How we Created a Modern Kids' Playroom in a Traditional Home

As an interior designer who works on a lot of period properties, it’s always a real treat to design a room that allows the beautiful original features to shine, while making it feel practical for modern family life. This kids' playroom was one of those lovely projects - set in a stunning Edwardian home with stone mullion windows and the most amazing decorative plaster ceilings. My client asked me to transform what was the formal dining room into a playful, comfortable space where her grandchildren could sleep, play and relax. It would also act as a second living room.

The Interior Design Scheme

The brief was to create a room that felt fun and contemporary, while still being in keeping with the elegant, traditional style of the rest of the house. It needed to grow with the children (who are currently aged 0 to 7), appeal to both boys and girls, sleep four, offer plenty of toy storage with enough floor space to accommodate play, include a small table for drawing, and provide lots of seating for little ones and grown-ups. I do love a good challenge!

Before

The Layout

Because this room is such a large space and we needed to incorporate so much seating and storage, I recommended positioning a large corner sofa in the centre of the room to help zone the space and create a cosy, relaxed living area for the children to unwind in. By keeping the perimeter of the room free for toy and book storage, we were able to maintain a generous amount of floor space for playing - perfect for imaginative games, train tracks and dolls’ prams. This layout not only maximises functionality but also helps the room feel open and balanced.

And now here's the finished playroom!

The Colour Palette

I wanted to create a light and airy feel in this kids' room, so we went with a soft pastel colour scheme. For paint colours, I chose Salix by Little Greene for the playroom walls - a beautifully gentle shade of green that feels fresh and calming. To highlight the decorative ceiling in a subtle way, we used Threadneedle by Mylands, a delicate blush pink that adds just the right amount of warmth without drawing too much attention (this is one of my favourite pink paint shades that works brilliantly in any room, including tricky north facing spaces).

We brought in pops of colour in the soft furnishings with cheerful, warm tones to add a playful, inviting energy for the perfect play space.

Storage Solutions

A key element of any successful playroom design is ample functional storage. The tall beach house-inspired cupboards are ideal for storing toys, with plenty of space for larger items as well as storage boxes for smaller pieces, like Lego.

I added a large rattan trunk for bigger items—this is not only practical but also makes the toys easily accessible to the littlest grandchildren, without any risk of trapping tiny fingers. Eventually, a TV will go on the wall above the trunk, making this a multi-purpose space that transitions easily from a kids' room to a living area.

For books, we chose a pale pink freestanding bookcase, which fits seamlessly into the pastel colour scheme (and not many of us can boast a door like this one!)

We also incorporated the client’s existing oak chest of drawers and storage chest. They not only add character and warmth to the room, but they also help integrate the space with the traditional feel of the house.

These clever storage pieces work together to keep the room tidy, organised and clutter-free, ensuring that the space remains open, inviting and practical for both play and sleep.

Seating and Sleeping

The large corner sofa bed from Loaf provides plenty of space for lounging and it easily transforms into a comfy bed for sleepovers. Although we kept the existing carpet, we added a small area rug in front of the sofa for extra softness and to bring the pastel colours into this zone. The sleepover floor cushions, also from Loaf, are the perfect spot for reading a story and can be unfolded into cosy beds at bedtime. I absolutely love these - cute and practical!

Lighting

The bubble chandelier from Dowsing and Reynolds draws the eye upward, highlighting the beautiful ceiling while adding a playful touch to the room. To create a cosy glow in the evenings, we added diffused wall lights in bright colours to the alcoves. On the opposite side of the room, we opted for a different style of wall light - a playful design in a flower shape - for a fun contrast. We also placed glass domes filled with fairy lights on the chest of drawers and the mantlepiece to add a soft, inviting glow to the room.

Styling

A great way of bringing splashes of colour into a kids' space is through wall art and it can be easily changed as children's hobbies and interests evolve. I incorporated a lot of animal-themed artwork to appeal to all of the ages, and I used black frames to help ground the space, which is especially important with pastel colour schemes.

We also added some plants and flowers, including a floor plant and pot plants to bring a natural feel. This is a great way of bringing the outside in and adding some freshness to the room.

So there you go! A beautiful modern playroom that blends seamlessly with the traditional character of the house - a welcoming, fun, and practical space for the whole family to enjoy.

I’m a West Yorkshire based interior designer and I provide online design services throughout the UK. If you’re starting a project and would like some help, I’d love to hear from you! Take a look at my online interior design packages and get in touch if you’d like to book a free introductory call.