I recently wrote about how our playroom was finally getting a makeover, after it had been on the ‘DIY to do list’ for a few years. I was desperate to transform our playroom in to a haven filled with Ikea Kallax storage.
We have lived in our house for over 15 years, and when we moved in the garage had already been converted into a room. The room is next to the kitchen, and was the perfect place for the fridge to live. Yes we used to have a WHOLE ROOM for a fridge. But then the fridge was regulated to its rightful place in the kitchen, and the room became a playroom when the kids arrived.
After 13 years of looking at the nursery border and the brightly coloured storage boxes, I was desperate for a more grown up room for the kids. As they are 10 and 13 we wanted a second living space for all of us. Of course the room still had to house Katie’s toys and give her the room to play. But it would also be a place for us to relax in. And I am SO pleased with the transformation of our playroom.
We knew that storage would be key in keeping the room tidy, and for me there is only one storage system that will do. I literally LOVE the Kallax storage from Ikea, and we went with 3 different units for the room. Obviously these pictures were taken before everything was moved back in. And yes I did want to leave the room like this lol.
I had originally planned for the Barbie Dreamhouse to live on top of the lowest storage unit, after I saw the idea on pinterest. But it just dominated the whole room, so we created an area where Katie can sit and play. She likes to fill the house with LOTS of dolls, and the bonus is I can walk into the room now and not see them.
The bargain of the room is our Ikea sofa bed which we got from a local selling page for £25. It just needs some nice new cushions, but I have looked everywhere and not found any I like yet. We also went with new grey blinds as the old verticals were falling apart.
I love my new picture shelf which was from Ikea. I picked up the 2 postcards from Paperchase which were around £1 each, and the frames were £3.75 from Ikea. I love that I can change the pictures whenever I want to.
We have moved the teens PlayStation 2 into the playroom, after he got a PlayStation 4 for Christmas. We bought a new TV from Tesco which was £109, which is fine for the room. The teen has even emerged from his cave and joined us in the playroom to do battle playing Crash Bandicoot.
And thank you to the kids for getting me these fab flameless candles from Ikea for Mother’s Day. I have put them in the playroom to add some ambience in the evening.
So that is the tour of our new playroom and it is everything that we hoped it would be. I am sure the room will evolve over time as the kids get older. But for now it is the perfect room for us to come together as a family, whilst providing the space for Katie to play. The total cost of doing the playroom was just over £700 and that included new blinds, carpet, paint, units, television and the sofa bed. As you can see from the pictures below it has been totally transformed to what it was. The pictures were taken just before we started to empty the room, and as you can see I gave up tidying it A LONG TIME AGO.
I am linking up with the lovely Jess and Caro for
That is amazing! What a transformation! It’s brilliant what you’ve achieved with that budget. It’s nice that your son is with the family rather than hiding away too. My son spend more time downstairs with us too now and I much prefer that!
Thank you Sarah. Glad your son is downstairs more too. I know they go through stages where they retreat to their caves, but its also nice to actually be in the same room at the same time now and again x
Wow Tracey, you’ve done such a good job on this. We have the same large white unit from IKEA for the last 12 years. Three moves and it is still in great condition. Ours is now in the playroom too. We have the picture rails in two of the bedrooms and I love them. Such a great way to display books and pictures but have the freedom to change them regularly.
Youf family must be delighted with the transformation of this room. No wonder they got you such a lolvely mothers’ day present.
#homeetc
Great to hear that your unit is still going strong after 12 years. For the price you pay they really are amazing quality. I am looking forward to changing the pictures on the rail, without bothering hubby to hang yet more pictures x
What an amazing transformation! It looks absolutely fantastic! #HomeEtc
Thank you Tania, we are all really pleased with it x
Gosh what an amazing change. Wonder how long it will stay that tidy!
Probably another week of it staying tidy lol x
That storage has made such a difference! Hopefully it will stay tidy as well
It definitely has, and yes the kids have been warned to keep it tidy x
WOW!! What a transformation — well done mama!! And I bet the kids are thrilled too 🙂 IKEA storage is amazing isn’t it? I think the person who designed the KALLAX range deserves a medal! Thanks for linking up #HomeEtc
I love everything about the Kallax storage, and it has certainly transformed the playroom. How is it SO cheap yet such fantastic quality ?? Katie is made up that she has the space to play now. I think she had that much stuff in the playroom it was overwhelming her x
I love the transformation, I love how you took photos throughout. £700 is a lot but hopefully with so much storage it will pay off as your little girl grows older as it’s also suitable for teens with DVDS and stuff, or whatever will be around then! x
I can definitely see the room evolving over the next few years as they both get older. Maybe a room where they can take boyfriends/girlfriends. Eek did I just say that x
Tracey I bet you are so pleased with it it looks so much better, I bet the kids are thrilled with it, xx
Sarah I am over the moon with it, and we have been spending lots of time in there all together. Such a difference to what it was x
Oh it looks fab! When we move I was thinking of buying those IKEA storages and now I definitely am going to after seeing this, they look great x
Sharon the Ikea storage is amazing and so cheap. The largest of the units was only £75 and the boxes are between £2.50 and £3.50. And you can fit LOTS in the boxes x
Love it, a playroom is one thing we are missing in our house. lovely space for the children. #HomeEtc
Aw yes our playroom has been a godsend over the years x
Looks fab! And way better, well done! I love the London print x
The London print is just a postcard from Paperchase (70p) in an Ikea frame which was £3.75…… I know what a bargain x
Oh Tracey, it looks amazing!!! You must be so pleased with it. You must really struggle to get the children out of there now.
Thank you Rachel. Katie has had a friend round after school and she was so excited to show her the playroom x
It looks lovely Tracey, what a transformation! I love all the storage and I bet the kids are thrilled with it. I would literally kill for a playroom! 😉 x
Thanks Katie. Our playroom has definitely been a god send over the years. Love that we use it as more of a second living room now as the kids are getting older x
Wow what a transformation! It looks great you must be thrilled! Becky x #HomeEtc
Thank you Becky, we are all over the moon with the transformation x