I’ve designed a handful of playrooms for my kids in the past.  Each represented the stage of toys they were in. They are an easy audience, and as long as everything is accessible to them, it’s always a hit. The design is about creating a space that keep toys hidden, creativity flowing, organization in check and parents happy. Here are my go-to components to accomplish just that.

A place to lounge: Our playroom is more of a multi-purpose space. It was important to make sure this was a room that we would all enjoy. 

I found this orange plaid sleeper sofa, which appealed to our preteen boys and set the colour scheme for the room. We decided that the playroom should also be a place for the kids’ sleepovers.

Beanbag chairs are always a hit, but we recently replaced them with cosy slipcovered chairs.

Storage: In the last playroom I hung open shelving. BIG mistake. Huge! This time, we have back-to-back dressers that allow us plenty of deep drawers to store movies, electronics, toys and anything else they get their sticky paws on. I intended to let the kids scribble on the natural wood, making it their own work of art, but they sort of grew out of that stage before we finished the room. Consider designating a sofa, a wall, a table or another piece of furniture for the kids to write on. You’ll be the coolest parent on the block. I balanced the dressers with some shelving for games and larger books that flank the old coal-burning fireplace. 

Flooring: Keep it simple. We have hardwood, so I warmed up the space with a rug. The kids dropped acrylic paint on it a week after the room was done, so I replaced it with something I could wash in my machine, but my daughter’s friend cut the ends until it unravelled. I’m now considering a more durable indoor/outdoor rug in the future. For now, hardwood floors it is.

A place to work and be creative: We homeschool two of our kids, so it is important to have a work space. Our kids aren’t toddlers anymore, so we opted to replace the low-profile table and chairs with a round top, so it’s easier for my husband Dave and I to sit and play a board game without needing an adjustment on our backs. We also built out a little nook just off the playroom to house a couple of computers. I didn’t want them in the main playroom. It’s easier for me to control “screen time,” and it also allows the kids some privacy if they are doing homework.

Have fun with design: Make the space something that reflects your family. I tried to make it fun and energizing but also something my seven-year-old girl would like and my 10- and 12-year-old boys would not find offensive. I played the navy blue off the orange sofa and then mixed in some pops of colours. To accomplish an accent wall, I used a combination of the kids’ art, some family photos and mirrors. These pieces can be switched easily to show the kids’ new works of art.

Less is more works for us since I am a decluttering fool, but the sky’s the limit on styling a room like this. Don’t be afraid to mix patterns, shake up the colours and add endless amounts of feature walls if that’s what rocks your kid’s world. This is the room to shake it up a bit!

Catch Kortney and her husband Dave Wilson on new episodes of Masters of Flip Tuesday nights at 10 p.m. on W Network.