Montessori Playroom: 5 Easy Steps to a Calmer Play Space
Fewer toys, calmer colors, more independent play — here's how to give your play space the Montessori treatment in one weekend.
A Montessori-inspired play area encourages children to use their imagination through active play with open-ended toys. And if you love a calm, minimalist aesthetic, the idea of focusing on one toy at a time can really help declutter and organize your space. Here are 5 easy steps toward a brighter, calmer play space.
Step 1: Remove passive toys
It can be hard for you, let alone your kiddos, to part with beloved toys. But focus on removing passive toys (usually the plastic ones with flashing lights and sounds) because they encourage toddlers to sit back and watch.
In step 3, we'll replace these with engaging active toys that inspire imaginative, interactive play.
Step 2: Choose a color palette
Most playrooms use a bright rainbow palette, which is super fun and upbeat. If you want something a little more soothing, try a refined palette of just a few soft pastel colors. Cool colors (like blues and purples) have a calming effect; warm colors (like oranges and yellows) feel energizing. Steer clear of really bright saturated colors — they can be overwhelming and overstimulating.
Check out my Pinterest boards for more color palette inspiration!
Step 3: Refresh toys
Now that you have a color scheme in mind, it's time to refresh those toys. Tip: a neutral backdrop (grey walls, white shelves) lets you swap the color palette as your kiddos get older, so you're never stuck with one theme.
The toys (and wall art) bring the color and vibrancy. If you already have wooden toys and you're up for a DIY challenge, repaint them! Otherwise, look for open-ended wooden toys in muted tones — blocks, stackers, and simple vehicles get played with far longer than anything with batteries.
Our own Goodnight Fox flashcards earn their shelf space too: the routines and emotions cards double as playroom wall art and actually get used every day.
Step 4: Organize and display toys
Now it's time to artfully display each toy on the shelf. Beware of overcrowding! We want toddlers to focus and explore one object at a time, so consider displaying one toy per shelf. You'll have more toys than shelves, of course — group the rest and store them in tasteful bins or drawers, then rotate every week or two. Rotation makes old toys feel brand new.
Low, open shelving works best — an IKEA Kallax or any simple cube shelf at toddler height lets little ones see everything and put it all back.
Step 5: Accessorize (minimally!)
To pull the space together, you need more than the book and toy shelf (though that's a great start!). Based on your color palette, choose a few key accents. One or two from each category is plenty:
- Accent piece: a pouf or small chair in one of your room colors
- Wall art: playroom prints or posters that tie the colors together — our calming corner posters pull double duty here
- A rug: defines the play space's boundaries and adds an instant pop of color
- A cozy corner: even a small calm-down nook with a cushion and a few books gives big feelings somewhere to land — see our calming corner setup
Tips & tricks
Get started without buying anything new
- Hide the loud stuff: if your toddler adores a noisy toy, don't banish it — make it a special-occasion toy that appears for short bursts.
- Organize books by color: pick the books whose bindings match your palette and arrange lightest to darkest. Hide the rest for instant cohesion.
- Add a blanket: a throw in your theme color, draped over a chair or folded on a low shelf, brings a quick pop of color.
- Rotate, don't purge: box up half the toys and swap them monthly. Less out at once means deeper play — and "new" toys for free.
What is a Montessori playroom?
A play space set up around Montessori principles: child-sized, uncluttered, with open-ended toys displayed simply so kids can choose, focus, and play independently.
How many toys should be out at once?
Fewer than you think — one toy per shelf, with the rest stored and rotated. If your child flits between toys without settling, that's your sign to put more away.
Do I need to buy all new furniture?
No. Start by decluttering and rearranging what you have. A low shelf or cube unit at toddler height is the single most useful piece if you buy one thing.