Instagram iconInstagram icon
Facebook iconFacebook icon
pinterest iconpinterest icon
YouTube iconYouTube icon
Tiktok iconTiktok icon
LTK iconLTK icon

The Completed Family Room + Playroom!

Our second floor received a big facelift when we nixed the home office in favor of a family room + playroom! Let’s take a tour.

via Yellow Brick Home, a sweet, fun family room and play room reveal!

The playroom is complete, and it’s been such a joy to have this space in our home! And – surprise! – the adjoining former-studio-lounge-turned-family-room has been getting more use than ever. If you’re wondering where this big, family-friendly space is located, it’s on the second floor. The open space mimics the size of our living and dining rooms, which is long, but narrow. These rooms act as a passthrough to our bedrooms and main bathroom, as opposed to, say, a traditional hallway. Let’s take a tour!

PS: All sources, including paint colors, are at the bottom of this post.

Re-Purposing Our Furniture

After selling our former office desk, file cabinets and chairs (in favor of our dining room), we unrolled a pretty pink vintage rug and shopped for furniture from other rooms in our home. That cream rocking chair and end table? They used to be in Lucy’s nursery (and therefore, I can’t bear to ever part with them!).

Lucy's former nursery rocking chair in our playroom | via Yellow Brick Home, a family room and play room reveal!
Lucy's former nursery rocking chair in our playroom | via Yellow Brick Home, a family room and play room reveal!
cream rocking chair | bubble side table (similar)

This credenza? We moved it from one wall to another within the same room, and now it makes for awesome toy storage. The lidded seagrass basket used to be in the snug, but since adding built-ins to that room, we could bring it up here for stuffed animals! And speaking of toy storage…

toy storage in our playroom | via Yellow Brick Home, a family room and play room reveal!
credenza (similar) | seagrass basket

Toy Storage

… we initially worried that the credenza might not hold enough stuff as Lucy is gifted more toys over the years, but then we realized: Why are we so worried about containing all the toys when her interests are constantly changing? As new items come into this room, lesser used items go out – to neighbors, friends or our Buy Nothing Facebook group.

toy storage in our playroom | via Yellow Brick Home, a family room and play room reveal!

But as I began to fill the credenza with Lucy’s toys, I quickly realized that this credenza was plenty big for her + our needs. As many of you suggested doing, I picked up these clear storage bins so that she could see her toys, and we have room to spare:

A peek inside our credenza's toy storage | via Yellow Brick Home, a family room and play room reveal!
credenza (similar) | clear storage bins

Ah, glorious empty bins, be still my heart! The other section of this cabinet is home to a dollhouse, the nearby basket holds stuffies, and… that’s it. That’s all her toys that we keep in this room! That said, the downstairs snug is where we keep board games and a few items that she enjoys playing around the coffee table.

All the Greenery!

Hands down, our favorite feature on the second floor is the sunlight. So much beautiful, bright sunlight! Our plants simply sing up here. Our living wall pocket has been going strong for years, with tweaks along the way. (My spider plant didn’t make it, but ZZs and pothos thrive.)

Our living wall planter in the playroom | via Yellow Brick Home, a family room and play room reveal!
living wall planter

Who was here when I spray painted this dinosaur hot pink? Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would be a favorite toy for my future child, but here we are! It makes my heart burst every time she plays with it (which is literally every single day), and I love discovering it new places around the house. Most recently, I pulled back our bed covers to find him tucked inside, nice and snug.

But I digress. Our Ficus Audrey couldn’t be happier, although I keep waiting for the moment that she begins dropping leaves. It hasn’t happened yet, but I’m still over here crossing my fingers for a healthy, long life! I’ve been rotating her ever-so-slightly as she turns towards the sun, watering her weekly and misting her leaves in-between drinks.

An Audrey Ficus in our playroom | via Yellow Brick Home, a family room and play room reveal!
tree planter (similar)

A Place to Create

Lucy’s craft table has made the rounds on each floor, but for now, it makes sense to keep it up here. (We bought it unfinished, and I sealed the top and painted the legs black.) It’s lightweight enough to move out of the way for more floor space, which is something many of you brought up as being important in a playroom – and I agree!

Lucy's craft table in the playroom | via Yellow Brick Home, a family room and play room reveal!

The vintage chairs I bought from our Flash Sale for Charity add a dash of whimsy, and we can easily pull items from the nearby craft room to work in here (you can see a glimpse of the craft room on the right side of the photo above). Inside the desk, we stash construction paper, colored pencils and sticker sheets, and I like to keep a basket of wooden stacking rocks nearby – although it’s tough to say who has more fun with these, Mom + Dad or Lucy!

Yellow Brick Home, a family room and play room reveal!
craft table | rope basket | stacking rocks

Tomato Tea + Cheese Soup

Lucy turned 3 in January, and our gift to her was the infamous IKEA play kitchen! We spray painted the faucet and hardware gold, but beyond that we left it alone, and I’m happy with that.

Lucy's play kitchen | via Yellow Brick Home, a family room and play room reveal!
Lucy's play room | via Yellow Brick Home, a family room and play room reveal!
​​​​​​​kitchen | print + frame | faux fur

Lucy makes us silly variations of tea and soup, and she loves to bring me breakfast in bed – typically, tomato tea with a side of cheese, eggplant or lettuce. We stocked the kitchen with cute thrifted plates and cups (click here for more tips to stock your play kitchen), and we laid a soft faux fur on the floor (which she also loves using as a ‘reading mat’!).

Try using thrifted plates for your play kitchen | via Yellow Brick Home, a family room and play room reveal!

We tried a handful of art pieces to fill this wall, even considering a gallery wall or a few DIY ideas. In the end, I couldn’t resist this print from one of our favorite local artists, Ryan Duggan. He just restocked the third edition of this print, and I can’t stress enough how wonderful the quality is! This brass frame showcases it beautifully. (And don’t you love how the cat looks like she’s hanging onto a branch from our ficus?)

Lucy's play kitchen | via Yellow Brick Home, a family room and play room reveal!
A close up of the print: What Now? | via Yellow Brick Home, a family room and play room reveal!
print + frame

Lucy’s Top Request: A Dress-Up Station!

There’s a small nook tucked against our exposed chimney, and I knew all along that I wanted to make this Lucy’s dress-up station. She’s been obsessed with wearing costumes since her first Halloween, and if you’ve ever seen us out and about, it’s very likely you’ve seen Lucy as a chameleon, unicorn or frog. She just started venturing into the world of tutus, so it was time she had a place to store all her goodies!

A dress up corner for Lucy with unicorn costume, necklaces and plants | via Yellow Brick Home, a family room and play room reveal!
A dress up corner for Lucy | via Yellow Brick Home, a family room and play room reveal!
A dress up corner for Lucy | via Yellow Brick Home
clock | trunk | silhouette art | peg rail

I loved this palm trunk the moment I saw it, and Lucy loves the round tabs that ‘keep Mommy and Daddy out’. Okay, fair enough! The peg rail we DIY-ed is perfect for necklaces and hats, and her sweet silhouette is the cherry on top.

A dress up corner for Lucy | via Yellow Brick Home, a family room and play room reveal!
trunk | silhouette art | terrazzo planter (similar)

A Room for the Whole Family

The other half of this room has become a nightly family hangout for reading books, also doubling as the perfect perch for morning cartoons. We stash hand weights and small exercise equipment inside the storage ottoman, and we keep extra blankets inside the nearby lidded basket.

A view into our family room with an art print that says 'Work Hard & Be Nice to People' | via Yellow Brick Home, a family room and play room reveal!
A view into our family room with an art print that says 'Work Hard & Be Nice to People' | via Yellow Brick Home
Charly sofa | storage ottoman

The sofa was originally intended for the Two Flat (when we were considering it as a short term rental), but we absolutely love it here! It’s comfortable but streamlined, supportive but soft. We chose to have it upholstered in Quartz velvet, which is durable enough for kids and pets – although Catfish’s hair sticks to it like a magnet (just FYI). Even still, no regrets; we love it.

A view into our family room with an art print that says 'Work Hard & Be Nice to People' | via Yellow Brick Home, a family room and play room reveal!
‘work hard’ print | Lucy’s rocker | storage ottoman

A big thank you! to each and every one of you that left feedback on our playroom planning post. We’re two big leaps closer to making every inch of our home work as hard as possible for our family. Even still, we look forward to seeing these rooms evolve and change with us over time!

Family + Playroom Sources:

Paint + Lighting: Wall color is BEHR Pale Bud | Trim color is BEHR Ultra Pure White | ceiling pendants | plug-in wall sconce | lion lamp

Furniture + Rugs: ​​​​​​​play kitchen | credenza (similar) | cream rocking chair | craft table + vintage chairs | Charly sofa in Quartz velvet | Lucy’s rocker | storage ottoman | pink vintage rug | blue + purple rug | faux fur rug | bubble side table (similar)

Accessories: ‘what now?’ print + frame | ‘work hard’ print | silhouette art | faux fur throw | standing mirror | tree planter (similar) | white planter w/ wood stand | living wall planter | cat planter | terrazzo planter (similar) | palm storage trunk | seagrass baskets | small rope basket w/ leather handles | clock | peg rail

Toys: stacking rocks | wood figure | denim apron | mesh bags | play food | wooden kitchen utensils | plush dinosaur | unicorn costume | clear storage bins

Add a comment...

Your email is never published or shared. Required fields are marked *

  • Stacy3.18.21 - 7:24 AM

    This is such a fun space! And on a technical note, the way you captured the light coming in through that front window in these photos is really beautiful ❤️ReplyCancel

  • lak3.18.21 - 7:25 AM

    great job!  I love the idea of your home working harder for you as opposed to how things may be traditionally set up, also how intentional you are about what you bring into you home.  I have begun to incorporate both these concepts in my own home, and am loving it!  ReplyCancel

    • Kim3.18.21 - 8:48 AM

      Love to hear this! Small changes really add up over time.ReplyCancel

  • Paul3.18.21 - 8:13 AM

    Great job guys, it is beautiful…Lucy is so lucky and I know she enjoys this space.ReplyCancel

  • Wilma3.18.21 - 10:31 AM

    Your daughter might loooooove some mini dinosaur figures (and they are great for putting in your purse or whatever to take out if you’re going out for coffee or even to the park).  My kids LOVED them at that age.  And if they lose a couple or “gift” a couple to a friend, it’s no biggie, because they usually come in a reasonable quantity.  ReplyCancel

    • Kim3.18.21 - 10:43 AM

      Great idea!ReplyCancel

      • Jenny Decker3.18.21 - 11:48 AM

        Even better, we found that small figures inside plastic Easter eggs was a winning combo for our preschoolers. (Alternative, nesting dolls.) ReplyCancel

  • Nellie3.18.21 - 11:58 AM

    The playroom balances stylish and playful with kid-friendliness so well! Unrelated to the recent updates…how did you seal the space between the chimney and the drywall or plaster?ReplyCancel

    • Kim3.18.21 - 1:11 PM

      There’s not really a gap there, so no sealing. At the two flat, the gaps were caulked and painted.ReplyCancel

  • Julie3.18.21 - 3:43 PM

    It’s such a great and inviting room! I need to get a dress up station and I love the vintage chairs. ReplyCancel

  • Shauna Betz3.18.21 - 4:45 PM

    The space looks great! I watched the credenza mini makeover on Instagram with the new feet and was actually thinking about them the other day. Do you have a source for where you bought those new legs/feet? <3ReplyCancel

  • Jen3.19.21 - 7:04 AM

    Can we see a picture of the TV ?  I am always curious and looking for ideas for my TV and the area around itReplyCancel

    • Kim3.19.21 - 7:20 PM

      I can’t believe I didn’t take a photo of the tv side! It’s in our house tour through the menu bar. :)ReplyCancel

  • LD3.19.21 - 2:28 PM

    Does it feel like “overkill” to have the living room and the den? Do you use the spaces differently? I’d love to have both but curious if your find yourself using the living room less now.ReplyCancel

    • Kim3.19.21 - 7:20 PM

      I don’t think two living spaces are necessary, but it’s been nice to have! Since we no longer have an office up here, we actually use the lounge side of this space WAY MORE. Every night for bedtime books, morning cartoons, family movie nights… it’s nice to be near bed so we can tuck the goose in after some family cuddle time.ReplyCancel

  • Jessica3.19.21 - 3:41 PM

    This playroom/family room combo is such a dream! You nailed the form/function balance and I just love it. Question – is the charly sofa a sleeper? And if so, how do you like it for that function? Is it comfy to sleep on? Easy to unfold/put back in? I’m on the hunt and this is one of the contenders.ReplyCancel

    • Kim3.19.21 - 7:22 PM

      Charly comes in a sleeper, but ours is not. That said, we have the standard depth but it comes even deeper. It’s already so comfy and deep, so by going with the additional depth, it could EASILY sleep one person without the need for a pullout.ReplyCancel

  • Cemre3.22.21 - 2:46 AM

    This trinkets and toys looks lovely..ReplyCancel

  • Gustavo Woltmann3.25.21 - 11:56 PM

    Great arrangements. The home looks really nice and cozy. ReplyCancel

  • Emma4.8.21 - 8:27 PM

    It’s beautiful! And so cool how our homes can evolve with us. Those plants are on point! ReplyCancel

  • Claire11.20.21 - 8:54 PM

    Hi! I hope I didn’t miss it, I checked the blog post and the “shop our house” tab, could you share where you purchased the white curtains with the dark fringe in the playroom? Thank you!ReplyCancel

    • Kim11.22.21 - 9:18 AM

      Those are custom from Bali Blinds.☺️ReplyCancel

Let's be Pen Pals

Our Pen Pals have direct access to first looks, a peek behind-the-scenes, and exclusive interviews showcasing members of the #YBHDIY community. We can’t wait to connect with you!

Kim and Scott

We’re Kim + Scott, Chicago based content creators behind the Home + Lifestyle brand Yellow Brick Home.

Join us as we renovate and nurture vintage homes across Chicago + SW Michigan!

Instagram iconInstagram icon
Facebook iconFacebook icon
pinterest iconpinterest icon
YouTube iconYouTube icon
Tiktok iconTiktok icon
LTK iconLTK icon

LEt's be Pen Pals

Subscribe for first looks, behind-the-scenes, and exclusive community content

/* footer flodesk form */

This site uses affiliate links. We will always disclose sponsored posts in the text and by using the ‘sponsored' tag.

© 2024 Yellow Brick Home. | All Rights Reserved. | PRIVACY POLICY