Do you use your playroom?

[Moomin567]

If you have a playroom in your house, do you use it?

We’re looking to do a side extension and convert our garage to a playroom but I’m wondering how much it would be used as it’ll be accessed off the utility room, rather than a main living area.

If you have a similar set up, how do you find it? Is it worth doing? I hate toys being everywhere!

Yep every day. It’s actually our conservatory but we turned it into the playroom. Toys still come into the lounge but he absolutely loves his room where everything is play, he can go get his own toys and play freely and happily in there

Yep. Mine are older now and it’s become the Lego room. Loads of organised boxes and all the Lego. Youngest practically lives in there!

Ours was more like a toy storage area where toys were returned to at the end of the day, still really useful but it wasn't the nicest room to be in in terms of light and size ,so we'd migrate to the main rooms which worked well.

Yes ever day but not on their own until about five. Before that I'd be in there the whole time otherwise they wouldn't want to play there. It's useful to be able to see it because you'll be mediating a lot if you have multiple children

Yes but only because its off the living room and they drift between the two. We previously had a different room upstairs and it never got used so we moved stuff around.

@5475878237NC @DrRiverSong @Twinkletwinklelil where were your playrooms in relation to main living areas?

I can see ours from the living room. Bifold doors - so it’s lounge to diner to “playroom”.

Off the living room, fully visible from the kitchen. That is the most useful because you can cook whilst they play. A room in the house you can't see will end up toy storage or if multiples a fight zone!

Well it'll be good for storage either way! When they're teens it'll make a great second living room or gaming room, we love ours so they're in a communal space rather than hiding in their bedrooms! Also a good space for their mutual friends to come over.

We converted half our garage into a playroom in a previous house and it was great. All the mess from toys was in there and they had a side and a TV too. It was accessed from the hallway to the left of the front door. All the other rooms were to the right. It also had access to a deck area which also led to the kitchen which was excellent in the summer.

Do it! I'd love a playroom for my son. Right now he can only have as many toys that fit into the chest in the living room as we have nowhere else to put them ☹️

Yes. BUT depending on your children, they do need training to use it and not just bring all their toys into the rest of the house. Kids naturally want to be wherever you are. We had to work hard to make the playroom a place where the kids wanted to be. So make sure they have some input on the decor and colours. Soft cushions, beanbags, blankets, decent carpet to play on.

Our children had most of their toys and other belongings in their bedrooms - they were lucky to have one each though

@MerryMarys did they mainly play in their bedrooms or did they bring toys down to the living area?

Ours now is upstairs. But when we moved here our youngest was just 6 so able to be a little more independent and it worked well. In our previous house the play space was the bay window in the lounge so when they were properly small they were with us.

We don’t have a playroom but we do have a separate part of the house that is a spare room/second lounge. If you have more than one child, it is a godsend.

I can separate them to watch separate things on tv. It’s where eldest has friends over, sleepovers, etc. Basically keeps them out of each other’s way and out from under our feet too, so much less bickering.

To answer your question, ours is up a staircase above the kitchen (not where bedrooms are). Mine aren’t little little anymore (youngest is 6), but it’s fine. It’s actually nice to have some distance.

Ours is upstairs and DC (7 and 3) use it all the time. I’ve reclaimed the living room, it’s fantastic.

Yes we did and it was used a lot . At the moment though it’s DHs office and we’ve sacrificed the 4th bedroom as a gaming room for the teens