Playroom Ideas on a Budget

Your child’s playroom is a place for them to explore, discover and learn. It should be somewhere they feel both safe and relaxed, yet also excited and inspired.

Depending on the amount of space you have available, your child’s playroom might be a part of their bedroom, a part of your living room, or in a completely separate, dedicated room. Either way, decorating their space should be a fun project that the whole family can get involved in.

How do you decorate a child’s playroom on a budget?

The best way to decorate a child’s playroom on a budget is to prioritise what is most important practically, and then bring the space to life with as much handcrafted creativity and personalisation as possible.

There are many ways to ‘get the look’ in terms of replicating ideas you might have seen on Pinterest and Instagram, and with a bit of DIY artwork, upcycling and multi-purposing of furniture, you can create the most resourceful and imaginative space for your little one to play and grow.

First, focus on function

Before you make a start with the fun stuff, let’s get practical. First, you need to plan out the space you have available and determine what items are essential. Maybe you need to fit in a desk, or two, a keyboard, bookshelf and a chest of drawers to store sports accessories, for example. It will help to sketch a mockup of the room and draw on where you plan to place everything in it. Try your best to keep things to scale and focus on creating a functional and safe area with some free space to play.

Credit: @bowinthesky

Weathered Kumquat

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Let colour take centre stage

A lick of paint can totally transform your playroom. You could go all-out bold with colours that your children love, or otherwise opt for a neutral base palette for walls and ceilings, and then choose a couple of bright and cheerful colours as highlight shades, for accessories, an accent wall or panelling. If your playspace is located within your child’s bedroom, then just be aware that bright and bold colours can have a stimulating effect, therefore, you might prefer to opt for a more neutral, earthy colour palette to aid rest and relaxation.

Credit: @hihollyrux

Upcycle furniture

Old or antique furniture can be given a whole new lease of life when painted or re-upholstered. Perhaps you have an old oak rocking chair that could be spruced up in a cool new shade, or a doll’s house from your own childhood that would look as good as new with some new wallpaper and a paint touch up.

You can also paint old, scuffed shelves, second-hand dressers and unwanted dining tables with child-friendly colours to provide places for your kids to play, pretend and learn. Find out more on how to upcycle furniture in our handy how-to guide.

Credit: @coltham_on_the_corner

Cotswold Hills

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Display their homemade creations

Kids love to have their own creations out on display, and what better place to display them than in their playroom. Drawings and paintings can be popped in inexpensive shop-bought frames while sculptures and models can be placed on shelving and on top of cabinets.

You could even make a gallery wall by interspersing their artwork with medals or awards they’ve won for sports or clubs, as well as a selection of printed photographs from your favourite family holidays or adventures.

Credit: @homewiththeharrods

Clay Figurine

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Be clever with storage

Use cheap but clever storage solutions to keep toys organised. Baskets, trays and shelves are all useful as designated spaces for different types of toys, books and stationery to ensure your playroom remains clutter-free. You can also repurpose items like shoe boxes or empty advent calendars to house small toys, crayons or collectable cards. Labelling your boxes and trays with what’s inside can be extremely helpful when it comes to finding things and clearing them away at the end of the day.

Credit: @littleediebeadie

Camisole

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Play with wall art

Wall art is an affordable way to add fun and character to your playroom. Wall decals come in various colours, sizes and designs, such as animals, shapes or characters. They are easy to apply and remove without damaging the walls and are sure to raise a big smile from your little people. Alternatively, you can create your own colourful designs using a selection of paint colours, stencils and painters’ tape. Get creative and accessories around mirrors, frames and furniture for a fun way to finish off the play space.

Credit: @copperscave

Bee's Knees

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Go wild with accessories

Place inexpensive accessories like wall clocks, decorative pillows, rugs, or wall hangings to enhance the theme and personality of your playroom. Look for handmade and personalised items from independent makers or online marketplaces such as Etsy or NotontheHighstreet, or head to your local craft market or school fete to pick up thoughtful and unique pieces.

Credit: @aflickofpaint

Fleecy Dreams

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Opt for happy hardware

Keep your imaginative juices flowing when it comes to knobs, knockers, handles and switches. Hunt around for quirky shapes, designs and colourful hardware that add additional character to the chests of drawers, doors and walls. From coat hooks that look like giraffes to light fittings shaped like a parrot, make it your mission to find the happiest hardware items on offer!

Credit: @barbararamaniinteriors

Autumn Beech

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Incorporate nature

Kids love outdoor adventures. Even when they are indoors, it’s fun to pretend they are camping out in a jungle or building a den on a deserted island! Make your child’s playtime even more fun and interactive with nature-inspired decor. Choose wall colours that reflect nature, such as Good Earth or Nature's Metropolis and hang prints of their favourite wildlife or safari characters. Houseplants also make a great addition to playrooms, not only for the connection to nature but also for improved air quality and their calming properties too.

Credit: @7thontheclose

Sea Turtle

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Zoning for different types of play

Whether you use paint or decorative items, creating different zones for different activities is a great low-budget way to get the most out of your child’s play space. If you want to create an area specific for reading or for some quiet time, make sure you use soft furnishings to make that area inviting and most importantly comfy for your little one to feel settled and snug in.

Credit: @thiscolourfulhome

Luminous Mist

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Colour match your playful playroom

Does your child have a favourite toy in a colour shade they adore? If so, why not colour match it to create their very own personalised pot of paint to decorate their playroom with!

Simply upload images to our Photo Uploader tool, select the colours they love and leave the rest to us! It’s as simple as that.

Need help choosing the right paint or colour?

Use Virtual Assistant