Most kid’s rooms are small and often children have to share a room which doesn’t leave a lot of play space. It has never ceased to amaze me just how much stuff children have. It is necessary to use every last inch of room space. With some thought a little creativity and a little planning you can transform an unused corner or closet into a special space for your child to enjoy and use.

1) Reading Nook- A book case, comfy chair, lamp & a throw rug and you have designed a perfect cozy spot for your child to while away an afternoon reading of far of places. By making these special places for them encourages them to read, dream and be creative.

2) Art Center-The largest table that will fit in the room, lots of paper, crayons, colored pencils and some watercolor paints makes a perfect artist studio for your child. Have a shelf to hold the art supplies. Painted vegetable cans make great paint brush holders and large plastic coffee containers hold plenty of crayons. Remember a place to display their artwork. You can hang a clothes line with clothes pins so they can easily display their artwork without using thumb tacks. You can also put up a bulletin board or a large piece of sheet metal and use magnet to hang their artwork.

3) Building block- Blocks and bucket for storage. You child can build large skyscrapers on a throw rug on the ground. If you can fit a table in a corner your child will love it and use it for years to come. If it is a very small room use an under the bed large plastic container to store their blocks or cars. They pull it out to play. When they are done they pick up the blocks and put it back under the bed.

4) Dress Up Closet- A closet is a perfect place for a dress up center. Hang a mirror inside the closet door and put a small toy box to house your child’s customs. A small storage box for their jewelry and other accessories makes storage and clean up easy..

5) Dance Stage- Is your little girl budding ballerina or a break dancing diva. It is easy to create a dance space for your child. For the ballerina’s hang a mirror and a closet rod on the wall using stair way handle hooks. Large mirrors can be expensive so use those peel and stick mirror squares. For break dancers use the garage heavy foam tiles to protect them from breaking their heads. They come in fun colors so it makes it easy to decorate.

6) Desk- If your child loves to write and they have journals piling up then find a space and build a desk. Over the desk have a few shelves to hold all the stuff that they have collected over the years. It would be fun to decoupage some coffee cans with wrapping paper for their pens and pencils.

7) Game gallery – If you have a few children set up a game table and have a small bookcase to hold them. They will have a great time playing Trouble, Scrabble, chess, checkers or even war. Set it up and let them play. This can even be set up in a corner of the family room.

8) Craft corner- Have a bucket of recyclables, tape, glue, markets, yarn and anything else you can think of. I have been amazed at what my kids have made out of stuff I would have thrown in the garbage. Crafting has kept my kids busy for hours using their imagination and creativity. They learn how to problem solve and develops many important skills.

9) Music Corner- Does you child love to play the violin, guitar or drums it is easy to set up a music stand and a chair and they are off. Use corking or fabric on the walls for sound proofing.

10) Puppet Closet – It is so easy to make your child’s closet into a puppet theater for your kids. Use a tension curtain rod and some curtains for the theater. Cut some felt pieces and some fabric glue to decorate the curtains.

My first list contained more than 10 creative uses for those small places. There are unlimited things you can do with any empty corner. What does your child love to do? Create a place for the hobbies and activities that they love. It doesn’t have to be big or grand. In your child’s eyes it is going to be wonderful because you thought of them and took time to do something special for them.

Camille Apicella

www.create-a-mural.com

Camille Apicella