John Downs
More than just a play space, a rumpus room allows for kids to stretch out and be themselves. Think you don’t have room? Think again.
Look to these rumpus room decorating designs and practical ideas that permit room to rumble, create, read, discover, build a fort or an entire city of Lego – all in a space that’s fresh, free and forgiving.
1. Reading corner
Even a narrow room can house a reading nook at the end.
Recover a pre-loved sofa or pile high with blankets and throws for maximum snuggle value. Add a reading lamp and a table or small bookshelf to store current favourites.
Colour-coordinated bookshelves next to a day bed by Berkeley Interiors in a vibrant Brisbane home.
(Photography: John Downs / Styling: Kylie Jackes)2. Make it colourful
Designate a corner for play by anchoring the space with bookshelves offering plenty of pretty storage of games, toys and fun boxes of activities.
Add fun wall art or a cork board to display an ever-changing gallery of your children’s art.
3. Keep it simple
Any wall or alcove can serve as a place of imagination for your children. Keep things within reach of your child and don’t be afraid to regularly rotate activities.
A chalkboard wall is a vehicle for planning, play and discovery. Switch up the colours of chalk you buy from time to time to keep things fresh and engaging.
A chalkboard wall is a great way to encourage play and creativity.
Photography: Louise Roche / Styling: Kylie Jackes)4. Wallpaper for fun
Your rumpus ‘room’ can be a stolen corner of a kitchen, lounge room, bedroom or sun room. To differentiate the space from the rest of the room and create extra energy, cover one wall in a fun wallpaper.
Choosing children’s décor to match your own room is a great way to maximise the use of your spaces and allow them to flow into one another whilst visually keep it from looking cluttered.
Large scale floral wallpaper sets the scene in this bedroom in a bayside Hamptons home.
(Photography: Suzi Appel / Styling: Beckie Littler)5. Any room will do
Look again at downstairs rooms, your garage or storeroom for its rumpus potential.
Add plenty of rugs, colourful artwork and embrace the rough-and-ready nature of the space by hanging a swing, having a “messy corner” and simply going with the flow.
A spare room was transformed into a kids game room, featuring jungle wallpaper and boho styling.
(Photography: Suzi Appel / Styling: Beckie Littler)6. Layered rugs
Invest in a generous rug for floor play and layer smaller rugs for ‘breakout’ areas – soft and fluffy for under a tee pee, wipe-clean for under the snack table.
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