House Dreaming: Play/School Room

Confession time: I had all intentions of posting my living room plans today.  However, I'm just stumped.  I mean, I know the basics of how I want it to look but, since I'm not 100% sure HOW I'm going to do that, I'd rather wait until I can show you all something a little more... well... put together.  After all, I've got to figure out how to fit a library {albeit, not anything grand} and a home office in there somewhere... and, as I said before, I'm just stumped.

Here's the thing... right now we have one child.  So, this is how we use the 3 bedrooms of our home:

Master Bedroom

Our Son's Room

Spare Room

We have plans to turn the spare room into a play/school room.  If/when we have another child, we will probably let the baby sleep in our room {just not in our bed} for the first several months or so, then we'll move him/her to the room that my son currently sleeps in.  On top of that, my son's room currently serves as the guest bedroom because we have two twin size beds in there now.  And, no, it doesn't leave much room in there but, after all, he just sleeps in there, so it's not a huge deal.

Now that I've bored you shared the details of our room assignments, let's get to planning that play/school room...

Can I just say that I had a TON of fun putting this room together.  There is so much freedom in decorating a room for kids.  I mean, sure, it needs to be safe but, other than that, nothing is really off limits as far as color and theme.  You can go all out if you want to.

Here's what I'm thinking...

#1 - IKEA EXPEDIT

The IKEA Expedit bookcase is pretty much a staple in any home... especially in the part of the home where the kiddos toys are stored.  You pretty much can't beat the cubby system when it comes to keeping everything corralled.  I will probably buy a couple of the 4x4 versions {am I the only one that thinks of a heavy duty vehicle when I say type that?}.

{VIA}

#2 - BANNERS AND POM-POMS

I know it kind of sounds like I'm preparing for a high-school football game by listing banners and pom-poms on my must have list, but I assure you, the room isn't THAT big.  ;)  And, as excited as I am for football season to start, I assure you, I am NOT planning on going with a pigskin theme.  I just think it would be fun to hang a couple of pennant banners and pom-poms from the ceiling to add some color.

{VIA}

#3 - DRESS UP STORAGE

No, I am not planning on making my son parade around the house in a princess dress and tiara, nor am I planning on creating costume storage that looks even remotely girly.  But, I am planning on buying costumes so my little one can become a fireman, doctor, or cop... or a cop that can put out a fire while simultaneously operating on his favorite teddy bear.  There's no telling what he'll come up with once he is free to dress the part.  Once I am able to purchase these costumes, I'm gonna need a way to keep them organized and I thought turning an old dresser into a "dress up armoire" was the perfect solution.

{Source Unknown}

#4 - KID SIZED TABLE

This table is going to have to be one tough cookie to make the play/school room cut.  It needs to be able to stand up to markers, trains, and anything else a three-year-old and his friends can dish out.  Because it's going to be a multi-purpose table, I need it to be just the right depth and just the right length.  Which means, we'll probably have to DIY something.

{VIA}

#5 - A CHALKBOARD/WALL GALLERY/MAGNET WALL

When you first walk into the play/school room, you see the wall that boasts the room's only window.  That wall will be shown some magnetic and chalkboard paint love, so that it'll be a place where Little Man can let his creativity run wild.  Plus, It'll also be where we display his masterpieces.  You know, after he gets his Picasso on...

{VIA}

In addition to all these wonderful things, I hope to have one wall dedicated to a play kitchen and pretend "market".  Gonna avoid anything too frilly there too, but I think it's never too early to teach my son to appreciate the fine art of cooking.  If he's anything like his daddy, he'll catch on real quick.

And, of course, we'll include some fun things like books, puzzles, musical instruments, wooden blocks, and anything else that'll stir his creativity and expand his knowledge.  After all, this room will serve as a place of learning, starting own play-driven in his younger years and then adapting as he gets older, since we do intend to home school.

One more thing to note: there is a small closet in this room.  My home office COULD potentially go in there, however I'm thinking that it's more likely it'll be used for storage {art supplies, curriculum, out-of-rotation toys, etc}.  I'll be sure to keep you all posted on wherever I decide to put my office.

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Thanks for checking out my plans for our play/school room.  I am looking forward to it being a place where my son can play AND learn simultaneously.  After all, for little ones, that one of the best ways to learn.

Do you have a play and/or school room?

How is your's set up?

What's your #1 must-have {it can be furniture, a certain book, a favorite toy...}?

Blessings,

Linked To:

Better Mom Mondays at The Better Mom

Miscellany Mondays at lowercase letters

Mama Moments Mondays at A Mama's Story

Anti-procrastination Tuesdays at New Nostalgia

Titus 2sday at Time Warp Wife

Teach Me Tuesdays at Growing Home

Titus 2 Tuesdays at Cornerstone Confessions
Works for Me Wednesdays at We are THAT Family
Delightfully Inspiring Thursdays at Delightful Order
Hearts 4 Home Thursdays at Our Simple Country Life
Proverbs 31 Thursdays at Raising Mighty Arrows