How to use a conservatory as a playroom

When we were house hunting last year, a dedicated playroom was high on my wishlist. I’m grateful that we finally got one – with four kids at home, having a room to house all their toys/craft stuff makes SO much difference – especially now that we have a toddler running around again. A playroom really is a dream – you can hide all the plastic tat and the mess, a room that’s just for the children and that you don’t mind them actually playing in!! The girls have parties in our playroom, they practise their gymnastics, they work, they create and they play with Beastie. It’s the hub of our home, and I’d actually like to add a glazed extension on to it one day – there is a patio area outside it that would easily make way for a little breakfast nook – a meeting point of house and garden.

Before we moved, we were really space short. As the girls grew, we had to move one of them downstairs into the room we’d been using as a playroom, and suddenly found ourselves with one tiny living room overflowing with toys. Thankfully, we had a conservatory, that while not particularly nice-looking, at least gave us some extra space. If you are lacking in space, and your house is overflowing with toys then extending is something to consider.

Conservatories are perfect for adding space and making your house feel bigger. While traditionally they are too hot in the summer and freezing in the winter, look at the options – some modern conservatories now have tiled roofs or solar reflective glass roofs that help keep the temperature more even all year round. With a little planning you can turn one into a perfect playroom for your kiddos:

* Add a rug – while hardwood floors look nice {and are easy to clean}, they can be pretty chilly especially for children who are sitting on the floor playing. Add a large rug for warmth.

* Open the windows – our playroom always smelt a bit ‘musky’ first thing in the morning, so I’d always open the windows and let some fresh air in, even in the middle of winter.

* Use boxes or baskets – all that lovely light will make everything fade quickly. Store all the toys in baskets to protect them.

* Utilise the space – add high bookshelves to internal walls to give you lots of storage space.

* Heat it – if you don’t have a radiator in the room, buy either a fan heater or an oil filled radiator so that the room is still useable in the winter. You could plug them into an electric timer so they automatically come on with your heating in the morning so the playroom is warm when you get up.

* Add a sofa – if you have space, add a sofa or armchair – it’s great to have a spot to sit and watch your little one’s play, or to curl up with them and read a book.

* Buy a table – a little child’s height table is a great addition – they can do jigsaw puzzles on there, eat a snack, paint a picture – and you can leave puzzles/pictures on there instead of them cluttering up your dining table!

A new conservatory could be just the answer if you’re wondering where to keep all of your children’s toys – a separate play space really does make so much difference.

This is a collaborative post

image source