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Ok, here's another room that I am really stumped on. This is upstairs and we intended on it being space for the kids (we have three..ages 7, 5 & 1). But now that I am actually trying to figure out what to do with it, I have absolutely no clue. It is awkwardly shaped and don't know how to use it.

In the pic you can see the door on the right, that is a bed room and then in front of that are two more doors to bath and another bedroom....to the left is a door to the attic and another door to the 3rd bedroom. Since the doors take up the whole right side of the room it's not like I can put a TV anywhere and make it a media room, which would be nice for movies for the kids. Short of just sticking a table in the middle of the room for a workspace I am just clueless.

Yes, I want it to be for the kids, but I also want it to look "grown up" and go with the rest of the house.. know what I mean? I am one of those people that has kids but doesn't want it to look like I have kids. LOL!!!!

**edited to add b/c I'm sure someone will ask - Behind the camera is the stairs and banister.**

HELP!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: slparker418,

Here is a picture from the top of the stairwell, just so you can see the rest of the room looks like.

Sorry it's so dark.

I see a great study/computer area or a media space. I'd try placing a sectional along the long wall with a shorter side floating and the TV/media in the corner. Wrap around desks that stretch along the long wall would be useful. Are the kids little? Is toy storage an issue? Possibly I've over estimated the square footage, though.

I'd put a tv on the long wall, get some floor cushions for the kids to sit/lay on and make it a play room. Put some toy storage also. Your kids are small yet so I would not go for the grown up look.

Wanda

Since I'm guessing you must have a family room with a TV elsewhere my suggestion is to use this space as a library. Most kids watch too much TV anyhow and reading is a more worthwhile activity to encourage. There is lots of space for bookshelves and chairs can be floated if necessary. I'd provide an appropriately sized chair for each child in the color of their choice (within your color scheme) and also a large chair or loveseat for parent and child/children to read together. If you start collecting books of interest for the children now they will grow up loving to read and it will stay with them for their lifetime.

Doesn't have to cost much as used books are available in many places. You might even have one shelf dedicated to library books they can borrow weekly from your local public library.

Best thing any parent can do is instill a love of reading in their children.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: joyluck,

What Lucky said! An excellent idea if your kids have shown an interest in reading. On the other hand, if they struggle with reading, they may not appreciate it.

I have two very bright (off the chart) grands who are dyslexic and reading is agony for them.

I like the reading room/library space idea too. Be careful though, when you arrange furniture to not impede the traffic patterns in the space. In a way the space is a large hallway, and you still need to get easily into and out of the bedrooms and bathroom. The long wall and the window nook area are plenty of room for a reading/book space. Maybe a wall of shelves on the long wall, a window seat under the window and a cushy chaise lounge and lamp would do the trick. I can totally see you doing a story time/snuggle with the kids before bed.

Love the ideas! Funny, because we currently have a sectional that I don't want to use in the living room, but didn't think it would fit in this space up here. Maybe it will? Like one of you pointed out though I don't want to cut off the space or impede traffic. I guess I'll just have to wait until I am there and can play around (we dont' close on the house until the 7th of June).

I do really like the idea of putting a window seat under the window though! That would be SO great and I could probably get a bench with storage so that would help with toys.

I think my concern is the space in the middle. Should anything be there? So in other words. .If I put shelving on the walls, bench/seating under the window. . what's gonna go in the middle of the room? To me, I would think it would look bare or unfinished if I leave it empty. Maybe a table with chairs for the kids to sit at?

Also, I am definitely a visual person. . .so anyone with pics of ideas would be GREAT! LOL

Hi, you have a lot of work ahead of you! Well I would not try and fill every space, especially in this middle room where traffic will be constant from room to room to bathroom, and kids do not like to get bumped by other kids so let them have space here. The empty space will get filled with homework laid out on the floor, games, and such.

Nice to have this extra area of space just for the kids!