When Noble and Xochi were less than a year old, their primary play area was the living room, minus coffee tables and lamps (that were put in the basement when they became mobile). The play space we constructed was a 5×7-foot area, enforced by the sofa, a Pack ’n Play and boxes covered by blankets. Baby gates were added to replace those “enforcements” to make it a little more safe and secure.

As growing children demand more room to explore, that place space eventually expanded to include much of the living room. As they learned to walk more confidently, they needed even more space – and I began to dream of creating a room just for them. Sure, they had a bedroom, but I wanted to keep the energy in that room mild, so they knew it was for resting and reading, not playing. Since they had a nanny who came to our home to care for them every day, our house had become an in-home daycare, and they needed a playroom.

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Our basement wasn’t finished, so that was out. However, we did have one room available that was only used for storage – our dining room. We had an eat-in kitchen, so there wasn’t a real need for a formal “dining room”. So, for their first Christmas, we removed the boxes from the room formerly known as the dining room, and the playroom transformation began. It was a hit!

Assembling a playroom is much easier than you think. All you need is an open space/room, baby gates, flooring, and toys. Below is a list of the products that worked successfully for us:

BABY GATES

1. We started out with the Toddleroo By North States Superyard Colorplay 6 Panel Freestanding Gate : Target. I liked it because it was colorful, plastic, and it didn’t have to be permanently installed. The Superyard comes in a set of six links. You can move them around and add pieces if you wanted to expand the space. We ended up buying more sets to add to the first links to make the overall size bigger. When the twins discovered that they could push the gate around the room, and change the shape and size of their own play space, it was time to go with a more secure solution. We eventually moved them outside into the yard to create an outdoor play space. They fold up easily for storage.

• Next, we purchased REGALO 4-in-1 Play Yard Configurable Gate – Chewy.com. This metal gate was a little taller and fastened to the wall, but also had several links that could be removed or added, depending on the desired space. I think my favorite was the childproof door. I no longer had to hurdle over the gates to get the kids in/out. We also added one to our living room, to keep the twins a safe distance from our fireplace. We also purchased the Regalo Wall Safe Extra Wide Walk Through Safety Gate : Target and installed at the top of our stairs.

You can’t go wrong with the standard doorway gate, Regalo Plastic Expandable Safety Gate : Target. This is small enough to move around throughout the day, depending on the room we want or (don’t want them in).

FLOORING

Our hardwood floors were not ideal for active toddlers. I needed something inexpensive with padding that could protect the little ones when they tumbled. I went with Infantino Go Gaga! Soft Foam Puzzle Mat : Target. I LOVE THESE! They were bright, colorful, durable, and provided enough padding on the floor to protect against falls. There are about six that come in a pack, so I started out small and gradually added more over time.

Over the years, the playroom has seen a myriad of toys, including walking aides, riding toys, blocks, several bounce houses (they each had leaks), slides, tunnel, a ball pit, and even a trampoline.

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Have you created a playroom? Share your tips. We’d love to know what worked for you!