The Playroom

Ok, so i was going to make a post to give you a full tour of the house, but I'm too OCD to manage getting EVERY room in the house looking nice enough to take pictures of the whole thing at once and make just one blog.  so, here's the first room you get to see... i may make this a series for each room when i get to it!

The Playroom.
I think this room may be the most important room in the house.
You may be thinking, "Seriously?  The kids' playroom... most important?"
Yes.  It's where my children spend most of their time. It's where they play.  And by play, I really mean LEARN (since play is really a child learning and enjoying it-- which is how learning should be.  I'll step off that soapbox now before I get too far off subject).

And now maybe you're thinking, "just post the pictures already!" If you haven't just scrolled to them already... you can cheat, and I won't judge.  But I'd love if you left some feedback! :-)


Goals (not in any specific order)

• organize so there are logical places for each type of play (role playing/dress up, games/puzzles, creating crafts, making music, etc) 
• foster healthy social identity by consciously integrating socially gendered types of toys (ie: not segregating the baby doll and toy kitchen from the blocks/legos and cars) (i could make a super long explanation for this, but i'll spare you the soapbox rant)
• safe areas for baby ruthe to play (ie: not by a heating vent, avoid small toys she can put in her mouth)
• maintain an atmosphere that encourages creativity.

I re-arrange this room ALL the time.  Like multiple time per week day.  This room never feels right.  Maybe I'm trying to do too much in one room, or the room is too small to do everything i want in it.  Or he kids have too much stuff. Or I need to learn how to arrange things not up against walls. I'm terribly boring like that. We do have space in other areas of the house that I could take something (their bedroom, basement, etc)... just not sure how those spaces will function yet. So I keep banging my head on this room.

*there's a long heat vent along the floor/wall
beneath the window
*small book shelf has puzzles and games,
larger toys on top

Current Set-Up ( #37, but who's keeping track anymore?) 

Pros

• everything is in here... (is this really a "pro"?)
• doesn't significantly change the room, so someday when we have more kids, it can easily be converted back into a bedroom
• there are clear places for each activity (goal 1)
• socially gendered toys are interspersed (goal 2)

*everything pushed up against the wall = boring
*heat vent on floor by play kitchen
 *baby toys on bottom shelf of toy bucket organizer
*smaller toys on top levels
*i have letters for "Ruthe" to put up on wall, just haven't yet

Cons

• it always looks cluttered or messy. 
• her desk is facing a wall in the corner-- creativity doesn't flow from looking at a blank wall (goal 4)
• stuffed animals are in the closet, which is closed off (really, what's the point of a closed off closet in a playroom? oh yeah, future bedroom space... bah)
• boring (goal 4)
• baby ruthe's toys are spread around the room -> more chances she'll find small naomi toys, or a heating vent (goal 3)
• i really don't like the window treatments, but that's a "luxury repair" that won't happen for awhile, or until i sew some myself :-)

*the closet over there is full of stuffed animals
*should I just take the closet doors off?
*to paint or not to paint the walls?

So, friends and decorators... any advice on how to organize this space?  Meanwhile, I'll  continue to re-arrange the room.  :-)