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Decorating Tips & Tutorials· One Room Challenge· Reader's Favorite Decor· Room Makeovers & Design Plans

A Music Themed Playroom Under the Stairs

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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.
 
Under Stair Playroom - BEFORE
 
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!
 
Music themed under stairs playroom with DIY dutch door
 
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!
 
UNDER STAIRS PLAYROOM. The disfunctional storage space under the basement stairs was transformed into a rock & roll themed kids playroom under the stairs. This music themed play space includes a music gallery wall, a wall covered in vinyl records, DIY sheet music wallpaper, and a magnetic ping pong ball wall maze.
 
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…

UNDER STAIRS PLAYROOM. The unused storage space under the basement stairs was transformed into a rock & roll themed kids under stairs playhouse.
 
Rock & Roll Under Stairs Playroom for budding rock stars!
 
Rock & Roll under stairs playroom with a music gallery wall.
 
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.
 
I love the music alphabet poster on rock & roll gallery wall in this playroom.
 
 
I love the music alphabet poster and he hanging guitar on rock & roll gallery wall in this playroom.
 
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?!
 
This silver hand guitar holder makes a big statement on this music gallery wall.
 
 
This silver hand sticking out of the wall makes for a cool guitar display on this music gallery wall.
 

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.

DIY kid's art display boards covered in sheet music for art and music lovers.
 
Music and art loving kids will like these DIY display boards to show off their art work!
 
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.

IKEA Bygel storage rails for organizing and storing kids musical toys, including a red toy accordian.
 
The boys also have quite a few larger toy instruments that we store elsewhere, but now they have a perfect place to jam!
 
 

UNDER STAIRS READING NOOK

 
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. 
 
Under Stairs Reading nook with a collection of music themed kids books in a rock & roll playroom under the stairs.
 
We bought the boys a small collection of new books all about music and displayed them in wall mounted magazine racks {similar to these}.
 
Under stairs reading nook in a music themed playroom with a collection of kid's music story books.
 
Under stairs reading nook with a collection of music books for kids in a music themed playroom.
 

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.

Framed photo of piano keys in a music themed playroom under the basement stairs.
 
Toy storage rail in a playroom under the basement stairs.
 
 

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…
 
Call it what you want... a magnetic ping pong ball wall coaster, a wall maze, a ball run, or a tinker track... we call it hours of fun and learning!
 
…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}!
 
This magnetic ping pong ball wall maze is just one of the many fun ways we use the sheet metal wall in the playroom.
 
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!
 
PVC pipes and duct tape create the ping pong ball run on a magnetic wall in the basement playroom.
 

When they are done creating their mazes, all the parts and pieces can easily be stored right on the wall.

The sheet metal wall in this under stairs playroom is used for alphabet magnets, drawing, and even a ping pong ball wall maze. The PVC pines from the magnetic wall coaster store neatly to one side when not in use.
 

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!
 
A kids' music studio under the basement stairs. This mini-playroom is packed with music and fun, including the DIY sheet music wall paper on the upper part of the walls.
 
 
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”}. 
 
DIY sheet music wallpaper adorns the upper walls of this fabulous music studio playroom under the stairs.
 

I created a series of music lyric posters that I added on top of the sheet music using thin, colored washi tape.

DIY sheet music wallpaper with music lyrics posters.
 

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.

DIY sheet music wallpaper, music lyrics posters, and a ceiling covered in vinyl records make for a very cool "studio" playroom under the stairs.
 
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. 
 
DIY rock & roll wallpaper in a music studio playroom.
 
 

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! 🙂 

 

A wall covered in vinyl records
 
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!
 
UNDER STAIRS PLAYROOM. The dysfunctional storage space under the basement stairs was transformed into a rock & roll themed kids playroom under the stairs.
 
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.

UNDER THE STAIRS PLAYROOM PROJECTS & TUTORIALS

Under the Stairs Playroom Reveal

Under Stair Playroom Source List

How to Cover a Wall in Vinyl Records - Damage Free!

DIY Sheet Music Feature Wall + Free Printable Song Lyrics Posters

Easy Kids' Art Display Boards

Playroom Featured in 5280 Home Magazine

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05.07.15 43 Comments

« How to Give Photos a Metallic Glow
{link party} The Creative Circle – Week 14 »

Comments

  1. Iris Watts says

    May 7, 2015 at 5:58 am

    This room is so cool that even I as an adult want to play in it! Great job!

    Reply
  2. Jennifer @ Dimples and Tangles says

    May 7, 2015 at 6:16 am

    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!

    Reply
  3. Delia says

    May 7, 2015 at 8:49 am

    O.M.G.! This space totally rocks 🙂 Great job Angela. I'm sure your sons are now beaming with delight.

    Reply
  4. Sabrina S says

    May 7, 2015 at 11:59 am

    WOW! This is truly creative! I want to hang out in this space! Way to go!!!

    Reply
  5. Dana Frieling says

    May 7, 2015 at 12:07 pm

    Such a fun space! You knocked it out of the park!

    Reply
  6. Denise Greenwood says

    May 7, 2015 at 12:40 pm

    What a fun space Angela! I know you're kids love it! Great job!

    Reply
  7. making it in the mountains says

    May 7, 2015 at 12:47 pm

    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!!!

    Reply
  8. Kourtney says

    May 7, 2015 at 1:00 pm

    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!

    Reply
  9. Decor To Adore says

    May 7, 2015 at 1:38 pm

    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.

    Reply
  10. marty (A Stroll Thru Life) says

    May 7, 2015 at 1:42 pm

    Oh my word, this is absolutely amazing. I LOVE IT ALL.

    Reply
  11. Natasha at The Simply Luxe Life says

    May 7, 2015 at 2:01 pm

    This is SUCH a cool space for your little guys! I love how it turned out!

    Reply
  12. Aniko Levai says

    May 7, 2015 at 2:26 pm

    How cool is this room?? My boys would love it, too! Great job, Angela! You rocked this room! Xo

    Reply
  13. Erin @ the-organized-life says

    May 7, 2015 at 2:53 pm

    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!

    Reply
  14. heather t says

    May 7, 2015 at 4:09 pm

    I love it Angela!! Way to go 🙂

    Reply
  15. Melissa @aprudentlife says

    May 7, 2015 at 4:20 pm

    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!

    Reply
  16. Traci Hutton says

    May 7, 2015 at 4:51 pm

    This is just the coolest!!! I love the dutch door…well done!!

    Reply
  17. Anna Urbanowicz says

    May 7, 2015 at 4:59 pm

    This is amazing! Such a fun space, well done!

    Reply
  18. Gretchen says

    May 7, 2015 at 6:35 pm

    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).

    Reply
  19. Emily McCauley says

    May 7, 2015 at 7:11 pm

    Angela!!! This is so much fun! What genius ideas and what lucky little dudes!

    Reply
  20. Amy says

    May 7, 2015 at 7:25 pm

    This is an awesome room, but your boys must be WAY calmer than mine, no way it could up around here!

    Reply
  21. Brenda says

    May 7, 2015 at 7:45 pm

    Fabulous kid space. May I come over and play????

    Reply
  22. Holy Craft says

    May 7, 2015 at 7:58 pm

    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!

    Reply
  23. mollie's mom says

    May 7, 2015 at 8:50 pm

    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!!

    Reply
  24. Ashley Mayes says

    May 7, 2015 at 10:27 pm

    That wall coaster….LOVE IT! You created an awesome space for your kiddos!

    Reply
  25. Prettypracticalhome says

    May 8, 2015 at 1:37 am

    Amazing! What a fun, imaginitive space you've created for your boys! I love it!

    Reply
  26. Bre Eggert says

    May 8, 2015 at 1:40 am

    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!!

    Reply
  27. Carolyn says

    May 8, 2015 at 2:36 am

    Amazing!!! What a special space for your little guys.

    Reply
  28. the cape on the corner says

    May 8, 2015 at 3:36 pm

    dude. that is crazy and ridiculous and flippin' amazing. you are clearly an awesome mom.
    b

    Reply
  29. Mindi Carwin says

    May 8, 2015 at 6:26 pm

    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!!

    Reply
  30. Kathy Baugher says

    May 8, 2015 at 11:01 pm

    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.

    Reply
  31. Lesley Metcalfe says

    May 9, 2015 at 2:07 pm

    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! 🙂

    Reply
  32. Kendra Joy says

    May 9, 2015 at 6:11 pm

    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

    Reply
  33. Linda {Calling it Home} says

    May 10, 2015 at 1:39 am

    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!

    Reply
  34. SHERRY HART says

    May 10, 2015 at 5:07 pm

    So so creative! WOW….best use of space I have seen in a while:) I know your boys are jumping for joy!

    Reply
  35. Diana @ Your Day Simplified says

    May 12, 2015 at 4:17 am

    You are very talented and filled with creativity! I found your blog from Pam@Simple Details today. Great job!

    Reply
  36. Vel Criste says

    May 12, 2015 at 4:10 pm

    This is just one fabulous and unique play room! I'm blown-away!

    Reply
  37. Pat@Life At Lydias House says

    May 13, 2015 at 1:33 am

    This has to be the coolest and most creative space in the ORC!! I know that your boys are loving their new play space!

    Reply
  38. Erin @ the-organized-life says

    May 13, 2015 at 3:17 pm

    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/

    Reply
  39. Brynne Delerson says

    May 14, 2015 at 12:57 am

    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!)!!!

    Reply
  40. Marie Blackburn says

    May 14, 2015 at 2:55 am

    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

    Reply
  41. Maureen says

    December 26, 2015 at 3:46 am

    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.

    Reply
  42. Jennifer Steere says

    April 4, 2016 at 4:49 pm

    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

    Reply
  43. Nat-Anne says

    November 19, 2020 at 9:19 pm

    OMG THAT IS ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL… your attention to detail is simply out of this world !!!! I stared at each picture for a good 5 minutes to take it all in before moving on… I have a stack of records (33 & 45) and an awful living room ceiling I’ve been staring at for years, always wanted to find a way to create something wild… also recently got back all my music books from 48 years back which I wish to frame. You have given me all the inspiration I needed, I can’t thank you enough !!! Stay safe and stay healthy and above all, stay creative ! I’m sure your boys have already spent many great moments in their special space…. 🙂

    Reply

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Meet Angela

Angela, the founder of Blue i Style, strongly believes that decor should be functional, organizing can be beautiful, smart DIYs help stretch your budget, and an organized and stylish home can still be practical for life with kids.

Her work has been featured in print in Better Homes & Gardens and 5280 Home magazine, and online by HGTV, the Today Show, Good Housekeeping, and more. She was also named a 2018 Stylemaker by Better Homes & Gardens.

You can reach Angela at angela@blueistyle.com

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