If you’re on the hunt for inspiration for your Pinterest perfect playroom you’ve come to the right place! I’ve spent countless hours scouring the web for the perfect playroom inspiration and I’ve finally noted it all down here so that hopefully I can save you some time in designing your own playroom. This rainbow themed playroom is Montessori inspired, design for fun and play, and organized so that you can always find the toys you need. Now let’s just into some tips and tricks!
And if you just want links to everything here scroll to the bottom!
Tip 1: start with the storage
If you’re already a mom you know that toys get out of control fast. Between gifts from friends, toy subscriptions (Lovevery parents over where!) and holidays and birthdays, the collection grows faster than you likely have space for. So first and foremost, I recommend starting your room design with storage you can use to organize the bits and bobs and loose pieces that will otherwise end up scattered everywhere. I started with these amazing shelving units from Crate and Barrel called Aspect Modular. They don’t make them anymore, but I’m sure you can find some on Facebook Marketplace or in outlet stores. I love these because they combine open and closed storage. This allows toys and books to be accessible to kiddos, but also give your room to hide things away in drawers and cabinets.
I get compliments on these shelves all of the time and the main difference between these and shelves from IKEA for example are that the closed units provide a reprieve of what space which makes the overall aesthetic less cluttered feeling bright and white and clean.
Tip 2: Find your centerpiece
Once you’ve designed your storage wall, it’s important to find the centerpiece of focal point of the play space. It could be a couch, a jungle gym, or a sensory play table. If you have hard wood floors like me, grounding the focal point with a rug is super helpful and provides a nice clean look. I love this “Play All Day” rug from West Elm because it’s mostly white (again remember white space!) but it brings a nice pop of rainbow color. Even after messy sensory play, this rug always washes bright clean white and looks so good.
Focal point ideas:
Light rug or play mat: I love this West Elm Play All Day Rug! A rug or soft play mat can make a hardwood floor so much nicer for a play space. This rug is a little on the thinner side so I’d definitely recommend a rug mat.
Sensory Table: I’m lucky to live in California where there’s an IKEA right nearby so snagging a Flisat Table was a must! I also got a few White Trofast bins to go with it because I’ve heard they may stop selling them. Anyway, we’ve already gotten so much use out of this table when she was just learning to stand and obsessed with water play (outdoors) and now sensory play indoors. I use this table for pretty much all of my setups and it’s the perfect height for her. They also have matching stools if you have a toddler who can sit still :)
Pikkler Triangle: I will admit that at first I was super skeptical. But I actually bought this set when Sofie was about 10 months that old and I’m so glad I did. She’s such a little monkey and loves to climb on everything. This Pikkler triangle plus rock bridge plus arch set was perfect for our play room setup and helps her get all of her climbing energy out.
Ball Pit: We were gifted this amazing ball pit from Crate and Barrel and it’s such a nice way to end the Pikkler Triangle bridge and Rainbow setup that we have. I also love that the whole set is ombré shades of blue and white. This again gives the space a break from too much color and adds a cool calming effect. Use this link at Crate & Kids to get a discount: https://www.talkable.com/x/GQOH8h
Circular Play Table: I love this table from Crate and Kids because not only is it compact, but it’s got room for book storage and Sofia has sooooo many books from her Literati Subscription. Use this link at Crate & Kids to get a discount: https://www.talkable.com/x/GQOH8h
Links to items!
Aspect Modular Shelves - Crate and Barrel (Get 15% off with this link)
Books - Literati
Nesting White Play Table - Crate and Kids (Get 15% off with this link)
IKEA Skadis Peg Boards
Sloan Book Rack - West Elm
Tip 3: Decorate the walls
There’s nothing quite like an open white wall to get your creative juices flowing! Two of the walls in Sofie’s play space have windows but one wall is completely wide open! I can’t wait to get these shelves / book bins on the walls to add more book storage and keep the clutter off the floor. But until then, I’ve added these awesome IKEA Peg Boards to this narrow wall space in order to organize all of Sofie’s sensory bin fillers. Of course they’re rainbow themed, I couldn’t help it. But it just looks so nice to have all of the fillers stored and organized out of her reach for daily play but accessible if I want to whip something up in a hurry. Because the peg boards have some many container options, they’re perfect for small parts storage and playroom organization.
Montessori Approach to Designing a Playroom: Unlocking Your Child's Potential
Creating a playroom that nurtures a child's natural curiosity and creativity is vital for their overall development. A Montessori approach to designing a playroom can provide children with the freedom to explore and learn at their own pace.
According to Lovevery, an expert in child development, “The Montessori method of education is based on the idea that children learn best through self-directed play and exploration.” This approach emphasizes open-ended materials and a child-centered environment that encourages children to learn through hands-on experiences.
One of the benefits of a Montessori playroom is that it allows children to develop their autonomy and independence. Lovevery states that “Montessori classrooms are designed to be free of adult interference, allowing children to explore and learn at their own pace.” This encourages children to take control of their own learning and develop their decision-making skills.
Another benefit of a Montessori playroom is that it fosters creativity and imagination. Lovevery states that “Montessori classrooms are designed to be open-ended, providing children with the freedom to explore and create.” The use of natural materials and open-ended toys encourages children to think critically and come up with their own solutions.
Montessori playrooms also promote social and emotional development. Lovevery states that “Montessori classrooms are designed to be inclusive, allowing children to learn and grow together.” The social interactions that occur in a Montessori playroom encourage children to develop empathy, respect, and communication skills.
In conclusion, a Montessori approach to designing a playroom can provide children with the freedom to explore and learn at their own pace. It fosters autonomy, creativity, and social and emotional development. Lovevery states that “Montessori classrooms are designed to be open-ended, providing children with the freedom to explore and create.” It is an effective way to support children's cognitive, physical and emotional development.