All our tips and trendy ideas for decorating a playroom

Whether it takes over a guest room, a corner of the living room or a converted basement, the playroom is a space apart in the home: a place designed for the imagination, freedom and creativity of children… and of adults too. Decorating a playroom calls for a balance between visual stimulation, storage and safety, so that the room stays both fun and soothing. At Isidore Leroy, we help many parents design these spaces with our wall decors created for children's worlds. Here are our tips for planning and decorating your playroom successfully, for children and adults alike.

How do you set up a playroom step by step?

Before thinking about decor, start by choosing the right spot. Several options are open to you: a dedicated room, part of the child's bedroom, a corner of the living room or even a mezzanine. In homes where space is limited, a well-defined area is enough to create a playroom, as long as it is bright and easy to keep an eye on. Then think about safety: furniture fixed to the wall, rounded corners, covered sockets and a non-slip rug. Finally, organise the space into zones: a floor play area, a table for drawing and crafts, a reading corner with its books and accessible storage. This layout makes the room more functional and helps children find (and put away) their toys. Depending on the options you choose, it will then be easy to adapt the layout as they grow, without starting from scratch.

How do you decorate a playroom?

In a child's bedroom as in dedicated rooms, the first rule is to create a coherent world without visual overload. One wall with a strong pattern, paired with plain walls and simple furniture, is often enough to set a playful mood. Wallpaper is an excellent starting point: it instantly defines the theme of the room, whether travel, nature, starry skies or adventure. Choose timeless worlds rather than a passing trend, for a decor that grows with your child. Posters, garlands or a teepee then complete the look. A large cork board or a chalkboard wall also lets children display their drawings and make the space their own.

Which furniture and accessories should you choose for a playroom?

For a safe and attractive playroom, opt for modular, child-height furniture. Wooden chairs for drawing, labelled storage bins, a front-facing bookcase and big cushions for reading make an ideal base. On the decor side, a large, thick non-slip rug defines the floor play area, a teepee or play house creates a hideaway, and a few wicker baskets hold the toys. Low storage furniture remains the key piece: it lets children reach their games on their own, from puzzles to card games. For the best results, choose solid wood or white lacquered furniture, sturdy and easy to care for, and a comfortable children's armchair for reading their favourite books.

The must-have decorative elements

A few well-chosen accessories are enough to bring a playroom to life: a teepee or wooden play house, a wall chalkboard, garlands, framed posters and woven baskets. For textiles, a thick rug, poufs and a throw add a cosy touch. These decorative elements are easy to change, so you can refresh the mood of the bedroom or playroom without touching the walls: a picture, a starry mobile or a new cushion cover is sometimes all it takes. For adults, a gaming chair or a laptop tucked away in a closed cabinet play the same role.

What are some colour ideas for a playroom?

Contrary to popular belief, you don't need bright, saturated colours to create a cheerful room. Soft shades such as white, beige, powder pink or sage green, enhanced with touches of red or blue, add character while keeping a calm atmosphere that helps concentration. Keep bolder colours for a single wall or for occasional accessories, such as storage or cushions, to maintain visual balance in the room.

What colour for a children's playroom?

It all depends on the child's age. For a toddler, a soft, uncluttered environment is best, with light shades that encourage calm. Older children can embrace bolder, more personal worlds by helping to choose the decor. In every case, match the colours of the wallpaper to those of the furniture and storage, for a harmonious whole despite the many everyday toys.

How do you make the most of a small playroom?

In a small bedroom, every square metre counts. Free up as much floor space as possible for activities, and use the height: wall shelves, a tall bookcase fixed to the wall, hooks for toy bags. A small sofa or wooden bench with built-in storage offers extra seating and storage, ideal for furnishing a bedroom or living room without cluttering the space. Folding furniture or furniture on castors lets you turn the playroom into a guest room in minutes. Finally, a light wallpaper or an airy pattern visually enlarges the space, whereas an overly busy pattern would make it feel smaller.

Adapting the decor to the child's age

A playroom evolves with the child, and you can adapt the sofa, the books or the storage unit to each age. For toddlers, everything happens at rug level: play mats, cushions, wooden toys and very low storage. Around 4 to 7, add a small table, a bookcase with their favourite stories and a play house for make-believe. For older children, the playroom becomes more like a teenager's bedroom: a desk for homework, a gaming corner, a giant puzzle and more personal decor that reflects who they are. Choosing a timeless wall decor lets you go through these stages without redoing everything: you can simply change the main piece of furniture, the picture or the cushions, with excellent results.

Getting the playroom lighting right

Natural light remains a playroom's best ally, for children and adults alike. Ideally place the craft table near the window, and plan dedicated lighting for the reading corner, which is useful for adults too. Complete with soft general lighting and accent lamps: a reading light near the books, a lamp on the table. For a magical atmosphere, a string of lights or a night light projecting starry skies on the ceiling delights young and old. A wallpaper with starry motifs extends this atmosphere even in broad daylight, and suits every room in the house.

And what about a playroom for adults?

The playroom isn't just for children, and there's no shortage of options. For adults, it becomes a space to unwind at home: a gaming corner with a desk, screen and comfortable chair, a handheld console within reach, a pool or board-game table, a shelf of card games and puzzles, a sofa for evenings with friends. An adult playroom can also be shared by the family, with one part for the child and another for the adults, in the guest room or basement. A sofa, a drawing table and a few books are enough to bring everyone together. The design then relies on a more graphic interior style, soft lighting and materials such as wood or leather. A wallpaper with a bold pattern is enough to give it character.

Our favourite decors for a playroom

Our Children's Wallpaper collection brings together our worlds designed for bedrooms and playrooms. Among our favourites: Les 5 Continents Bespoke, an illustrated world map that invites you to travel, available made to measure to fit any wall; Arbracadabra Bespoke, a dreamlike decor that immerses the room in a fairy-tale world; and Quadrille, a graphic, colourful pattern that nicely structures a play space without being too childish, for a room that stands the test of time.

FAQ

How do you decorate a playroom?

By creating a coherent world around one wall with a strong pattern, paired with plain walls, simple furniture and accessible storage, for a playful mood without overloading the room.

How do you make a playroom appealing?

By choosing richly detailed patterns that feed the imagination, creating dedicated zones and adding a few playful accessories such as a teepee or a string of lights.

What are some colour ideas for a playroom?

Soft shades such as white, beige or powder pink, combined with touches of red or blue as accents, create a cheerful room while keeping a calm atmosphere.

What colour for a children's playroom?

It depends on the child's age: light, soft shades for toddlers, bolder worlds for older children, always matching the colours of the wallpaper to those of the furniture.