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I’ve (slowly) been showing you around our house (Emmy’s nursery // Coop’s room) and I wanted to share with you the room where we spend 80% of our waking hours… the den! It’s the kids’ playroom and has all the toys and kid-stuff on our main level but it’s also where Chris and I hang out after the kids go to bed. It’s a cozy little space off our kitchen where the TV and all the books and toys live but I wanted it to be functional yet not look like the toy aisle at Target exploded in my house… so here’s our playroom den + a couple tips for creating a space that doesn’t scream “KIDS!”:
Choose Wisely
I only keep one “big” baby thing in the den… the Ingenuity Boutique Collection Rocking Seat. I love it because it totally fits in with the look and feel of the room (and our whole home) and gives Emmy a safe place to rock and chill while we’re hanging in the den. I love that it grows with baby and has a variety of recline options, plus it folds up almost completely flat. Grab one at Target or Babies R Us.
Be Flexible
Accidents happen. A LOT. Almost everything in our den is washable, including the rug (c/o Lorena Canals) – machine washable, woot woot! Washable is KEY when you have three kids and a dog and I love that they use natural dyes and proceeds support the Sakula project, which provides schooling for children in India. Also – it doesn’t look showroom perfect, but we also cover our sectional with a king-sized sheet set WITH waterproof crib sheets under it. Not the plastic, crunchy kind, but a washable fabric kind. They’re seriously amazing when *someone* spills water on the couch, or potty training goes wrong… I just pop it all in the washer and the actual couch isn’t destroyed. I imagine this is how moms of the ’60s felt about their plastic couch covers. Not the best look but anything to save some sanity and the sofa.
Be a Basketcase
Baskets will SAVE YOUR ROOM. While I’d love to say that I’m so minimalist and my kids only have 3 wooden toys and use their imaginations to play all day long, that’s not our reality. We have stuff. Lots of stuff. So, for now, it’s mostly hidden when the kids aren’t playing with it. Amazing what some baskets and a strategically placed blanket can do.
Create Shared Space
Almost all the books on this shelf are kids’ books but the rest of the decor isn’t child-specific. But nothing is too delicate or ‘adult’. We compromise with pics of the kids, vintage-inspired maps, a huge geometric canvas, and wooden accents – nothing is breakable and it’s all practical yet fresh.
Shop Our Den
