How to Create a Playroom That Appeals to Children and Adults

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If you were a child again, what kind of playroom would you rather have: a basement filled with castoff furniture, or a colorful room that celebrates toys and art, inviting you to climb up the walls? It's not hard to guess which one many parents have recently been choosing for their children. "One thing a lot of grown-ups feel when they walk into their children's playroom is, 'Oh, my God, I don't want to be in here,'" Ms. Gillyard said. Have Fun With the Décor If there is one room where you should feel free to play with color and pattern, the playroom is it. The designers at grOH! Playrooms frequently design murals for walls and ceilings with motifs evoking mountains, rainbows and lily pads. Jen Talbot, an interior designer in Chicago who began her career designing children's spaces, often uses work tables on casters in playrooms. "If you're going to do built-ins, and put that much work into a space," she said, "You need to ask how it's going to work for you in five to 10 years." Add an Art Station Beyond toys, an area for making art is a popular playroom feature. For one playroom, Squarehouse Studios created a multifunctional wall by mounting floor-to-ceiling metal panels that work with magnets but are also coated with chalkboard paint.