Knowing how to design a playroom is really about designing for change. A playroom has to work for a toddler tipping out bricks and, a few years later, for a child doing homework or building elaborate worlds on the floor. In a London home, where space is precious and rooms are often period-shaped with chimney breasts and awkward corners, that means planning a room that is durable, calm to be in, and easy to reset at the end of the day. Get the bones right and the room adapts as your family does.
Start by reading the space
Before you buy anything, understand what you are working with. A playroom in a London house is usually one of three things: a dedicated small room such as a box room or reception, a converted loft, or a zone carved out of a larger open-plan space. Each has implications.
- A small dedicated room is best used vertically, with storage up the walls and the floor left as clear as possible for play.
- A loft gives lovely light but has sloping ceilings, so keep tall items to the full-height wall and use the eaves for low storage.
- A zone in a bigger room needs a visual boundary, a rug, a low shelf run or a change in colour, so play stays contained and can be tidied out of sight of the adult space.
Note the fixed points too: radiators, sockets, the chimney breast and the door swing. In older London homes these dictate where furniture can safely go, and the alcoves either side of a chimney breast are perfect for built-in storage.
Zone the room for different kinds of play
Children do several very different things in a playroom, and the best rooms give each a loose home. Think in terms of an active floor zone with a soft rug for building and small-world play, a quiet corner with a beanbag or low chair for reading, and a table for drawing, crafts and, later, homework. You do not need a large room to do this, only to resist filling the middle with furniture. Keep the centre clear and push the functions to the edges.
Storage that does the heavy lifting
Storage is what makes or breaks a playroom, because a room that cannot be tidied quickly stops being used. The principle is simple: most storage should be low and open so children can reach it and put things away themselves, with a smaller amount of closed, higher storage for adults to control the mess and hide the visual clutter.
- Low open shelving and labelled baskets let children access and reset their own toys, which is the single biggest help to keeping the room usable.
- Built-in units in the alcoves of a period room use dead space and give a clean, tailored look that suits a nice house.
- A window seat or bench with storage under it earns its place twice over.
- Choose storage that will still make sense in five years, so it works for games and books as easily as it does for baby toys now.
Finishes: built to be lived on
Playrooms take punishment, so specify for it. Flooring should be durable and forgiving: a good engineered wood or vinyl with a large, soft, washable rug over it gives warmth underfoot and a defined play area, and is far more practical than fitted carpet you cannot easily clean. On the walls, a wipeable, hard-wearing paint finish matters more than the exact colour. If you want pattern or personality, keep it to one wall or to removable pieces rather than committing the whole room.
Colour, light and calm
It is tempting to go bright and primary, but a calmer base tends to serve a playroom better. A soft, warm neutral on the walls keeps the room restful and lets the toys, books and children's own artwork provide the colour, which also means the room grows up gracefully. Layer the lighting: good general light for daytime play, plus a softer lamp or a dimmable fitting in the reading corner for winding down. In a darker London room, keep the window clear and choose finishes that bounce light around.
Safety and flexibility
Build in the practical safeguards without making the room feel clinical: anchor tall furniture to the wall, keep cables managed, use cordless blinds, and put a soft rug where falls are likely. Guidance from bodies such as RoSPA is a useful reference for home safety. Above all, design for the future. The most successful playroom is one you can convert with minimal effort into a study, a teen den or a guest room, because the storage, flooring and layout were chosen to last rather than to suit one short stage.
A well-designed playroom is one of the most rewarding rooms to get right, because a family lives in it every day. If you would like a scheme tailored to your home, see our guide to what an interior designer costs in London, compare notes with our kids' bedroom guide, or return to the Vertigo Interiors homepage.
Frequently asked questions
How do I design a playroom in a small London room?
Use the space vertically and keep the floor clear. Put storage up the walls, ideally built into alcoves, use low open shelving children can reach, and leave the centre of the room free for play. A single soft rug defines the play area, and closed higher storage lets adults hide the clutter at the end of the day.
What flooring is best for a playroom?
A durable, easy-clean floor such as engineered wood or good vinyl, with a large washable rug over it, works best. It gives warmth and a defined play zone while being far more practical than fitted carpet, which is hard to keep clean under years of crafts and spills.
Should a playroom be brightly coloured?
Not necessarily. A calm, warm neutral on the walls tends to serve better, keeping the room restful and letting the toys, books and children's artwork bring the colour. It also means the room ages gracefully and can be repurposed later without a full redecoration. Save bold pattern for one wall or removable pieces.
How do I make a playroom that lasts as children grow?
Choose storage, flooring and a layout that are not tied to one stage. Open shelving works for board games and books as well as baby toys, a table becomes a homework desk, and a neutral scheme adapts easily. Designing so the room can convert into a study or den later is the key to it earning its place for years.
How do I keep a playroom safe?
Anchor tall furniture to the wall, manage cables, fit cordless blinds and place soft rugs where children are likely to fall. Keep small-parts storage out of reach of the youngest children, and use rounded, sturdy furniture. Home-safety guidance from organisations such as RoSPA is a helpful checklist when planning the room.