10 Small Spaces That Are Big on Play

Not all under-the-stairs play spaces need to be sectioned off from the rest of the house—and this incredible, airy “playroom” from Joni of Lay Baby Lay shows that. Joni worked with RHBaby&Child to create this sweet and stylish spot in her family’s Georgia farmhouse, and needless to say, it works perfectly as a kids’ hangout area that’s integrated with the rest of the home.

Outdoor Reading Space

Merrilee of Mer Mag knows a thing or two about DIY, so it’s no surprise that this sweet outdoor “book nook” is cute, functional and stylish. And, spoiler alert—it’s not nearly as hard to build as it seems!

Stairway Nook

The fact that these stairs are pretty to look at doesn’t hurt, but still—Elena Del Bucchia created one seriously cool play nook for kids. The pops of color and oversized green lamp give a fun and playful feel, while the cushions on the floor and tucked away play kitchen make the space seem cozy and inviting.

Surprise Safari

This adorable playroom is just a creative use of space under the stairs. Momma Society designed a wild hideout for her son, complete with animal prints, shelves, a tiny desk and a mini ball pit. If you like the ball pit, the step-by-step instructions are here.

(Super) Hidden Reading Nook

As far as hidden reading nooks go, this one takes the cake. Architecture and design firm Síol Studios added this space inside a hide-away closet in one of a San Francisco home. The space is perfect for homework, curling up with a book or playing an epic game of hiding and seek.

Mini Man Cave

Before the full-size man cave comes the mini man cave—and if we’re being honest here, the latter is much cuter. This adorable play area is a little nook under the stairs, built by Katie and her husband of Two Bertis blog. It comes with a little door, mailbox, window and even a house number. What makes it all the more appealing is the fact that mom and dad said it was surprisingly low-cost to create.

Lofty Play Space

It doesn't get any better than an indoor “tree” house. Sunshine on the Inside added extra play space by building a lofted playhouse. A creative way to add extra storage to a room, it’s perfect for little kids with big imaginations. Inspired by Ana White’s clubhouse bed design, click here for a free plan.

In Sweden, this magical play nook is a walk-in closet. Märta created the whimsical hideaway for her niece and friends (a sign on the door says all “småfolk” are welcome). Märta hand-made the cozy cloud cushions, and since the “grass” carpet squares were a bit scratchy, she placed them on the ceiling (and glow-in-the-dark stars on the floor) for a silly, upside-down world. Head over to Dos Family for an insider's tour.