My back sunroom has lived many many lives. Today we discuss its life most of last year as our playroom, my sewing room, and my husband's music room. It also stored many of our outdoor plants during the winter, which made it that much more warm and inviting. Yes, I have changed this room again significantly...and some day I will clean it and take photos and tell you about those changes! For now, I want to share how our multi-purpose room helped get us through a rambunctious year with our two year old, Harriet. These photos and words explain how a room can support a family's needs and, especially, a mother's sanity.

For this incarnation, we kept the white wall color because we couldn't bring ourselves to want to paint again, and it's so bright and airy feeling. It's a room that holds the lion's share of Harriet's toys, and I am easily provoked into anxiety with her daily dispersion of stuffed animals and blocks. I think that's why we kept the space super simple–just her play kitchen, toys, two chairs, and my sewing table against the far wall. Music things and more sewing supplies hide in the closet!

I knew how I wanted this room used. I wanted playing to ensue (all the wild rumpusing!), and I wanted Ryan and I to feel just as at home as little Harry. That said, I thought about adult creature comforts...like a place to sit my coffee while Harriet drags me to her tent to hide one more time? Yes. And another lamp to make the space glow at night instead of using the ever-harassing overhead light. Plants. At just over two, I was familiar with Harriet's disposition as a child who wouldn't mess with plants (I am lucky, I know!). All of these things, and then art. Art brought white walls to the cozy side of life. And when I think about it these are all things that can comfort and inspire adults and children alike. H seemed to really like the new room additions.

My favorite art in here is the Rifle Paper Co. Jungle Hunter fabric from Owl and Drum. My friend Ruby with Laurel and Marie, sweetly matted and framed it for me when she was hanging out at the shop. Thank you Ruby! You're a good friend. (You can see a photo essay of Ruby matting and framing the fabric here. Photos for the essay are by You Are Photo Co.)

I love, love, loved spending time in this room. If I was going to list some tips for spaces for small children, I'd say:

Make it a space you love too, so you enjoy being in it and don't resent the tons of hideous plastic, garish toys and tacky decor that is too often pushed on parents. (Too harsh?)
Leave space for crawling and physical play.
What inspires you (a human) will inspire your child (another human).
Putting your kid's things and things you enjoy doing in one room can promote parallel play.

What would you recommend for a family playroom?