Tips/ examples how to integrate a play area into open plan

[Mumma301]

Hey, so starting to plan having some major work done to the house, big ground floor extension to create a lovely open plan family living, dining and kitchen area. DH thinks we don’t need a play area as DCs (3 and 1) will play in their room. But they deffo won’t, they currently have a play room which will gonas part of the new layout. Just wondering if anyone has been able to successfully integrate a play area into open plan living without toys taking over 😂 we’re seeing an architect on Monday but want to have some ideas of my own too.

Anyone got any advice? x

I would be looking at creating some storage which will open up and allow them to easily access toys inside...but then for them to be put away at night.

A rug beside the storage would be good so they can sit on that and it will delineate the area as a play space...hopefully keeping them in that general space.

A storage cupboard with double doors...and inside, enough shelving and storage tubs for them to be able to see what's in there and get specific things out.

I definitely wouldn;t have a play area as such...but large attractive cupboard for their things and a clear area around it.

You could, if you got a good joiner, make a cupboard large enough to hold a wooden play cooker and food etc in addition to some books, figures, puzzles etc.

I don’t know how big the room will be but I would suggest trying to partition off a play corner using some low ikea kallax or a bookshelf or similar as a divider (and storage). You’d need to make sure the divider wouldn’t topple. Then more kallax or shelves for storage along the wall of the play corner, and maybe a (washable) rug so it looks inviting. I wouldn’t expect their stuff to stay in that corner but at least it gives you an area to put it all back into!

Once they are older they will play a bit more in their rooms and their toys will be smaller and more in boxes so I think something you can change later is the key.

I think it just comes down to JFD the tidying.

We have a separate playroom and the children just brought the toys into the living room. I don't mind this - it's their house too. We had various systems of storage - trofast, kallax, open shelves. They key was that after dinner every day, without fail, we all put the toys away. If it got ridiculously messy earlier on, we'd do a tidy before lunch or something, too.

We used a mat system for a while - anything they wanted to keep out to play with longer had to be put on a mat or muslin for ringfencing, and no one else was allowed to touch that bit. Generally they were happier to tidy it all away.

You could section off a corner by having a sofa or low toy shelves across in front, to create a bit of dedicated floor spac. Point the toy storage away from the main sitting area and use something to shield the play areas floor from the view from the sofas. But personally I think you need to roll with the toys migrating if you're going open plan, and just tidy then regularly. Childhood's too short to ban Lego and dolls from the living room.

We have a corner of the room with Ikea Kallax around the walls and one toy box with a cushion seat.

The corner is behind the sofa. So in the evening adults can sit on the sofa and watch tv/chat without facing the mountain of toys.

We have a neutral colour washable rug on the floor of the play area (with foam tiles underneath it for extra cushioning).

I’ve also attached a sheet of fabric to the back of the sofa with Velcro fastenings and they have sets of Velcro planets, animals and shapes that they can stick to the sheet. (Easy to make if you can sew at all!),

We basically have this. As others suggest we use a rug to delineate the area - it's an IKEA one which doubles as a racetrack and airport and farmyard etc etc. The rule is no toys beyond the carpet and we have storage surrounding. It also helps that the play area is at the far end of the room away from entrances and exits and the through route and dining table. I have never bothered to enforce a tidy up policy as long as nothing encroaches into other area. However if anyone complains of boredom a quick clearing of the rug usually leads to them rediscovering lots of toys and newfound space.

The bigger problem is getting the older ones to keep the dining table clear of homework and art projects.

When mine were little it was much easier not to have them playing in their room. Easier to keep an eye on them without having to micromanage. No mad dash to tidy rooms for bed as there were no toys in their rooms.

Thank you, some really helpful suggestions

Ours is an L shape and the kids have a corner. It’s all grown up looking storage so smaller stuff can be put away, but they do have a kids table, play kitchen and stuff. Basically we have all the nice wooden toys out downstairs and their rooms are plastic tat. They mostly play downstairs.