How to Make a Pop-Up Play Zone in a Small Space
Read more about establishing play zones for children in compact homes and outdoor spaces via my book, Small Space Style.
Living with kids in a small space can be a unique challenge. But it’s possible to nurture imagination, respect boundaries, and even remain organized when approaching the design and decor of a compact home with inventiveness and consideration.
I’ve long enjoyed creating pop-up play zones for my children in our various environments. Not only does this activity create a “new” area (without spending money or acquiring more items) for the little ones to enjoy, but it’s also playful way for me to start the day, as it feels like a creative warm-up exercise.
Even the smallest stretch of square-footage can be temporarily transformed into something special. (I’ve found this to be particularly useful on those long days when we’re confined indoors for one reason or another.)
Over a long weekend recently, I took 5 minutes to apply a few simple edits to the 3’ x 6’ space between our kitchen island and wall, turning it from a walkway into a play kitchen + art table + bird watching station for our 2 year old and 6 year old.
It didn’t consist of much— just two wall-mounted rails with hooks (for suspending items like an apron, food + tea set, lantern, and child-safe chopping tools), and a vintage folding chair and secondhand mini table with accents surrounding them.
It was such a hit that I suspect we’ll leave everything out for a bit longer, or we’ll at least resurface the concept within a few week’s time.
As always, some of the key tools I use for creating such pop-ups include:
Vertical storage + organization for space-savvy layers of functional decor
Baskets for toting toys and accessories
Folding furnishings
Portable lighting
All items were repurposed from around the house, but when presented in this revitalized format, the kids enjoyed each of the pieces as though they were once again new to our household.
Here are some photos from this simple setup. And, as always, I invite readers to explore even more details regarding establishing play spaces for kids in small homes and gardens via my book, Small Space Style.
Planning a Nature Playground
Between the ten acres here and the eight acres of land enveloping our little French farmhouse, our family will cross over fields and pass under branches far more than we’ll cross over streets and pass under the shade of buildings. I’m relieved and pleasantly surprised that my four year old is into it all thus far— he was so acclimated to our Venice life, which was basically the opposite of this.
On a recent evening, as West and I held hands and stomped across the prairie towards a canopy of towering oaks, I asked him if he missed the beach. (In the month leading up to our relocation, he strolled to the Pacific every day to play in the shallow waves.) His reply was thoughtful but swift:
“I suppose so. I miss it, but not all the time. I like it here.”
I reminded him that it’s possible to feel many emotions at once, and to even harbor conflicting feelings. He considered this, and then reminded me in return that we can always drive to the beach when desired.
He then rattled off a list of things he loved about being here: the tiny wildflowers he collects for his Grandmother, the Sandhill Cranes he’s met, the frogs clinging to the windows, and the bright red twinkle of Mars overhead surrounded by gleaming stars. (That last point made me particularly happy, as I remember him pointing out a line of street lamps in Los Angeles when he was 2 and asking me if they were stars.)
I pointed out that all of the things he listed were outdoors, so I’d work on creating a small, rambling playground for him. He was overjoyed, and insisted we scout locations immediately, despite the fact that our dinner was cooling on the kitchen table as we spoke.
We’re taking time to plan out a nature playground made with found and foraged items that we can repurpose and use creatively throughout the woods. I’d like to include a small labyrinth of stones or logs as well, as a way of forming a little path that we can trace when helping West (and ourselves, for that matter,) sort through emotions and breathe deeply.
In the meantime, we’ve purchased a few wooden + rope items from Etsy to suspend from the trees. So far we have a swing, a climbing ladder, some rings, and a rubber tether-ball— all items that would’ve worked just as well in our tiny Venice garden or home if I’d only thought to look for them sooner...
I’m taking notes from my little one on how to sink into change. Like him, I’m embracing the new experience. But unlike him, I’m older— I’ll need more time to absorb everything. And that’s okay.
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