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Arlyn Is Considering Turning Her Dining Room Into A Playroom: 3 Options To Make It Work
The dining room in my previous home was *literally* the jewel box of that place. It was my showpiece, the room I loved to just sit in and look around. I was proud to host dinners and game nights there. I was grateful for a beautiful space like that when it became the impromptu home office for my husband and me when we were sent home to work at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. We didn’t have a breakfast nook, so it’s where we sat like six times a day giving our baby (at the time) purees and snacks in her high chair (RIP rug). And then we moved.
Don’t get me wrong. I feel like I often talk about our home now disparagingly. I love where we live for many reasons, but it’s definitely lacking the luster of our old place. Mostly because everything that’s here is just a holdover. It was picked for over there, but living its next life here.
Another thing about where we currently live? It doesn’t accommodate all of our daily needs, specifically having office space for two working adults and an area for our toddler to freely play. We have alllllll of her stuff scattered between the living room (which I affectionally refer to as the luxe daycare when people come over), dining room, and her bedroom upstairs. She’s perfectly content because she doesn’t know anything else. But we do. Long story short, she had so much room to play where we were staying over our Christmas vacation, as well as at our friends’ place where we camped out during our fire evacuations.
So when we settled back home after a whirlwind month, I sat down at my spot on the dining table where I work and looked around, contemplating how I was using the spaces in my home. (For the record, my husband now works in a small office downstairs that we call the dungeon because it has no windows, and I can’t stand the idea of writing in there so it’s all his.) Was I being fair to my girl by commandeering the dining room because of what I *wish* it was? A whisper of my old jewel box? Sure, we used the 6-seater table here and there to host friends, but certainly not more than a handful of times per year. Did I like sitting here with a perfect view out the window that frames the beautiful trees on our street while I tapped away at my keyboard? Yup, sure did. But am I also tired of my living room being drowned by IKEA TROFAST units, play kitchens, make-shift ball pits made out of balls and a large storage container, etc. etc. etc.? Also yes (especially because the actual floor space for my daughter to play is super limited).
Living in a smaller home that doesn’t check all your boxes, in terms of spaces needed, always means someone or something is being sacrificed. If I’m being honest with myself, I want a formal dining room. I want a beautiful space to sit down and enjoy a meal with friends and family (we have a little bistro table in the kitchen we use when it’s just us). I want to sit where I’m sitting with easy access to the kitchen for a snack, right next to the powder bath for quick restroom breaks, across the window so I can see when my husband pulls up from an errand or a work outing. Seeing our neighbors walking by with their dogs’ leashes in hand, or the mailman popping over to the other side of the street to make their deliveries is good for my soul. But having a singular, big and open spot for my girl to play and do her arts and crafts and zoom around as a superhero and read her books under a Nugget couch fort might just be even better for my soul.
All of that to say, I’m pretty torn on what to do with this space. The dining room is always the easiest option to turn into a flex space. I know even our own Caitlin from EHD is talking about changing the function of her beautiful dining room into a spot for both her and her boyfriend to work out of. My family needs a living room, but maybe it doesn’t need a dining room as badly as a play space. So, let’s explore some options.
What I’m Currently Working With
This is the current state of my living room. Like, I snapped this photo as-is without even attempting to make it look any nicer 15 minutes before writing this sentence (I did Photoshop out some snack crumbs on the rug though). Half of the large cabinet under the TV is full of coloring books, dot markers, board games, and various other toys. In front of the sofa chaise (at left in photo), there’s a toddler armchair and a container of balls and random blocks my girl throws in there regularly. The coffee table always has something currently in play on it, and other toys just finished being played with on the bottom shelf (and rogue MagnaTiles and drawings and construction paper…). The ENTIRE right side of the living room—I’m talking plant to stair banister—is toys and toy storage.
Here’s another view. The left photo is the wall right by the landing five steps up into the dining room from the living room (it’s a multi-level townhome). Guys, it’s not great, but I also acknowledge that this is for such a short time. My daughter is about to turn 3, and I’d be lucky if I had another 5 years of her little kid toys taking over my living room. It’s a blessing, I know that.
Here’s the dining room in question. We have toy overflow in here, a mail landing spot (and let’s be honest, a junk-landing spot most days), and my little work spot. The chair is NOT ergonomic by any means, but I’m only ever sitting for like two hours of straight working time so it’s not a big deal (I don’t think). I’d love to get a big rug in here to break up all the wood tones that are all on top of each other, and likely would still do that even if it became a play space.
This is the footie-pajamaed angel in question who needs more room to play. Again, she’s totally happy fluttering between the small amount of floor space in the living room, to the small amount of floor space in the dining room to the middle of the kitchen but you know…there are reasons why that isn’t ideal. We don’t spend a ton of time playing upstairs in her bedroom because the layout of her room doesn’t allow for much toy storage (an issue to get into for another day), and I don’t like leaving her alone to play up there while I get some other things done around the house the way I can when she’s downstairs.
All things considered, I’ve come up with three possible options if I decide to give my ol’ dining room the official boot (gosh, that hurts to type):
Option 1: Turn it into a multi-functional space to check all the boxes.
I’m talking play area, small dining nook, and maybe even a little desk set up. That or I use the dining nook as my desk the way I currently do, and bring in a bit of a library vibe, too. Because I still have tons of boxes of books sitting in the garage from when we moved in two years ago that I’d love to get out and onto some bookshelves. I could possibly get a 4-seater table that expands into a 6-seater when we need it, and tuck that into a corner by the window.
Here’s a messy sketch of some initial thoughts:
- Pros of option 1: I get everything I want in one space (but do I really have enough room for everything?). I can also make it pretty enough that it doesn’t feel too kid-like, but is still happy enough for my actual kid.
- Cons of option 1: I’d have to get rid of all my furniture that’s in here, and that makes me very, very sad. Plus, I use that credenza to store a lot of small appliances, platters, and other kitchen and dining things I can’t fit in the kitchen (but often use). Also, me trying to do everything might end up being everything done poorly. Can you really have it all? (With good design, yes, possibly).
Option 2: Try to fit in both a home office and a playroom.
So, maybe there’s a world where we get a folding table and chairs that we keep in the garage when we need to feed more than three people, and I focus in on two primary uses: workspace and play space. For anyone wondering how I could possibly work with a toddler playing around me, the answer is: I do not. I work while she’s at preschool or sleeping or being cared for by someone else. I’d still have to get rid of basically everything in my dining room, but I’d get back my entire living room. I could do a very pretty vintage secretary desk in front of the window, turn the area where the bar is now into a reading nook for my girl, and have so much space left over for all of her imagination and playthings.
Here’s another hurried sketch of how I could make this work:
- Pros of option 2: Plenty of space for both work and play, and an opportunity to have some breathing room aesthetically (we have too much furniture everywhere and it’s sometimes suffocating).
- Cons of option 2: No more dining room. No more dining-related storage. Setting up a temporary eating space in a playroom when the need arises.
Option 3: Use it just as a playroom with tons of open space.
As I’m writing this, I can already tell you that I don’t think this is the move. While I know I can find a spot to work in this house (upstairs in my bedroom, in the breakfast room, even in the “dungeon” if worst comes to worst), I’m not sure it’s the best move for prime writing Arlyn. And writing is my livelihood so…yeah. I needed to go through the exercise of typing this out to know that I’d be the least happy with option 3.
Now, for some cons about ALL of these plans: Wise parents of EHD—Will my kid even play in here or will she just go to the living room anyway? I might be okay with that scenario because at least I know that everything lives together in one space at the end of the day. But please, enlighten me with your wisdom before I make any drastic choices like putting my beloved table and chairs up for sale on Facebook Marketplace.
Oh, also! I have my couch to sit on in my living room where she currently plays and well, I’m 40 now and would rather not sit on the floor when she’s playing or I’m playing alongside her. A Nugget-esque couch could solve this, surely.
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Before wrapping up, I pulled some inspo of play areas with some of her existing storage pieces set up in a way that could work for us if they all lived in the same room, but also a few rooms that seem to have a few purposes.
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As much as I love this, we won’t be doing any built-ins because we’re just renters and don’t know how long we’re even staying here. BUT, I love the idea of the larger low table for play in the center of the room. We’re big Playdoh/coloring book/watercolor/paper mosaic-gluing people and more surface area would be great!
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If you stretch your imagination a little, I could see something like this for my space. A small table (though maybe something that extends), a few chairs, lots of books/bookshelves, and a window seat!
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Same kind of thing here (the first image), just a bit too plain for my taste. But good to see how much space is opened up with a much smaller table (and something round is easier to place in a corner and still look good).
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And kind of just what I want to be able to give my Evelyn. A bunch of open space to make a big mess, have space to build, climb, sit and read, and all the things she loves.
SO: WHAT SAY YOU?? There’s a lot to consider, and while I’m not locked into any “design” at the moment, I do think this exercise has at least gotten the wheels churning a bit. The idea of selling furniture and finding room for the things *inside* the cabinets in my dining room is daunting, but so is every new project I suppose. Would love to hear your thoughts or encouragements. :)
Until next time…
***Dining room after photos: Design by Arlyn Hernandez | Photos by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Arlyn’s Moody Dining Room Reveal Is All About the Insane Power of Paint
I think you need to think of the medium term rather than doing anything too drastic to suit a 3 year old, whose needs and wants are gonna change a lot in the next few years (and those years are gonna go by fast!). I would definitely not sell dining table/chairs, but I would put all the kid storage furniture and larger play items into the dining room and bring down the sideboard/credenza from dining to living room, so you’d still have that storage for items you use. I’d put the dining table against a wall to free up more space on the floor (then it can be moved to middle of room for the dinner parties) – dining table remains as work desk, but can also be arts/crafts table for you both. I’d keep the toddler chair at the living room coffee table as that seems like a good fit for when she is sitting drawing/playing independently and you can be on sofa (having a sofa or a comfy armchair beside the play area is vital imho). Even if most of the toys and kid stuff is in the dining room, the play will still spill over to wherever… Read more »
Agree with this, and perhaps disperse some of the dining chairs throughout the house where possible to open up more space.
I used to think that before I had kids , but in reality it’s nice for kids to have a shorter table ( a few inches shorter and smaller than a dining room), and it’s nice for adults to store kids books and toys in one area, but not in a living room. That table may not even be ideal in their next home and it takes a lot of space in that room and it doesn’t necessarily makes it easy to move around it. I agree that kids can use a sofa to read, or a dining table to craft. But I think having a more open area and things that aren’t blocking their line of sight are also beneficial. It’s especially beneficial in smaller apartments. Eventually it could be an area to hang out, play board games, or do a school project. It could also be pleasant for adults spending time with kids. Design mom has great ideas about designing a home with kids in mind. And she usually focuses on activities she wants kids to do with ease in a room. She freely switched functions of the rooms without FOMO. She uses things that are readily accessible… Read more »
I think you have a good idea.
And I’d also consider rotating toys into and out of play, to give less options on a daily basis (and therefore less mess to clear up) and also allow her to be excited to see something that she’s not played with for a while. Maybe out-of-use toys are stored in her bedroom and these are switched out every couple weeks? The only thing I’d make sure were always accessible would be books as they are so important for young children, so a library for all books is always a good idea – if she has a shelf of her books she will know where to find them (and where to put them back to).100% this. This is a LOT of stuff, and kids will be a lot more engaged and frequently more creative with what they play with and how they play, when you put 2/3 of what you’ve got “away” and rotate things. Could be once a week, could be every other week…but when there is sooooo much stuff kids tend to be both overwhelmed and bored with “everything” at the same time.IMO, pare down drastically on what is out to play with on a daily basis and you’ll… Read more »
This is my favourite kind of EHD post bc, while Arlyn’s home is way more stylish than mine will ever be, it still feels so relatable. I would be tempted to go for option 2 but I really think you can’t go wrong and am excited to see what you decide! (Also, parent to parent, the way you write about bringing up your daughter is so thoughtful, my kids are a bit older but I always enjoy your parenting musings)
I also live in a house that’s too small for a dedicated playroom (our living room is our playroom too). I definitely relate to wanting to give my kids all the room to play that I had growing up in a bigger house, but that just isn’t feasible in my HCOL city. I started watching YouTube channels that normalize living in smaller footprints (versus the mansions I was otherwise seeing on social media). These channels help me feel better about not “needing” a bigger space, I just need to optimize the space that I have. Your current setup (keeping the living room as the playroom) would feel calmer with more closed storage. I have a giant Pax wardrobe (purchased used, so very cost efficient) in my living room that holds all our toys. Something like this may fit by your staircase and could replace your current toy storage units. Otherwise maybe consider replacing your toy storage with another, bigger unit like your credenza (to better hide the visual clutter). At our house, anything that doesn’t fit in our giant toy cabinet (some art supplies, some quiet time toys) either is in a bedroom closet or I give them away. I… Read more »
want to agree with everything you said, stassi! small house here, no dining room, living room is play room. and cannot agree more about toys that don’t fit in the cabinet or on bookshelves get donated or sold. we do have a trunk in the closet upstairs to allow for some toy rotation, but it’s minimal. we have a very small coffee table, that is also a trunk, that we use for some additional storage. and for keeping arts and crafts at your dining table — all that needs is a small bureau or cabinet to store those supplies, and you’re good to go! it just sounds like you’re between the push and pull of really wanting to keep a dining room but also give your daughter space. as others have said, she’s not going to be itty for long…keep your dining room. don’t lose you. make your living room do double duty.
Agree! Townhouse will be our forever house, no coffee table (we stash our camping cooler out of sight behind one sofa and roll it out to use when the parents watch movies). The kids just played in the middle. It worked well for us. And – American kids have the most toys in the world (and most of the world’s toys). Paring down and donating is great; avoiding more plastic toys as possible. Rotate toys with friends.
Normalizing small space living is so important! It’s freeing. Look toward Europe, and @Young House Love for inspiration!!
Have you considered option 1 but without the desk and the toddler table so there is more floor space for play? Toddler tables are useful for a short period of time IMO. My granddaughter plays all the time at our kitchen banquet (play dough, coloring, painting, puzzles) and she loves to cozy up there to read too. It would be multifunctional for you since you don’t need a desk and have more longevity than a toddler table. It’s easy to throw down a car road mat, blanket for a tea party picnic, etc. To answer another question, yes, having a living room free of toys will give you rest in the evenings and allow you and your husband to have space to be a couple not just parents, and may open up entertaining to you with less stress—who needs a sit down meal when charcuterie on the coffee table and a glass of wine is equally enjoyable
Hi Arlyn! Do you have enough space elsewhere to put away some toys and practice toy rotation? As a pre-k teacher for over 10 years I can tell you that having a smaller selection of toys out that you rotate (weekly, biweekly, even monthly) makes a huge difference in how much play clutter you have and also keeps kids so engaged while playing because every rotation there are “new toys”! I know this doesn’t solve your room dilemma, but might help when figuring out how much space you need to dedicate to toys. Also to actually answer your question, in my experience as a Mama, kids will want to play most in whichever room you’re in!
Toy rotation worked best in our smaller house, too. I always felt that houses I visited with a playroom were just too messy to enjoy!
Coming here to say just that! We rotated toys in and out, sometimes with other families. At three, they’re not playing with it all, all the time. Sometimes, my boys would play longer and more independently when there were fewer toys to fly back and forth between. If you have room, think about doing what Emmy said and put at least 2/3 of them away, rotate them biweekly, and it’ll be like your daughter has new toys all the time. Also, even with a playroom, at 3 (even 10, who am I kidding), toys wind up everywhere all over the house anyway, so you can’t win that battle. I am right there with you that we’re so fortunate to have this “problem.”
I know myself enough to know that a regular rotation would *probably* not happen but maybe it’s a 1st of the month kind of thing. Every new month, I swap some things out!
Could toy rotation be Charles’s thing? My husband is in charge of it still and our kids are now 10, 7, and 5. He’s better at not getting emotionally attached than I am but I’m better at noticing when things are TOO FULL. We even rotate books, something I thought I’d never do, but once I started MAGIC. so much easier. But maybe toy rotation is something Charles would be happy to take the lead on.
Another small home family here! We keep our “active toys and books” on a shelf in the living room where everyone always wants to be. Our “inactive” toys and books are on shelving in the basement in boxes that are labeled and have pictures. The kids go “shopping” to rotate out what’s upstairs in the living room. It’s worked for the last five years! We also practice donating and selling toys we no longer want to play with before the holidays every year. Maybe that helps? Good luck!!
Love the idea of having the kids “shop” for the toy rotation. Make it their job, not yours. You never know what will spark their interest.
This was my thought as well. Toy rotation is key in a small house. We had a storage ottoman coffee table and would put stuff in there to rotate. Less really is more in so many ways. I do think spreading things around the house with closed storage is a good way to balance having the kids be able to play with you but also not being overwhelmed by all of it all the time.
I so agree with this!! I have two girls that are two years apart and they only had access to about half their toys at a time. It was so fun to see their excitement when they got to play with all ‘new’ toys every few months.
This is exactly what my parents did when I was growing up in a large family with several kids. We had a lot of toys we donated every season or my parents sent us outside to do whatever. At most, we had a large collection of Barbies and board games but most items were packed away for weeks once we grew tired of them.
I immediately thought of this. If you look at Montessori methods, they have a small shelf with just a few items/options on each tier. We used an Ikea cart (the rolling one with three tiers) and rotated the materials on them. We kept books (which were also rotated) in stacks/bookshelves. We always had a dedicated bookshelf in our daughter’s room. If there were “kitchen” toys/materials, they went in the kitchen. We were never the house with the huge/messy playroom partly because we didn’t have the space, and also partly because we didn’t want the excess that can come along with that. Good luck! XOXO
Hi Emmy. I have a long closet upstairs that’s kind of our only multi-purpose storage, but if I”m honest with myself about what’s in there, I could likely get rid of half of it and then store toys in there. Evelyn also has an ENORMOUS closet that has things from when she was a baby being stored in there in case there’s a #2, but I could move most of that to the garage and also open that up. I have had 4 storage bins in my garage ready to go to do a big pare down but just haven’t gotten to it yet. That’s definitely step 1!
My kids are 12 and 15 now, and if I could do just one thing differently when I look back on their early childhood years, it would have been to give them fewer toys (and ask relatives to do the same!). I’ve always been pretty good about periodically purging and donating unused things, but every time I’ve pared down their toys over years, I’ve been amazed (and frankly a little embarrassed!) at the number of toys that were almost never, or rarely, played with. And in some case, when pieces were missing or broken, I couldn’t even donate the items, so they had to go into the trash, and into a landfill, which makes me so sad. So, while this doesn’t exactly answer your design dilemma, I echo the comments above about starting with reducing the number of toys. But no judgment here. I get it! I gave my kids so much because I was desperate to find ways to keep them occupied so that I could get things done (though I don’t think this actually worked – lol). Regularly rotating toys in and out of storage always seemed like too much work to me, and we lived in a… Read more »
Just to chime in on the toy rotation idea… when my first was a toddler I really wanted to make this work, but I never did. Looking back on it now I realize I was too perfectionistic about it. I had worked in a pre-school and every toy rotation had to have all the categories – a puzzle toy, a building toy, a push toy, a music toy, etc. I also felt like it should be on some regular schedule.
If I could go back I’d just get 2 or 3 bins and any random day after cleaning up and throwing the toys in the bin, I’d just swap it for the other bin. If I hadn’t been focused on doing it perfectly it would have worked so much better. Who cares if this week/month/quarter they have several music toys and no puzzles? Next rotation it would all work itself out.
As for the room dilemma, what about working at the corner banquet in the dining room so that you can keep your appliance-storing credenza in there?
I can’t quite tell if this is possible based on your space, but any chance you could combine your living/dining area into the space where your dining room currently is (getting a smaller, maybe round, dining table would be needed) and then making what is now the living room into a play room/office space?
Sadly no, not with the furniture we have. Both our living and dining rooms are fairly tight (especially when you factor in the size of our furniture), but I’ve gotten some great ideas here that I think will help without making any drastic moves.
I’m a parent who lives and works in a small house too, and my compromise was a workspace in our bedroom, which every third design article advises against! But it’s fine, I made it pretty, and it works, so I’m really excited to see where you land with your sunny dining/working/play space! I really like reading what families do with small spaces, so I am looking forward to the journey. My three year old is starting to do a *little* bit of independent play, and mostly just wants to be near family, so anywhere we are. It sounds like your plan would be good for playing and staying parent adjacent!
Originally I WAS going to just make a little spot for myself in our bedroom. And maybe I still will. I didn’t like the idea of not having a window to look out of, but this week I tested sitting in the breakfast nook where I could look out a window onto the street and it was kind of nice. Maybe I can just float between my room and the breakfast nook!
Maybe you can get a tall folding screen that blocks out behind where you sit — that works for Zooms, but also makes it a prettier space . . . hiding whatever else goes behind (bedroom/kitchen). Then you can fold it up or move it elsewhere. We bought one on Amazon. It hides our treadmill that is in the den/TV space.
Aw Arlyn, it must be hard to be living with the furniture you love and picked out so carefully but just not for this current place. And your currently-unmet yearning to have a home where you can host people for dinner. That sucks!
Also, thank you for keeping it real with the for truly “this is what it looks now” photo.
I have a 7.5yo, 5yo, and 2.5yo and my vote is for the more floor space for playing, the better. I think my kids are more creative and engaged/independent/satisfied in their playing when they have a larger “blank canvas” to work with (even if they are not always that cooperative in making order from chaos to clear out that space…) That’s in the kid front though, you gotta do what you gotta do to have space for your work and creative pursuits.
Your little one is adorable! I highly value a good place to work, including a nice view, so I would consider the following: leave the layout the way it is and cull half of the toys and find an ergonomic chair for working.
This was a great post as no matter what stage of life I’ve been in, I’ve always had to consider how to get the right use out of rooms. I love the Instagrams that you shared.
I actually have a proper work chair downstairs in my husband’s dungeon office, I just worry about what the wheels will do to our floors. I used to have one of those plasticy floor mats in my old place but gosh it’s so ugly…
It’s inexpensive and easy to replace the standard desk chair caster wheels with rubber wheels. They look like rollerblade wheels and are super smooth, no scratching. Our hardwood floors under my chair still look perfect. You have be extra careful sitting down though because with less traction the chair can more easily roll out from under you.
Several years ago this very blog did a review of cute mats/rugs for office chairs. I bought one, and love it. Search the archives. :)
Go ahead and create the jewel box dining room of your dreams with a little spot for you to work if you work well in there. I like working at my dining room table because it forces me to put everything away at the end of the day so I’m not tempted to “just do one more thing” after dinner. No matter how luxe the playroom, most kids at the footie Jammie age will want to play right next to you, as inconveniently as possible. Also, this is crazy, but most kids will play better/longer will far fewer toys. I would start by getting rid of most of the toys. If you can’t bear to do that, but a bunch up in storage and cycle them in and out. Devote a bottom shelf of a bookcase to library books, go to the library so you can cycle these out. My library offers kids puzzles and things like that as well, Get one piece of nice looking grownup closed storage furniture and put that in the living room or dining room, it doesn’t matter. Kids LOVE going back and forth to fetch more toys. And you can teach them to love… Read more »
“want to play right next to you, as inconveniently as possible.” HAHA CORRECT. There are literally kids books in all our bathrooms because she insists on following me in no matter what, and she just sits and reads her books. But I suppose no one in the history of time said the motto for motherhood was “Wow! I get so much time to myself!” :)
Agree! We are lucky enough to have a ‘play room’ for our twins but most of the playing happens right beside me/dad, i.e. in the kitchen and living room (which are quite small, no dining room). So I’m constantly having to move toys back to the play room. IMHO, the ‘luxest’ playroom is right by your feet, no matter how large the house :-)
Love that you are trying to make the space work for you and your toddler! My overall suggestion is NOT to change things too much until you have tried some simpler solutions. Likely she will not use it as you intend anyway, and really, this toy stage goes really quickly! Right now, when I see your space, I see ALOT of open toy storage. The ikea units are technically “closed” but really they are not “serene closed”, like the credenza if you know what I mean. I know that that is great for kids, but to me, it looks like too much and too much choice for her. Plus, almost all of the toy storage is white, which seems to draw attention to it. I would try these things first. 1. I don’t want to preach, but there are just too many toys. Honestly kids can’t deal with all that choice! Try to remove some of the toys to a hidden storage area (under a bed, under the couch or credensas, waterproof deck box, garage) and rotate them monthly into the play space. I know you say that you have little storage, but I would try anyway. You really have a lot of… Read more »
This was my first thought, too. I understand wanting to give kids options (and dealing with the onslaught of gifts from family)…but I wonder if Evelyn would be just as happy with things pared way down.
She’s a VERY happy girl, and no, definitely doesn’t need all of this stuff. Part of the reason I decided against a 3rd birthday party for her was because I just couldn’t do one more toy-related gift. (Even when you tell people not to bring something, they ALWAYS do.)
I agree too many toys! But also I empathize. I have four kids and have such a weakness for beautiful kids’ toys.
Dear Arlyn, I feel you, I was there, 25 years ago. What helped me tremendously at the time was a few toy purges that I did in the absence of my two boys. They never, ever noticed or missed any of the dozens of items that I got rid of. I rearranged everything in a pleasing manner before they came back home and they were blinded by the “fresh” way their toys were suddenly presented to them. Well, just my two cents, but I think that’s step one. And I have to say that in hindsight, I should have been way more strict with them about putting away their toys as they go exchanging one for the other all day long. Kids should realize early on the importance of caring for their living spaces and making them as nice as possible. OK, that’s more like four cents worth now, haha. Good luck and enjoy this time with your little daughter. :-)
Thank you Sylvie. Yes it seems like a purge is in order (I meant to do one at the beginning of the year but then the fires happened and it was the least of my concerns haha). Since we have a lot of experience with library books going back to the library, she’s pretty good if something “goes back” or gets donated. She does ask, because she has an uncanny ability to remember even the tiniest dumb ball she got from the dentist like two years ago, but she doesn’t throw a fit or anything if I explain that it’s gone.
A combo of option 1 and 2 seems the clear choice to me- round table and chairs/banquette that functions as your work space OR a dining space and the rest of the room for place space and storage. She will still play in the living room but if the central storage is in the dining room that reduces the kid clutter significantly. And having a dining table and desk seems unnecessary and won’t give you the space you need.
Yeah I agree that “central storage” is key!
Chiming in to offer camaraderie but no real solutions :) Our dining room is now “the ball room” a purely utilitarian play space with a kid-friendly loveseat, Hot Wheels, a dollhouse, a play kitchen, and a Fisher-Price basketball hoop. It’s the first room you see when entering our house, and it’s definitely a statement (chaos and kids). I work at our breakfast nook, where we also eat. We still mostly play in the living room, but having this extra space is invaluable when the kids need a change. It’s not my favorite, but we’re not in a sit-down dinner party phase; we’re in a “so this is our ball room, it’s where we keep our balls” phase. ??♀️ Good luck, Arlyn!
And FWIW kids will play anywhere so if you need to keep the space for you – don’t stress. Happy moms make for happy kids.
This might be my favorite comment. It reminds me of my sister who has twin boys (now teenagers). Their dining room was their play room, and my sister and I would go look for dining tables to dream a little for when the time came to no longer have a play space. Well…they are about to be 15 and it’s still not a dining room, but rather their “ball” room with a basketball hoop and tubs of all kinds of different sports balls. HAHA
Personally, I would never turn my dining room into a play room. Ultimately, play is going to happen everywhere. We generally kept toys to a minimum – think good quality block sets, train set, marble run, legos. These were in tubs that could be stashed in a corner or back in their room. That was about it. Lots of books – mostly kept in their bedroom along with stuffies and things like that. General rule was you play then you put away. Besides a high chair, we didn’t have any kid-specific furniture. There’s no reason a child can’t use a coffee table or dining table for projects. The toddler furniture ultimately becomes useless as the child grows too big for it. It looks like you have a lot of toys, and that might be part of the problem. I would start by downsizing the toys, and then moving them around the house. It looks like you have a play kitchen – I’d move that to the kitchen. Then maybe move that Ikea unit from the dining to the living room with the others. Limit the amount of toys to just what will fit in those. And I know you mentioned… Read more »
Completely agree.
From a “wise” EDH parent, my advice is, ‘If you build it she will come’. She will go to wherever the toys are. If you keep them in the dining space, that’s where she will play. So don’t fret about that.
Option 2 provides tons of space for toys, plus a spot to work that provides a slice of sanity near the window. HOWEVER, if I had your talents, I’d try for option 1. While it could get busy, I have no doubt that you’d pull it together in a beautiful, functional way. I worry you may miss not having a small “grown-up” place to eat with friends, since option 2 would only give you the bistro table in the kitchen. And listen, there’s no rule that says the banquette space can’t also be dual purposed to serve as your office space if you prefer to work near the window. That would then give you flexibility to add bookshelves – you may even consider bookshelves with desk built-in. Selfishly, I’d love to see what you could do!
Just remember this set-up is only for a time; they grow up FAST and you will have your dining space back before you know it.
This gave me a good chuckle. Yeah, as I think on this more today after seeing all the comments, I’m inclined to work with what I have going (though I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that completely changing the space excites me, figuring out that challenge and all).
My youngest of 3 turned 18 this week. My question for you is what does she actively consistently use and can you consider paring down her stuff? I noticed that when my kids had fewer toys, they were far more engaged and played longer than when we went to their friend’s house who had ALL the things. They would just flit around from thing to thing, never really settling in deeply with any of it, but at home where we were too poor to have much, they were focused and calmer for longer. There’s just a lot there for one little kiddo, which I think is what’s making it feel like there isn’t room. For this season, which we know is fleeting, I would consider taking out most of it, and storing it and just having her top 3 activities in the space (for us it was books, art supplies and something to build with) the rest was imagination. And maybe rotating out new toys once a week. We never had a play kitchen but we did “play” kitchen all the time with their little table and chairs. Anyway, I would start with a drastic edit first, live with that… Read more »
Don’t sell your furniture-store it! My kids are grown now but one of them NEVER played alone in his room, while my daughter loved it. So make decisions based on that. You have another 4 years (minimum) of big clunky toys and then the toys start to get smaller.
I would turn it into a play space and have a big squishy chair in there. Work from the breakfast nook, add a small desk later if you need to, but if you’re comfortable (big chair!) hanging out in there it will prevent the toys migrating back to the living room. One chaotic space but a peaceful living room would be my ideal.
Hi! This may not be the most popular option but your daughter will not need a playroom for most of her life. We are city dwellers who live in our dream home but man she isn’t the largest. We have a four year old who happily keeps her toys in her bedroom and a few designated bins on the lower level of our house. This has actually had unintended benefits. She cleans up after herself without being asked and she seems to take more ownership of her things. You say she doesn’t know any better but the truth is, she doesn’t care. I know there is always the small voice in your head as a mother that tells you to do more, but here, you are good. Make your office and keep the dining room! That toddler chair from crate and barrel will be gone by age 3. You have a great eye, anything you decide will be gorgeous!
We use both of these bins! :)
I’ve turned a dining room into a playroom three times (my kids are now 5 and 7) and I’ll tell you that it has never resulted in the living room being less full of toys. So I would not have that as your goal. In our case we really didn’t need the dining space and gained more room for the kids to play, but it sounds like you really value the dining space much more. I wonder if you have space (maybe down in the dungeon?) to disassemble the dining table and store it for a bit to see how you like the room without it. See if Evelyn would really use the new open space before making any big commitments.
I like options 1 or 2. I personally would go for 1; I really value a dining room, but we use ours all the time for family meals, games, dinner parties. We don’t have room for a play room, but I also like the non-bedroom spaces in our house be places to bring us together. Also, our kids do not seem interested in being by themselves; even at 9 and 11, they tend to gravitate to the spaces near other people.
My younger daughter is the type that plays with every single thing and also has massive amounts of toys. One day she left a huge mess of toys and art supplies in our formal living room and I decided then and there that nope, you don’t get to takeover EVERY SINGLE ROOM IN THE HOUSE. I highly advise against dragging her stuff into yet another room. You, your space, your vision matter too and she will benefit from respecting that. Also echo the comments of toy rotation and periodic purging – they also learn the benefits of donating their less used toys.
Thank you for saying this! Look, I know we have a massive amount of toys for a not-even-3 year old. But she plays WITH EVERYTHING. Now, she doesn’t *need* to play with that much stuff. When we were in Florida traveling for 3 weeks over Christmas, we only had a few little toys with us, and she had the time of her life honestly. As long as she has bins and bins of books, her puzzles and her art supplies, she’s kind of golden.
My dudes are like that, too! Even the broken bits and bobs – they become the most unbelievably creative parts of ‘factories’ or built creatures or giant shops run by stuffies… it’s hard to purge knowing they use every bit, and when 90% of it was free from the street… solidarity!!!
First of all, you’re doing great. She’s fine – she has you and a great, safe space to be in, and the rest is cake. I also remember the horror on visitors’ faces when they used to come to our old house (particularly during the pandemic years) when I had a 5 and a 7 year old and didn’t even bother with a dining room because they needed room to roll around on the floor and cartwheel and make and break things more than I needed a dining room. BUT you also need a place to work where you can have some peace and pleasure, because peace and pleasure lead to the best work, and I’m assuming that (at least partially) work is something you also do for the good of your family.
All of which to say, please don’t apologies for having needs and desires in this. You’re killing it. I like option 2 because my kids always liked open space more than tables and chairs, and I love to write by a window. But pick what will feel best for you – all of the options are terrific.
:)
I have twin toddlers without a dedicated playroom, so I get the struggle. I would consider keeping the play area in the living room and temporarily storing the coffee table, so that can be her place to spread out. As others have suggested, keep all the toys in one area and try to purge or rotate a bit so that they all can fit there. Of course, she’ll still bring them to other rooms, but their home should be one spot, so its easier for her/you to clean up and reset at the end of the day.
I am a mom of three (6, 3, 1) and have had similar struggles with containing toys. I’d reco a version of option 1 – the wall of toy storage/shelves, banquet with an extendable table (a comfy sitting spot for you and room to add chairs as needed), no desk (the nook on the other side of the stairs in the living room looked like a cute spot for a small desk set-up!), and no little kid table…I’d probably even swap the mini chair for a play item like the nugget or other foam situation (gathre’s are super cute/chic, but pricy). I know, the mini furniture is super cute and I want it all too, but here is my thinking – she is not going to use the mini stuff much longer, maybe a year tops, and siblings use it even shorter…I’ve learned that the hard way-my kids would all rather sit at the “big” table most of the time, even the 1 year old. AND there is still likely to be toys carried to the living room. So maybe having her small chair there with books would be a good solve. We have all independent toys in the play… Read more »
LOVE this post. So fun and relatable. Thank you for opening your home and life to us Arlyn. There’s a reason there’s such a big Arlyn fan club here at EHD :) We homeschool in a small house (kids ages 10, 8, 5, and 2) so every space must be maximized. For toys, here’s what works for us: 1. We have very few toys, we stick with “open-ended” toys, and we do toy rotation. The book Simplicity Parenting convinced me of this, and sure enough, our kids are happier and play deeper. 2. But lots of books! For every age! 3. The living room is our “big open play area” – huge rug, comfy sofa, but minimal stuff. A small coffee table off to the side is also a toddler table, or pulled to the middle when adults want it. 4. The one big dining table is for meals, games, crafts, work, etc. And makes hosting easy! 5. Most walls (wherever there isn’t a window, doorway, etc) are for storage. Top half open for books, plants, liquor, anything pretty. Bottom half closed. We use a combo of modern Billy/Besta/etc. with more classic wood secondhand furniture. Arlyn keep us posted :)… Read more »
Seconding all of this! No coffee table for us, because after my boys broke ours for the third time, we gave up on a coffee table. Apart from that, yes!
When mine were all tiny, we lived in a small townhouse, and we used the under-the-stairs closet to store most of our toys. We plopped a rug in that pass-through space in our house, and my boys played for HOURS there. I strongly second using the walls for closed vertical storage.
I’d keep the dining table because you’re about to enter the puzzles/art/stamps/beading/painting phase of life. That all works way better at a big table. Also, you love it and love hosting.
Each of my IKEA storage units has at least 2 bins full of books. And then more books up top. Maybe it makes sense to at the very least get a proper bookshelf in the dining room (maybe where my little bar is now), do a big toy purge, also purge some of my Besta unit in the living room that’s half full of random items to make room for other toys, and be done with it. I’m the daughter of a hoarder-light so it’s hard for me to get rid of things, but it’s worth it for all of our sanity.
to build off of Vera’s comment (which yes to btw), the only thing I’ll say is that after reading Simplicity Parenting years ago when I was trying to get a handle on toys, toys that were gifts, books, etc., he talks about books differently than keep all of them. He talks about giving kids fewer options everywhere EVEN books. At first to me, a bibliophile, this felt like sacrilege, but as I noticed, my 3 kids would pull out SO MANY books and engage with SOME, and leave the rest as a mess. they did this every day multiple times (bc I was the sucker cleaning up that mess). UNTIL I started to integrate Kim John’s advice and pare down their books. truth be told there were a bunch that were easy to part with because I had the BEST ones as the standard. there will always be new books, new books to love, new books gifted, always new books! but letting them develop relationships with their favorites is actually really special. We keep birthday and seasonal books up high on a shelf, and a selection of books high up too that we rotate in. this still works even with… Read more »
Forgot to add – I’ve learned art works well on walls that couldn’t hold storage (because they’re in a hallway or too close to some other furniture). But any wall that can hold a low credenza + art can instead hold cradenza + shelves or a big run of Billys!
I love the look of a credenza + art but that is a luxury for a future season of my life :) just like having lit candles on the coffee table ?
WAIT you just gave me an idea!!! Maybe I take my credenza from the dining room and bring it to my living room for some closed storage, a little bar, etc. Then take that one wall in my dining room (which is literally the only stretch of open wall in my entire living area besides the one where the TV is) and do a handful of Billy bookcases. That would store toys in pretty baskets, books (because I love the look of books), and some pretty china and servingware. I’d have to shift my table a bit but oh well. This could maybe work!
Digging this idea! I had to go vertical in my daughter’s room too – higher shelves contain the bigger subject / older kid books she’s not quite ready for yet and her breakable color me mine type art, and the lower shelves have all her current books, jewelry box, camera.
Hey Arlyn, building on this idea could you set up your dining table like it was in your last apartment, with a bench/banquette on the long wall – but flank it with billy bookcases (with closed storage on the bottom half)?
YES! exactly! this is such a fun problem to solve. I see your creativity evolving through reading these comments. it’s so cool to see!
Writing from NYC where space is small, play rooms are rare, and the kids are all just fine! Plus your daughter is on the verge of so much growth and developmental change that her needs could shift in the blink of an eye. I’d focus on rearranging the lovely pieces you have to find a better layout and then editing the toys way, way down to only what fits in closed storage and maybe a few pretty baskets. For example, maybe you should extend the green ikea cabinets wall to wall, and then have only the play kitchen below the railing so there’s so open space? And swap the toddler chair for a pretty floor pillow that can easily move from room to room? In the dinning room, maybe add a rug and if there’s space, a 2nd matching wood credenza for all art supplies? Your daughter will be big enough to work at the table before you know it!
I appreciate seeing a post on flex space in a house – it is very relevant to family life particularly for those of us with small spaces. I’ve got an 8-year-old and almost 6-year-old. We now live in a house with a basement and a legit room for a play area, but my kids don’t play there. Until a little over a year ago, we lived in an 800 square foot condo where my biggest daily concern wasn’t where my kids should play, or where toys should be stored, it was trying to keep the peace between us and our downstairs neighbors who constantly complained of the slightest noise. With that being my experience, here are my thoughts related to design solutions: 1). Kids, (at least up until the age of mine!) will play near wherever you are. Focus on controlling the number of toys you have and where to store them, rather than focus on controlling where your kids are going to play. 2). Wide-open, free-range floor space is the best for indoor play. 3). Kids’ toy/play interests change rapidly. I caution against investing in expensive design choices and furniture suited for whatever stage your child is in. Maybe… Read more »
I vote none of these. There are just way too many toys. (And I am right there with you, but as my kids are in college the problem is my closet which if you opened you would say: there are just way too many clothes here). Go and buy 4-8 giant lidded storage bins today, put as many toys as possible in them and stash them away in her closet or your garage. Rotate the toys, bringing one bin out each week. We always lived in small homes and toys were only stored in bedrooms.
“I vote none of these.” HAHAHAHAHAHA I love the honesty. And I don’t think you’re wrong either…
Growing up we certainly did not dedicate an entire room as a child’s playroom. Children played in their bedrooms! That’s where everything was kept and if it was taken to another part of the house, it was returned to their bedroom after. We never had toys scattered about the house. Just the way it was.
You know…if I remember correctly, which I could not be doing, I simply do not remember having toys to begin with. I’m the youngest of 4, and I have very clear memories starting at around 5 when we moved into the home I grew up in. I had a few things in my room, but mostly I just played with my siblings, colored in coloring books, did crafts with my mom (who was an art teacher and elementary school teacher), and that’s it. There were no toys to even scattered anywhere…. Though admittedly, I have some “single child” guilt happening with my kiddo. She has no siblings or even cousins here to play with. :(
In that case, I highly recommend finding some play cousins. I’m sure there is a local mom’s group or play group or open toddler gym at your rec center you could go to or a church or something. Chat up some moms and start building a framily for your little girl.
This is a lot of work from the ground up, but we did it as we have no actual family nearby. Our kids have lots of play aunties and uncles and cousins.
If your kid gravitates to the living room to play, that is where she will play. I would not turn your dining room/ workspace into a playroom. I would take her toys out of the dining room actually so you can have one adult space. Use the playroom money to make that special for the adults. Then you might feel more ok with the toys in the living room. Finding some storage space in the attic and doing a toy rotation would be great. In two years, she will be in kindergarten all day. We have a pretty big house, and my little one has a small play nook in our family room. She gets one big item and whatever fits in a large organizer. The rest is stored in her room or basement. Too much toy stuff around us just as unsettling for littles as it is for parents.
I agree with others! A smaller selection of toys is easier to manager and easier to hide, and toddler-specific furniture takes up so much space and is used for so few years. Things that could tide you over for now: – Switch out some of the open toy storage for closed storage – Find a different coffee table that can be used as a “toddler” table for a few years but ultimately goes back to being a coffee table when she outgrows – Consider a bench for your dining room table instead of 2 of the chairs: the table could be pushed against the wall with the bench underneath if you needed more floor space, and a bench is easier than a chair for a child to get up and down from. That might encourage her to use the dining room table for arts/crafts/lego builds, instead of a toddler table and chairs. Finally, every parent has different comfort levels, but our son started playing by himself in the basement playroom when he was about 3. Depending on how you feel, you could ease her into playing in her bedroom without you – make sure it’s safe, make sure she’s comfortable… Read more »
What about making two combined spaces to satisfy four functions? Combine the dining room with your workspace and combine the living room with toy storage/play. I’m remembering that your beloved burled armoire that wouldn’t fit in the bedroom is being stored in the garage. Would it fit in the living room for toy storage? It could replace the white units and keep toys out of sight when you want it to be just a living room. Keep the dining table/chairs and the buffet in the dining room. It also remains your work area. Add an ergonomic chair. Since you don’t work when she’s playing, you can be in the living room with her for play.
Im a mom of two and a former Waldorf toy maker and toy store owner (love her playsilk!). Step one should be to go through her toys and donate or store (in the garage?) at least one third so you can rotate or simply purge. Kids dont need alot of toys, a few staple toy items along with safe household items (baskets, spoons, cardboard boxes, etc) will actually help their creativity and imagination develop. Dont ever feel bad about purging toys, kids hardly ever notice at that age and are excellent play makers with whats available. Once you have done that, then I say leave whats left in the living room, and keep your dining area as a work and eat zone, us moms need our sanity!
Oh what a fascinating job! We LOVE Sarah’s Silks. Just added to her play silks collection with a cape for her birthday, but she loves her “wings” so much. And you’re totally right!
Thank you for a great discussion! The simplest solution might be to remove the coffee table to create open floor space in the living room and a trip trap chair for easy play in the dining room. I accidentally ended up with this arrangement in my small apartment and it’s been brilliant for my three year old (we didn’t have a coffee table when we moved and then found the layout was perfect for her without it. Ha!)
We often eat at the coffee table for “adult dinner” a few times a week. Especially if our close friends are over where it’s way more casual. BUT someone did suggest maybe getting a small kid table for her to put against the wall once I purge some toys, and we could drag that over to use for eating when needed.
My coffee table was used by my. kids to color and play at and I could also keep using it as a coffee table. Just find a regular coffee table without a shelf underneath – that way your daughter can pull her hair up and use it a s a table when necessary!
Keep your dining room table and chairs, for sure. This is such a short phase and you’ll be back to a “real” dining room in no time. Could you add more vertical storage to give space to both toys and books? And maybe a playmat for blocks, cars, etc?
When our first was little, our playgroup teacher dropped this wisdom: parenting is not fun (for you or your child) when you’re saying no all the time or need to be hyper-vigilant because your home isn’t accommodating for children. Take whatever space you can and define that area of your home as a YES space for your kids. As in – YES you know they are safe because you’ve removed hazards or precious things, YES because it has toys and games and items you feel comfortable with them playing with, YES you feel ok if you need to leave them there while you go to the bathroom, YES they love that area and being there too, YES they can make a mess/leave toys out because that’s what the kid area is for. To be able to remove some mental load by creating that space and letting it be is a godsend when they are little.
PS when my kids were small we had a little teepee that collapsed and went in a closet when they weren’t using it. I set it up maybe once a week and it was such a hit (and doable in our small apartment).
Hi! So if renting another home with a dedicated space that can be used as a playroom then I’d start with a serious toy purge. Toys that are developmentally inappropriate get sold or donated and broken toys get thrown away. Re-assess how much storage you want to have in your homes dedicated to toys and then using the limitations of storage components take another look at which toys, and arts/ craft things to keep. Your dining room table and chairs are beautiful. I wouldn’t move those out unless those were going to temporarily in a garage for this season of your life. Instead I’d attempt to make each space as kid-friendly as you can. What makes sense for your daughter to play with in the dining room? What makes sense for her to have in the living room? Does she really needed oh-so-cute toddler sized seating when the trade off could be more floor space? Also if you have out of sight/ reach storage like a closet, under the bed, or a garage you could practice a toy rotation. Split the toys in thirds. Rotate a 1/3 every 2-3 weeks and watch her delight in seeing an “old friend” for… Read more »
Do what makes the most sense for your family. Just because something was labeled a dining room, doesn’t mean it should remain as one. If you can, store your dining furniture. If not, sell and buy whatever will be in style when you decide to have one again. You might not even like the same size or shape. You may change your home again. Perhaps buying used might be a better investment when furniture needs change a lot. Lots of people don’t even use a dining room, but use their kitchen or living room for eating or parties. It’s doable. Some people have folding chairs and tables. Some use coffee tables for food. When children grow up, you may decide on having a library or a craft room, or a music room for them instead of a play room. I never dedicated a dining room to kids. It serves as a homework room mostly. I do have an additional family room so it’s not that big a deal. However their toys are all over the house as I don’t want them to spend time alone in their rooms. It may be fine in some families, but I didn’t want my… Read more »
Oh boy, this is the most relatable EHD post I’ve seen for a while. More of this! More imperfect, messy, kid life and wth to do about it.
We live in a small house and my toddler has also kind of taken over. I get so jealous when I go to other people’s houses and they have a dedicated playroom. In some sense, though, I love that I can relax on the couch and she can just play right there on the living room floor. I tell myself it’s temporary, too, but kids will always have stuff, plastic and colorful or not. Our layout really doesn’t lend itself to dropping the dining room, or any other space, but I’m excited to see what you come up with!
These comments are all so interesting! Lots of things to consider. It’s fun to see your daughter, Arlyn! She’s getting so big and her curls are beautiful!
It really just has gone so fast (except that first year…that was a snail’s pace). Everywhere she goes, it’s a love fest for her beautiful curls. :) She’s an angel.
Look up small spacers! I have lived in 900sft with 3 boys and while not ideal there are ways to make it work! I find to keep myself sane we rotate toys. So there could never be that many toys out. All craft supplies are in the kitchen where we have to clean them up for meals which keeps things tidier and it’s an easy space to clean up. Never had a toddler table and it’s been okay!
also put my workspace in my bedroom to give the kids more space- not ideal but it does work!
I love your posts so much, Arlyn – so relatable! We’re in a similar phase of life, though we’re fortunate enough to have a dedicated playroom. Still, though, the main living space sees way more action, so the playroom is really more like a larger space for storing toys that aren’t used as much. My 2 cents: move the two toy storage units from the living room into the dining room (alongside the other one). This makes more space in the living room, and you can easily use the bins to help rotate toys. We’re big on Montessori, and our kid really does play with fewer toys more. If she happens to pull things out of the bins to play with them in the dining room, that’s cool too – at least she’s playing with them! I also think you can cheat the layout in the dining room however you want to work for your family on a daily basis. If you’re not having a dinner party often, no need to center the dining table so every chair is usable. Sure, it might look a little wonky, but who cares? And when you have people over, friends and family won’t… Read more »
Oh right…my powder room HAHAHAHA. Actually I did put up the light, and I have the wallpaper but haven’t put it up. It seems so daunting!
We had a very similar dilemma in our small house! A couple questions I would ask are – does she really need a toddler table and a toddler reading chair in the same room? We had a toddler table in our living room and it was rarely used so we ended up relocating it. If theres a dining table in the same room, she could always sit there to color/craft. Another question I’d ask is does she play with all of the toys available? Is a toy rotation something feasible? Maybe things could be pared down so you still have storage for your kitchen appliances. And lastly, are you comfortable to just continue working at your dining table? If so, maybe a desk in the same room isn’t necessary. I think if you could pare down a little, option one would be the be best! Another thought – do you have a separate place to eat if you do get rid of the table? I do know that whatever you come up with is going to look amazing!
Love this post, love the discussion in the comments. I agree with a lot of what is being said and also offer additional perspective. I’ve lived in 850 sq ft with 2 young kids around your daughter’s age and now am in 1800 sq ft with 3 kids: ages 3, 7, and 9. Though our current house is over double what we used to live in, it still isn’t as large as the houses my friends have in the Midwest, and which I imagine some people in the comments might have, specifically some people saying some version of “kids won’t use the playroom.” YES kids will gravitate to where people are to play and will play all over the house no matter where the toys “live,” AND if you have a designated playroom in a smaller house with more open sightlines like your townhouse, they absolutely will play in it. If you have a big house and the playroom feels removed from the action of the house, say it’s in a basement or a back room, I could see why young kids won’t use it as much. Our current house is a ranch and I can see the kids in… Read more »
couldn’t recommend 600 sq ft more. excellent resource! two more great ones: the minimal mom and Marissa from a to zen. the best things I’ve pulled from each of them (truly SO many things) are the following which it sounds like might apply to you: holding onto to sentimental things (I’m thinking of Evelyn’s clothes in her bedroom) clothes were my ARCH NEMESIS For my kids. the absolute hardest to pare down. But what I’ve noticed is that it gets easier as they get bigger. So right now you can probably go back to her newborn clothes and recognize things to send on that you just did not have the ability to see when she was a newborn moving to three month clothes. it’s easier than when she was a teeny tiny baby! promise! what I started to realize was that I was saving my kids’ clothes for IF I had another baby and IF that baby was the same gender and IF they were born in a similar season to wear similar things at the same time. that was a lot of IFS for my small space. so I started to keep my favorites or the best of the… Read more »
My dining room is part play room part dining room. It’s a huge room (same size as the living room just opposite) and it opens to the kitchen on one side and living room on the other, so right in the center of everything. Basically we pushed the dining room table over across from the hutch freeing up 1/3 of the room and made that my toddler’s space. Pros: I can see my newly minted 3 year old no matter where I am or she is for that matter in the living spaces; bedrooms are for sleep only; all toys/kid stuff are stored in one place. Cons: it’s in the middle of everything and rarely tidy (I can’t face cleaning a second kitchen at the end of every day); toys migrate all over the house anyway because wherever I am is where my 3 year old is; my usable dining area is really tight on space (I didn’t downsize my 8 seater table because I adore it and plan to have it forever, toys not so much). All that said, my 3y/o will go to 5 day until 2:30p preschool in the fall and that leaves my baby at home.… Read more »
I would personally declutter 60% of the toys, colouring books, games, etc. Toddlers do not need 3 rooms in which to play or do activities, especially when space is limited. And adults deserve to have a nice dining space even if some of it has to be shared with home office supplies. I grew up with 4 siblings and my mother ran a home daycare centre from our finished basement. Some days there were up to 8 kids in the home between my siblings and daycare kids. Everything was neatly packed away at the end of the day and my parents had their adult spaces that were kid free (formal living room and formal dining room) and off limits.
I say leave the dinning room as is. Do a major toy purge then ideally put toys in a closet and rotate them out. Then you don’t have the visual clutter but you still have your dinning room, and toys for your daughter and your current work space.