Before & After: A New Addition’s Bonus Room Feels Like a Play Space Set “Outside in Nature”

When Katie Buehrer and her family decided to expand their home in Ankeny, Iowa, it turned into a two-for-one project. Originally, Katie and her husband planned to build a nursery for their now-1-year-old son, Bo. However, while mapping out the space, they realized they could also add a playroom for their son and 3-year-old daughter, Poppy.

“I really wanted a dedicated place for all of the toys and room for the kids to make messes,” Katie explains. 

While the contractor began building the new addition, Katie started on the playroom moodboard. She determined that, beyond serving as a functional place where her kids could spread their toys far and wide, the room should connect to the outdoors, as well.

“I wanted this room to feel like we were outside in nature,” Katie says. “So we put as many windows as the space allowed, giving us so much natural light! As for the style of the space, I wanted it to be playful, whimsical, and colorful for the kids.” 

Katie chose Benjamin Moore’s “Chantilly Lace” for the walls and Behr’s “Sunken Pool” for the built-ins — both colors gorgeously complement the green outside the windows. Once the building and painting were complete, she brought the color palette to life with furniture that was all about vibrancy and practicality.

“I prioritized lots of toy storage so the space still felt organized, flat surfaces for drawing and building … and an open space for playing,” Katie shares. 

For example, the two-door metal storage cabinet is a great spot for storing toys (and a supercute pink!). 

A stylish Jenny Lind table is the go-to place for Poppy and Bo to play or do crafts, and the violet-colored chairs add a soft pop of color to the room. 

There’s ample space to spread out and play, and Katie achieved that by putting most of the furniture — like House of Noa’s modular striped pink seating — up against the walls and a floral wool West Elm Kids rug in the center of the room.

Now the room serves as the perfect spot for Katie’s kids to play and exactly what she envisioned for her family. “In the mornings we play in there while the sun pours in,” Katie says. “It feels magical.”