Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth…because I’m HAPPY! Beckett declared that our family song a few months back, and it seems the perfect anthem for today’s One Room Challenge reveal post because we are one HAPPY family!
Scott and I are happy that we made it to the finish line, the under stairs playroom is done, and we can sleep! The boys are happy because, well… wouldn’t you be if this were your space?!
This former storage space under the basement stairs hardly qualifies as a room – a 12.5 foot long, 3 foot wide former storage space under our stairs. In just five weeks time we’ve transformed the space into one pretty incredible under stairs playhouse for our two young boys (Beckett, 3 and Cooper, almost 2).
Here’s what the space looked like when we started… it was nothing more than a poorly utilized storage space.
Emptied out, you can get a better sense of just how long and thin it is.
We brainstormed so many different ways to turn this space into an under the stairs play space, and we ultimately resisted the urge to turn this narrow hideout into a preschool fantasy land with a typical little boy theme that the boys would quickly outgrow.
Instead we created a colorful, rock & roll inspired “studio” where the boys can make music, play, and be creative for many years to come!
You can read the whole back story in my planning post, but two things you should know: (1) the plans for an under stair playroom date all the way back to my childhood; and (2) our boys never knew this space existed until last night – it was a complete surprise!
I’ll tell you more as we go along, but first, Beckett and Cooper have a question for you…
This post also contains affiliate links. If you purchase something I recommend, you will pay the same price, but I may receive a small commission.
Without further ado… Welcome to Beckett and Cooper’s under stairs music studio!
We wanted the boys to have a sense of privacy in this space {they love to close doors}, but we still want to be able to keep an eye on them, so Scott and his dad cut the door down to turn it in to a Dutch door with only the lower half installed.
Once the door is open, you get a full view of the room in all of its glowing glory! We lined the edges of the room in LED rope lighting, and lighted red carpet rugs that would make any kid feel like a rock star!
I need to send a huge thanks to the two incredible companies that sponsored portions of this room, Ikea Centennial and Command Brand! Ikea provided us with most of the products you see on the gallery wall, and Command provide us with hundreds of Picture Hanging Strips to allow us to hang all the records on the ceiling completely damage free.
We also used the Command Brand Picture Hanging Strips to keep the frames on the gallery wall securely in place – no need to worry if the boys bump into them running in and out of the space… they aren’t going anywhere!
If you are curious where any of the products in this space came from, I’ve link most within the text of this post, or you can hop over to the playroom source list for a complete list. At the bottom of this post, you’ll also find links to detailed tutorials for the DIY projects in this space.
But for now, just enjoy the pictures…
Because the space is so narrow {35 inches to be exact} we made the decision early on that this wouldn’t be a place to store many toys. Instead, we wanted use the wall space to engage their creativity while keeping the floor space open so they can take toys in and out as they wish, perform on their microphones, play their little instruments, or simply curl up to read {one of their favorite things to do}.
MUSIC & ART GALLERY WALL
There’s a lot going on on this wall, so let me break it down for you. The poster with the chimpanzee wearing headphones was the very first item we purchased for the wall, and he might just be my favorite part! But the musical instrument alphabet poster is also pretty cool! All the frames on this wall are part of the Ikea Ribba series.
Let’s talk about that hand guitar hanger, shall we? Beckett wanted a guitar for his second birthday, and we decided it should have a prominent place in this music-themed play space. And nothing says prominent more than a giant silver hand sticking out of the wall, right?!
We also wanted this gallery wall to be a place where the kids could display their own art work. Four frames are filled with colorful sheet music from different Beatles songs, each with a clip to hold our boys’ masterpieces.
Our boys love to make noise! What boy doesn’t right? So we installed rails with small buckets to hold lots of their little noise making devices within easy reach.
They even have a cute, red toy accordion that I hung from one of the rails.
The boys also have quite a few larger toy instruments that we store elsewhere, but now they have a perfect place to jam!
The ceiling slopes all the way down to the floor, making the back of the space a perfect reading nook for curling up with some comfy pillows and a good book! Our boys love to read, so adding some book storage was a must.
We bought the boys a small collection of new books all about music and displayed them in wall mounted magazine racks {similar to these}.
To help fill the wall space around the book racks, I added two black and white photos taken by their uncle – one of piano keys, the other guitar strings.
MAGNETIC WALL & PING PONG WALL COASTER
The sheet metal wall opposite the gallery wall serves many purposes – one of which is for use with magnetic alphabet letters and numbers, which we are storing in more plastic buckets. But the real reason we installed the sheet metal wall is this…
…pipes and plumbing pieces with magnets on the back that can be configured and reconfigured to create a ping pong ball wall coaster {also known as a ball run or a tinker track}!
Our goal was to design a play space that will grow with them for many years, and I can see 11 and 12 year old Cooper and Beckett having just as much fun with this magnetic ball run as they will now. Heck, I had a ton of fun setting it up just for these photos!
When they are done creating their mazes, all the parts and pieces can easily be stored right on the wall.
DIY SHEET MUSIC FEATURE WALL
So what does it look like when you’re at the back of the space looking toward the door? I’m glad you asked!
We installed black trim molding on both side walls, and I collaged the entire upper portion of these walls and above the door in the sheet music for Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” {which Beckett has dubbed our “family song”}.
I created a series of music lyric posters that I added on top of the sheet music using thin, colored washi tape.
The “STUDIO” marquee letters add yet another element of mood lighting in the space. The photo below also gives you a good view of the new light fixture that we installed on the wall.
I’m all about the details…so it makes me giddy that the trim molding has ridges that look so similar to the ridges in the records on the ceiling.
CEILING WALL COVERED IN VINYL RECOREDS
And speaking of the records on the sloped ceiling wall…I guess I should talk about those too! Not that you could have possibly missed them! 🙂
There are a total of 135 records on the ceiling. The ceiling was the right width for 5 records across with just about a quarter of an inch to spare. And 27 rows of records fit the ceiling from top to bottom exactly. It was like this ceiling was made for these records!
If you are interested in the details about the products used in this room, you’ll find the answers in the complete source list post, and in the following weeks for lots I’ll be posting numerous tutorials. I’ve also posted an adorable video of the boys seeing the playroom for the first time, together with some fun photos of them enjoying the space. So if you like cute kid pictures, be sure to check that out here!
Thanks for rocking out with us! If you want to catch up on the five weeks of work that led to this big reveal, you’ll find each of those posts here.
Iris Watts says
This room is so cool that even I as an adult want to play in it! Great job!
Jennifer @ Dimples and Tangles says
Oh my goodness, Angela! I can't believe this was a total surprise for your boys, how fun! You totally win Mom of the Year… what an amazing space! The lighting just puts everything over the top, well done!
Delia says
O.M.G.! This space totally rocks 🙂 Great job Angela. I'm sure your sons are now beaming with delight.
Sabrina S says
WOW! This is truly creative! I want to hang out in this space! Way to go!!!
Dana Frieling says
Such a fun space! You knocked it out of the park!
Denise Greenwood says
What a fun space Angela! I know you're kids love it! Great job!
making it in the mountains says
This is absolutely incredible Angela! Those boys must LOVE it! What a fun space to call their own full of all sorts of colour, personality and fun! That wall coaster is the neatest idea – my little guy would love it! SO fun!!!
Kourtney says
I love that pipe wall! You've done such a great job of using every last inch.Hope you can rock out with the boys too!
Decor To Adore says
What an amazing transformation! A true job well done. I adore the color palette you selected. It feels fresh and fun. The six weeks went by so fast. I completed our entry, living and dining areas in a new to us 30 year old house. So, cheers to us! Have a wonderful weekend.
marty (A Stroll Thru Life) says
Oh my word, this is absolutely amazing. I LOVE IT ALL.
Natasha at The Simply Luxe Life says
This is SUCH a cool space for your little guys! I love how it turned out!
Aniko Levai says
How cool is this room?? My boys would love it, too! Great job, Angela! You rocked this room! Xo
Erin @ the-organized-life says
This is the most incredible space! I am in awe. Those boys are so lucky to have such a great space to play around and make noise. Love the magnetic plumbing (what a fabulous idea!!!) I seriously could go on and on… I just love everything!
heather t says
I love it Angela!! Way to go 🙂
Melissa @aprudentlife says
I love how perfect this space will continue to be at every age. You guys did a FABULOUS job planning out all the details. And I still want to come play with the roller coaster wall…or just curl up in the back with a book!
Traci Hutton says
This is just the coolest!!! I love the dutch door…well done!!
Anna Urbanowicz says
This is amazing! Such a fun space, well done!
Gretchen says
Whoa–what a fun space!! I love the coaster wall :). We have that same First Act guitar (well, except ours is green)…my now almost 12 year old got it for his 3rd birthday, and it's still hanging in there (although it needs a few new strings at the moment, after my 2 year old's enthusiastic playing).
Emily McCauley says
Angela!!! This is so much fun! What genius ideas and what lucky little dudes!
Amy says
This is an awesome room, but your boys must be WAY calmer than mine, no way it could up around here!
Brenda says
Fabulous kid space. May I come over and play????
Holy Craft says
Fabulous once again! What an amazing job you did! I always love seeing spaces that would be wasted getting such an awesome lease on life!
mollie's mom says
What vision to "see" that before space and come up with this amazing and fun place for your boys!!! Everyone is going to want to be in there!!
Ashley Mayes says
That wall coaster….LOVE IT! You created an awesome space for your kiddos!
Prettypracticalhome says
Amazing! What a fun, imaginitive space you've created for your boys! I love it!
Bre Eggert says
This is incredible! I am so excited for the wall coaster tutorial. I have GOT to make that for my kids. You've outdone yourself!!
Carolyn says
Amazing!!! What a special space for your little guys.
the cape on the corner says
dude. that is crazy and ridiculous and flippin' amazing. you are clearly an awesome mom.
b
Mindi Carwin says
This room is "rockin" Angela! I LOVE it and my little Aaron loved it too, and I can tell your boys are very proud of it, and they should be!! Amazing job!!
Kathy Baugher says
Your pictures are amazing Angela! The room is so awesome. I love so many things in it. So creative! What a great place for two boys to hang out.
Lesley Metcalfe says
This has to be one of my favourite rooms in this round of the ORC. It's so creative. Turning this narrow storage space into a play space was a genius idea. You and your husband are the coolest parents ever! I would love to have had a room like this growing up. …Who am I kidding, I would love to have a room like this as an adult! 🙂
Kendra Joy says
You are soo creative, Anglela! Wow! I'm sure those cute lil boys love it! So glad it's all done now and we can all get some sleep! Happy Mothers Day!
Kendra @ http://www.joyinourhome.com
Linda {Calling it Home} says
This is insanely fantastic!! When you started this space, I was wondering how you would transform it. This blows my mind. You are the best mother, ever. Happy Mothers Day. Congrats!
SHERRY HART says
So so creative! WOW….best use of space I have seen in a while:) I know your boys are jumping for joy!
Diana @ Your Day Simplified says
You are very talented and filled with creativity! I found your blog from Pam@Simple Details today. Great job!
Vel Criste says
This is just one fabulous and unique play room! I'm blown-away!
Pat@Life At Lydias House says
This has to be the coolest and most creative space in the ORC!! I know that your boys are loving their new play space!
Erin @ the-organized-life says
Just wanted to let you know that I featured my favorite spaces from the ORC in a post today, and your space is on the list, here's the link if you want to take a look: http://www.the-organized-life.com/one-room-challenge-my-favorite-spaces/
Brynne Delerson says
Oh my word – this room is incredible!!! The records on the ceiling are amazing and so freaking creative! Your boys are super lucky to have such an inspiring and fun play space (and mom who made it for them!)!!!
Marie Blackburn says
Oh my gosh Angela, this totally rocks (pun intended)! You did such an over the top makeover in this space. Your kids must only come out of their to eat and sleep! I'm featuring your Under Stair Playroom at the DIY Sunday Showcase Party this weekend.
Marie@The Interior Frugalista
Maureen says
My brother did a variation a number of years ago. H had a coat closet at the "end" that he needed to keep but cut a door large enough for him to get his sons in an emergency. One of his son would spontaneously stop breathing. For the boys it was a kitchen cabinet size door off the kitchen. This also gave them a quick place to stash extra toys when people dropped in. No loss of closet and they still got the play room.
Jennifer Steere says
This is AWESOME. Love the silver hand holding the guitar, the records on the ceiling, the rope lights, the rug, the ping pong roller coaster – just everything! It's amazing how much you were able to fit into such a small space. Ironically, "I Love Rock 'N Roll" came on the radio as I was reading through the post! ;-D