A Spare Room????? Not Any More!

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

File this under duh.

We have three bedrooms in our home. Two are downstairs are are a fairly good size. In fact they are probably too big and we should have divided them into three, but there isn't much we can do about that now. These rooms are the Little Man and our bedrooms. Upstairs we have our living area with an attached open kitchen. Also upstairs we have the third bedroom. I use the term "bedroom" loosely. Yes you could fit a bed in it, and yes it is a room, but really that's about all that make it in the small space. 

While it might not be a perfect full size bedroom, the space screams nursery. Seriously, it's upstairs, away from where all the noise would be and easily accessible from the living room. It's small enough to be cozy, but large enough to fit a changing table, crib, and rocker. It's what we envisioned when we bought the place, and it is certainly what we envisioned when we moved in and I was pregnant with baby number two. Well, we all know how that went and since we weren't putting a nursery in there any time soon, we were kind of at a loss with what to do with the space. We didn't want to furnish it as a guest room or an office because we wouldn't have anywhere for that furniture to go when we actually needed to use the nursery. So basically we did nothing. 

We had an old pull out couch that we bought off some friends and a TV and stand that we really didn't want to throw away, so we just stuck them in the room and figured that when we did have guests this would be an easy space to house them until we needed the room for something else. Besides, we thought, we'll get pregnant soon enough so we won't really even notice. Yeah, well now it is over a year later and the room is still the same. Sad and unfurnished. 

For a year now I have pretty much kept the door shut. All the while I have been lusting after a playroom with the same fervor that I used to lust after a Birkin bag. Yes, I want one that bad. The fact is that all of the LM'S toys live in our living room, and most the time it looks like one big mess. How great would it be to have a room that you can just shut to door too? You can see where I am going with this. 

A few rubbermaid bins, a switching of the train table and viola!

Before: Sad Room



After: Awesome Playroom.





The best part? My living room now looks like this: 



An actual living room! I kept a few toys out, but I have a feeling they will be going in the new space soon enough.

The second best part is that the LM loves having his own space. This morning he watched his favorite Blue's Clues in there while playing with his trains. I sat on the couch and watched the news and drank a cup of coffee. I know, I could hardly believe it myself! 

I'd like to get rid of all the furniture in there, but the husband insists on keeping it a semi functional guest room. That is until I finally get my nursery. For now I'm just happy living in a toy free zone! Why I didn't think of this sooner is beyond me.

For those of you out there with a "real" playroom...oh how I envy you!!


6 comments :

Julie Q said...

i LOVE how the before picture, there is no light on. but then voila! The Playroom, let there be light!

I'm jealous! i wish I had a play room, but basically its my living room (tv and 5,000 magazines to read! and my laptop) :)

Robin M Anderson said...

Seriously...it is like the light turned on. that room was depressing, it was just sitting there waiting for a baby. Now it is a fun and happy place and it brings a very big smile to my face!!!

I need a playroom...aka a SPA in my house!!!

xoxo

Sasha said...

I am a stay at home/work at home mom in the Boston area, too and I just wanted to tell you how much I love your blog. Seriously, you are so upbeat and positive and cute. Keep the good stuff coming. I am so inspired by how positive you have managed to stay through all the Clomid and infertility issues and I admire your courage in speaking about it and also your constant positivity. You rock, yummy mummy! Keep up the good work!

Mama J said...

Hi YM,
I am the anon you gave nursing-friendly dress advice to a few months ago. I am stopping in to say hi because after coming out on the other side of newborn-hood, I've decided to start my own little blog and wanted to share it with you and your readers. I am just getting started, and hope to makes things bigger, better and prettier as I learn the ropes. Thanks again for your advice and for your stories.
Mama J

Robin M Anderson said...

Sasha,


i can't thank you enough for your sweet comment. You really made my day! Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment!!!!

xoxo
ym

Robin M Anderson said...

Mama J,

Welcome...I look forward to reading!

xx