Can anyone help me arrange our dining/play room

[spacedouttahere]

Hi all, I have NCd in case anyone recognizes my home! Hello if you do! waves

[spacedouttahere]

Posted too soon! Face palm!

[spacedouttahere]

Our dining room come playroom come conservatory isn't working. There just doesn't feel like enough space and it's a PITA to clean every day because DD is weaning and loves to throw food on the floor.

I've done a big clear out of the shelving and everything there is stuff we want to keep. The larger dresser always used to be nice when this was just a dining room but now feels wrong, and is full of crap we never use 🤦‍♀️ the butchers block is IMO a waste of space but DH feels very attached.

We don't want it to be overwhelmingly a play room as we used to like having friends round for dinners too.

Can you help me think about how to rearrange so the space makes a bit more sense?

[spacedouttahere]

Pictures ☺️

[aquamarine1]

Hi, what about turning your table to go lengthways along the wall and maybe get a big, flat weave rug under to zone the space. I'd probably get rid of the butcher's block if it's not useful.

[CoolShoeshine]

Could you keep the dresser but somehow take the doors off the upper section so that it is more like a sideboard with open shelves above? Then you could put kids books or soft toys on display on the upper shelves. If not perhaps sell the dresser and the bookcase and get a large unit that covers all that wall, like one of the biggest Ikea cube storage units or something built in if budget allows. This will allow you to keep lots of nm toys and books in the room. A small sofa and tv would be nice if you can fit one in and perhaps change the table for a smaller one which folds out larger when you have guests?

[Wildernesstips]

I would move the tall bookcase where the butchers block is.

[Barbararara]

Sell the butchers block.

Clear out the dresser - any of the adult stuff like the candelabra can go to the attic (do you have one? ) for the rare occasions that you might use it in the next five years. Then turn dresser into toy storage.

Clear off the windowsills. Keeping surfaces clear will make room feel significantly less cluttered.

Clear off the tops of the shelves and dresser too. If you have things stored up high, it’s likely that they’re not used often. (if they’re up high to keep out of a child’s reach, that’s a different issue)

Move the dining table and like a pp suggested, define its space with a rug (but explore anti-slip options so it’s not a trip risk)

Think about your storage and stuff in terms of real estate: every area has a value and stuff has to pay a rent to live in an area.
The rent is how often you use the object. In a space like this only items that are used daily or weekly can afford to live there.

I think something that is letting down the room is that the furniture styles don’t compliment each other. I love your dresser and would be inclined to change the table and bookshelf to compliment it, but it might be more feasible to change the dresser to an IKEA unit as a pp suggested.

[GemmeFatale]

Switch the wall around so it goes butchers block (closest to window), dresser, shelving unit. Spin the table 90degrees and put at the far side of the room with a rug. Zone the centre for play (or vice versa). When you have guests clear away the play stuff and pull the table more central.

[onlinelinda]

I think a sofa would make it more comfy.

[spacedouttahere]

Thank you for all the suggestions 🌈

What I've done is have a clear out 😂 the dresser is now where the bookshelf is, the bookshelf where the dresser was. So it looks broadly the same but the space works SOOOO MUCH BETTER 😃😃😃

The dresser has all DDs toys in it and the play mats are more orientated to that space, it's not crowded by the table, the chairs aren't catching on the mats. It's great.

I'd love to get rid of that damned butchers block, the rubber on the wheels is even disintegrating. Any tips for reattaching DHs from past-it furniture? 😂

[spacedouttahere]

Also the table is a really beautiful extending oak table under the kid proof vinyl 😂 also why I'd love a rug but with DD dropping food all over I sweep & mop every day, a rug would get v manky v quickly 😬

Children - who'd have 'em?!

[spacedouttahere]

#deattaching DHs 🙄

....one day I will put everything I need to say in one correctly spelled post.

[KatyMac]

Any tips for reattaching DHs from past-it furniture?

Put it on his side of the bed?

[GemmeFatale]

You can get outside rugs that can be hosed down. One might work until your daughter isn’t in the food dropping phase anymore

[sevencontinents]

I also think you could paint the walls a lovely farrow and ball dark green.
There is so much light it would hold it really well and make if feel sophisticated when guests come, yet perfectly appropriate for a play room. If you can't fit in a sofa, try bean bags. Could the book shelf go in another room/arric until the kids are older? I am ALL FOR having books at home but space for very young children is also very beneficial. If you want to keep some books on display, you could buy a couple of picture rails and display th that way without encroaching on the space of the room.
Can we see a pic of your newly arranged room?

[Barbararara]

That sounds lovely OP.

[Deadringer]

I would love to see it too. because i am nosy is there enough room in your kitchen to feed dd in there instead?

[MontysOarlock]

Please update with a photo showing how it looks now, I like a before and after shot!

[spacedouttahere]

Here you go - it looks identical 🤣 but it 'lives' much better and I'm thrilled with repurposing the dresser for toy storage, doesn't feel like a waste of space any more and it's still a nice dresser (that the cats like to sleep on top of).

I use the windowsill as kind of a Montessori shelf, it's so easy now to rotate her toys 👍👍👍

[Barbararara]

It’s lovely.

[Letthemysterybe]

Looks loads better! I would have a little rearrange of the bookshelf. It looks top heavy to me. I like to have the biggest heaviest the at the bottom and the smaller books and display items at the top.