior designer Rosanna Bassford of Eggshell Home used wall-mounted clear acrylic shelving that makes a rainbow of books and toys seem to float in this colorful and light-flooded playroom.
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Add Scandi Style

In this Scandi-inspired playroom from Emily Henderson Design, a play kitchen is set in a bay window flooded with light and decorated with garlands. At the same time, a plush rug, a table for drawing, and a sailboat-themed wall mural create an escapist mood.
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Set Up a Play Tent

This airy New York City playroom nook from Chango & Co. has a play tent to hide out in, whimsical wallpaper, a table for drawing, and a floor layered with fluffy rugs to provide a soft place to play.
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Add Danish Modern Flair

Las Vegas-based, Norwegian-born interior designer Jannicke Ramsø of Tiny Little Pads added touches of color and vintage-style furniture to add charm to this light and airy playroom.
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Add Bean Bag Chairs

This Connecticut playroom from Becca Interiors has a wall of shelving for toys and games, a window seat for reading, a table with modern Danish chairs for making art, and a pair of bean bag chairs on the floor for bonding with siblings and friends. Wall hooks hung at kid-friendly height house costumes for impromptu role-playing.
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Energize With Color

This spacious, multifunctional playroom from Chango & Co. has colorful wallpaper, plenty of floor space for games, an arts and crafts table equipped with neon yellow bentwood chairs, and a super long banquette for reading and hanging out.
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Add Whimsical Details

This playroom from interior designer Maite Granda features a handpainted mural, a whimsical chandelier, and a house-shaped reading nook that gives the space a storybook quality.
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Add a Hidden Tool Bench

Give aspiring builders and makers a dedicated workstation to encourage creativity. Eklektik Studio incorporated a hidden tool bench with a customizable pegboard behind custom storage in this London playroom.
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Add a Mix of Seating

This spacious playroom from Lisa Gilmore Design has open storage, a table for drawing and games, and plenty of soft furnishings for jumping around or chilling out for both kids and parents.
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Celebrate 1970s Style

This playroom from Chango & Co. is full of spirited color and cool '70s style thanks to a boho style hanging chair, Moroccan rug, and multicolored kid-sized Panton chairs around a chalkboard paint-covered table.
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Hang a Two-Seater Swing

A hanging rattan swing is the centerpiece of this attic playroom from Mel Bean Interiors, covered from floor to ceiling with shiplap and wall-to-wall carpet to provide a soft landing for little ones.
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Make Space for Older Kids

This playroom from Calimia Home is equipped for playing music and ball, perfect for older kids who want to move around and make noise.
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Add a Colorful Accent Wall

A rainbow-colored watercolor accent wall mural sets the tone for this playroom from Christina Kim Interior Design.
See Also
33 Playroom Ideas Perfect for Having Fun
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Build Wrap-Around Storage

Wrap-around built-ins with open and closed shelving provide ample storage for toys and games in this playroom from Calimia Home.
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Set Up an Attic Getaway

This secret attic playroom from Emily Henderson Design is lit by a skylight and filled with toys to help kids entertain themselves for hours without a screen in sight.
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Make It Family-Friendly

Add a large sectional in the corner of the playroom that the whole family can enjoy together. In this spacious playroom from Eklektik Studio, a cozy corner sectional is big enough for the whole family to curl up on and watch a movie on the flat screen integrated into the custom built-ins on the opposite wall.
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Add a Colorful Rug

This colorful playroom from JLA Designs includes a kids' table and comfortable seating for adults who want to supervise. A multicolored zigzag area rug anchors the space and sets the tone.
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Add Vintage Touches

This playroom from Mindy Gayer Design Co. has a round kid-sized table and Scandi-style chairs for making art and a series of framed cork boards on the wall to provide space for an ever-changing display. A vintage-style rattan daybed with plenty of throw pillows creates a place to relax.
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Install a Climbing Wall

This downstairs playroom from Emily Henderson Design has a mini rock climbing wall for when kids want to work off some energy when it's too rainy or dark to play outside. Staircase niches outfitted with throw pillows and soft toys create a comfy spot for quiet time reading or hanging out.
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Create a Hybrid Space

This black-and-white Scandi-style basem*nt playroom from Maison Ellie includes a main lounging area with closed and open storage that is sophisticated enough for parents to enjoy during off-hours.
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Paint a DIY Rainbow Wall

Blogger Laura Gummerman from A Beautiful Mess added a DIY corner rainbow in pastel shades to the wall of this playroom, adding plants for a natural touch.
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Paint It a Soothing Color

This playroom from House 9 Interiors has soothing sage green paint that creates a calming feeling and makes toys, books, and accessories pop.
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Build a Custom Storage Wall

Build a custom storage wall in your playroom to display toys and store books and art supplies, like this London space from Eklektik Studio that pairs navy walls with warm honey-toned wood shelving for a striking look.
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Hang an Indoor Hoop

An indoor basketball hoop, a hanging rope chair, and a set of drums make this playroom from Emily Henderson Design perfect for aspiring athletes and rock stars.
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Add a Snake Mural

Customize playroom walls with a colorful mural that is tailored to your playroom, like this bright modern mural in a space designed by Eklektik Studio.
The colorful mural snakes around the walls of the airy white London loft space to create a dynamic feel and add a burst of mood-lifting color.
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Create Zones

This sunny basem*nt playroom from Maison Ellie has a muted palette of blue, green, and yellow. The room is divided into distinct zones that include a mini playhouse, an arts and crafts table, and plenty of floor space for playing.
16 Free Backyard Playhouse Plans for Kids
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Layer Rugs

Layer rugs to add coziness to a playroom. Emily Henderson Design placed a large circular rug layered with a fluffy sheepskin in the center of the room to provide a plush place to play on the floor. Low-slung open shelving makes toys easy to access and put away for kids of all ages.
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Detail the Walls

Add color to a basem*nt playroom by painting some multicolored stripes on the wall. Colorful paint, furnishings, art, and decor give this playroom from Twelve 15 Design Studio a sense of fun.
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Include Stealth Storage

Not everyone has the space for a dedicated playroom. Cathie Hong Interiors created a multifunctional playroom with a wall of closed toy storage that can be packed up at night to make space for the adults.
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Try Earth Tone Paint

Pair earth tones with pastel colors for a soft and soothing feel. This playroom from Gray Space Interior Design has a taupe accent wall that harmonizes with the pink and blue accents in the room, creating a soothing mellow vibe. A large sofa and ottomans with hidden storage for toys make it easy to clean up.
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Set Up an Easel

In this playroom from Calimia Home, an easel creates a place to paint whenever inspiration strikes. A nearby set of beanbag chairs and an industrial sconce create a cozy reading corner across the room from a play kitchen.
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Carve Out Space

If you don't have a dedicated playroom, carve out space in a finished basem*nt, like this multipurpose playroom from Twelve 15 Design Studio.
The kids' half of the room is defined by a dropped ceiling with recessed can lighting, a large freestanding storage unit for toys, and a colorful rug.
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Hang Whimsical Wallpaper

Hanging whimsical wallpaper is a shortcut to creating a playful atmosphere. Sissy + Marley Interior Design covered the walls of this New York City playroom in oversized silver star wallpaper of its own design that creates a spirited atmosphere while remaining neutral. Pink accents energize the space.
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Refresh Your Rental Space

If you are a renter, focus on temporary wall decor and freestanding furniture that won't require you to sacrifice your security deposit.
Eklektik Studio hung animal-themed wall decals on the walls of this playroom decorated in soothing tones of blue and white for a whimsical feel.