A while back, I turned a closet underneath my stairs into a toy closet. I have a playroom upstairs but for some reason the toys always end up downstairs, so I decided it was time to have a "home" for some toys on the main level of our house. My plan is to blog on the upstairs playroom another time.
This toy closet just wasn't working for me... so it was time for a change. For one, the books needed to be moved to the back of the room, because my two year old loves to unload them on the floor, which is the walkway into the closet. My second reason for the "delightful order makeover" was the white bins that house all the toys never stayed organized & most of the time the drawers were left open and looked like the photos below. Reason #3 the room just wasn't cute enough for me. I like things to match and look nice.
Here are the BEFORE Photos
First things First, clear the space!
You know the ones that look like this:
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Well, I wanted that look, but the cubicles cost a little more than I wanted to spent, so instead I bought 3 inexpensive bookcases from Walmart and bought some baskets,
adjusted the shelves to fit the bins and got this look. Cute enough for ME!
I gave the room a fresh coat of paint and a tree mural with a mama owl and a baby owl.
(I used my cricut to cut the shape of the owl and traced them on the wall, then painted them)
I also added a $1 lamp from a garage sale & a brown rug
I had the little rocking chair before. It just seems to fit the space better now
Inside the baskets are all the toys
The bookcase is now in the back of the room, which is much nicer when half of them land up on the floor
(at least all the kiddos aren't tromping on them)
Plus . . . it's a cute little reading area
For a cleaner look on bookcases, stack the books according to height (tallest to shortest)
Here is a view from the back of the room:
...and a view from my entry way looking into the room:
and the view from my kitchen:
Simple changes to this space and it's organized and a little nicer to look at too.
Often the door to this closet is left open, and now that it has some order, I don't mind so much.
Take a look at the transformation once again:
... and ...
When it looks like this, it makes me :)
I usually reorganize it once or twice a week.
Your tree mural is adorable! Love the budget friendly furniture. I am thinking I need to turn my under-stairs closet into a toy room now too!
ReplyDeleteWow! Looks great! I feel like my entire home needs this! Usually I love organizing but right now I am in my first trimester of pregnancy and I just don't feel like doing ANYTHING!! This is inspiring! Great job!
ReplyDeleteVERY cute! You don't just organize and clean, girl, you do it up right with the paint and color and accessorizing. You should have a TV show or something. In fact, I'm willing to offer up any space in my house so you can, you know, PRACTICE.
ReplyDeleteYour toy closet looks wonderful! I love everything about it. :)
ReplyDeleteWow, how cute it that! Love it. Beautiful job. I can just imagine that the kids must LOVE playing in there!
ReplyDeleteThis is soooo really good!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm inviting you to link up on our site so our readers can find you too: http://www.finecraftguild.com/diy-linky-party-19/
(btw. every Wednesdays a new party will open, so you can add more great tutorials as time goes on. Looking forward to seeing all your wonderful diy projects!
Cheers, Rose
That turned out really cool. Love the tree & the owls. Just so cute!
ReplyDeleteOh my, this is absolutely unreal. Love the tree on the wall and all the storage is just fabulous. What a fantastic use of space. Thanks so much for linking to TTT. Love it. Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeleteThis is adorable! Great job!
ReplyDeleteKatherine
This is awesome! I love the owls in the tree! HOpe you'll link this up to my Pink Hippo Party @ http://pinkapotamus.blogspot.com/2010/11/pink-hippo-party-2.html
ReplyDeleteThis is truly fabulous! I would love a spot like this for my little one and her toys!And she would love it too... Excellent job!
ReplyDeleteYou should come link this up to my weekly Thursday Making It With Allie Link Party! I think it would make a Fabulous addition!
AllieMakes.Blogspot.com
I had a similar space at my old house. I made it into a coat closet...now I wish I hadn't! LOL...too cute! I would have LOVED a place like this to put all the kiddos toys.
ReplyDeleteSo fun! I love the transformation. Adults love it, but kids feel right at home there. Hope it's not always that clean :)
ReplyDeleteHeidi @ http://everydayfamilies.blogspot.com/
This is so fantastic. I want to read in there! I have a friend who wants me to help her with her under the stairs "play area". This is terrific inspiration!
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet little play space you made for your children. I love the tree on the wall.
ReplyDeletegreat job, I love the decal, too!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous idea! You did such an awesome job transforming that space and it is totally inspiring me! I have a very dark space underneath our stairs that is in desperate need of sprucing up. Right now all it is good for is a place to hide when we play hide-n-seek! :-) Thanks for sharing this with us and welcome to blogging!
ReplyDeleteVanessa
P.S. I'm your newest follower and I have a linky party going on right now and would love to have you join in the fun!
Hi--I am visiting from Somewhat Simple. This is such a great idea! I don't have an upstairs but we have two large hall closets--I'm thinking I may be turning one of those into a toy hideout for my kiddos! Very inspiring!
ReplyDeleteNow let's see the "after-after" picture...once your two-year old has at the space.
ReplyDeleteRegardless, it looks pretty!
I paint kids' murals as well. Stop by for a look.
Ok, this project is one of the most inspiring I have seen! I am drooling and ooogling and in massive amounts of love. Now that I am done sounding like a crazy person, can I ask to feature this as a "Reader Space" on the blog? I just know this is exactly the type of space the readers can find insane amounts of inspiration from!
ReplyDeleteLet me know!
xoxo,
Jen
The owl mural is absolutely adorable! I am in love!
ReplyDeleteI really, really love it!
ReplyDeleteVery cute!!
ReplyDeleteThis is fascinating! I remember my sister and I turning the "under the stairs" closet into a school room when we were younger. It was nothing like this though. As a matter of fact, I think I remember we used to call it the mouse poop closet. I'll let you use your imagination as to why we called it that!
ReplyDeleteTake care,
Lisa
what a fabulous use of your little under stair space! i just LOVE the tree mural and owls! great idea making a pattern with the cricut. and the bookshelf and bins look great!
ReplyDeleteOh wow.. Love that too!! I bet the kids absolutely LOVE their little "room". I know I would have when I was a kid.
ReplyDeleteI also adore the cubbies... I use them all over!
HOW CUTE IS THAT...
ReplyDeletehow cute is that!
ReplyDeleteI am featuring this post tomorrow on my Organizing Mission Monday! I would love for you to stop back by (and hopefully leave another link) and pick up my button "Proud To Be Featured on Organizing Mission Monday".
ReplyDeleteThanks so much!
What a great idea! I found you via Iheartorganizing and I totally went out and got the same shelf and bins this weekend. Now our playroom/living room is organized and clean! Thank you for the awesome, inexpensive idea!
ReplyDeleteThis makeover is just DARLING!!! I love the colors & I LOVE the mural! Very talented!
ReplyDeleteWow, that looks amazing! I have been wondering if I could do the same thing with those bookshelves. I'm glad you tried it for me! Now I can go get me some! That little area would be fun to have.
ReplyDeleteOh my heck! That looks adorable. I love the idea of using the cheap wal mart shelves and the bins! Thanks for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteCheck out our Purdy winner tomorrow morning.
ReplyDeleteCheri
www.thediyclub.com
Congratulations on winning the Purdy Party! That project is awesome! You do my kind of artwork, trace and fill in. I love it!
ReplyDeleteWow, the mural is fabulous! What a great space.
ReplyDeleteOMG! That is ADORABLE with a capital DORABLE! I'm am kind of speechless I love it so much! What a fantastic job! It is going to seem like a little secret hideaway for your little ones!
ReplyDeleteThat is a great little space!
ReplyDeleteLooks great! I love this!
ReplyDeleteoh, that is so cute! I love the little owls! great job :)
ReplyDeleteI love the transformation!!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely LOVE it! The tree and the little owls are so sweet ♥ You are so blessed to have such a cute little place to play and read...
ReplyDelete♥ Kelsey
What a cute kids area! I'm helping a friend with her nursery and we plan on using the civvies and bins in her baby's room. But if we run short on change we will use your idea of the bookshelves and bins. Thanks for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI love your little hide-a-way! I'm putting it in the PoPP Spotlight. Thanks for linking up.
ReplyDeleteJust LOVE this. I also didn't want to buy cubicle shelves, so I got some cheap fabric bins and my husband made a bookshelf that would hold them, similar to yours.
ReplyDeleteLOVE the owl and tree mural!!! Everything about it, I love owls and trees, and the colors you picked are awesome! I'm your newest follower :)
Thanks for following. Delighted you are here.
ReplyDeleteDaNita
This is awesome! How fun for your kids!
ReplyDeleteConnie
http://thecrafterbug.blogspot.com/
What an awesome little nook! Love the owls on the walls. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining my Weekend Bloggy Reading party. :) Hope you'll visit me at Serenity Now again soon! :)
what a darling closet- and great idea!
ReplyDeletebe sure to add your blog to this week's BLOG HOP @:
http://www.spearmintbaby.com/2011/03/blogging-101_06.html
I love this play area! So cute and a great use of space in that closet! I'll bet your kids love it!
ReplyDeleteThat is the cutest ever! I love it!
ReplyDeleteThis is so prefect!
ReplyDeleteWhat a perfect little toy closet! My kids would have loved that space when they were younger. Now they are semi grown and don't play with toys. :( They grow up so quickly. I love the tree and owls. It looks so professionally done! I'm sure your kids love this organized and special place. They might even enjoy keeping it clean ;) As always, love your stuff DaNita! :) Thanks for linking up all your goodness to Roomspiration.
ReplyDeleteThat looks so nice and organized! I love that cute little closet just for the kids. I want to go in it and read. lol. Thanks for linking up with Roomspiration!
ReplyDeletePlease post the finished product on Pintrest in your children spaces. This is FANTASTIC!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing! I love how you took a small space and made it so nice!
ReplyDelete