This bigger kid's room is just our style. It's a good size room with plenty of natural light. Although there is space for more furniture, the parents have opted for something else instead.
Floor space. Rather than stuff the room full of toys and storage furniture to hold those toys, the side opposite the bed consists simply of space to play. A few favorite toys and a comfortable play rug are all that is needed. Imagination and room to breathe make up the rest of the room. When planning your child's space, no matter their age, stop short of filling up every corner and wall with items and give them free space. For more photos of this room, visit 1088 Churchill.
(Image: 1088 Churchill)

Sheex Bedding
Wait, WHY do the best kid's bedrooms require a place to play? I disagree.
My three-year-old's room is for sleeping and getting dressed...period. Having a kid who devolves to night-waking at the drop of a hat, I firmly believe toys scattered around leads away from a peaceful vibe.
All our toys and books are in our living room. It means there is only one zone for me to make sure stays tidy, and that there is a place for play and a place for rest.
The tiny toys are going to have to migrate to her room when her sibling starts crawling, but I'm still a serious anti-toys-in-the-bedroom person. After all, adult bedrooms are dedicated to rest alone and even I (a sleeper if there ever was one) don't think sleeping in say, my home office, sounds very peaceful.
So I agree, don't fill up every corner of the room, but I disagree on dedicating it to play.
I'm with p_capucine. We *had* toys in my son's room, but nap and night are soooo much easier without them. Bedrooms are for sleeping.
That being said, I'm sure there are a lot of homes that may not have extra space so rooms necessarily have dual function. I grew up in one myself and, yes, never napped if I could get away with it :)
hi! thought i'd chime in since its my son's room :) we have 1300 sq ft--our rooms are multi-use. it takes self-discipline to go to sleep and not play toys, but it can be taught and our kids do it everyday! its a blessing especially in january when its -10 outside
to have multiple rooms to play in. (sorry had to finish my thought :) )
I think it's a great plan! I agree with the commenters who say they have toys elsewhere, my son only has books in his room, but in an apartment, I would totally agree that the temptation is to fill a room, but the inclination should be to leave open space. I have a 2 year old who RUNS around the house, and when it's raining I'm grateful we have the space for him to release some of that energy.
We have a 1000 square foot house so...yeah. I agree it's luxurious having her room so EMPTY but we do it anyway.
Frankly, the room photo doesn't look super distracting. That is still a really calm space. It was the title of the post I objected to, really!
Yes... and no.
I don't have any toys in my daughter's room, because her room is for sleeping. When she's older- say, 5-7 years old, her room will be for playing and sleeping, it will be her special place inside the house.
but right now, she has a play area in the living room, a play area in my bedroom and a play area in her grandparents bedroom. That's just how we roll in this house hold.
My bedroom also has a study desk, a tiny tv that I use to hook up to my notebook, a book case filled with loads of books that I wallpapers in a bright orange and green fabric... I'm the sort of person who uses bright blue as a neutral colour.
I know most people would consider my bedroom to be the most unrestful place on earth, with the colour scheme, toys for my daughter in there, and being a study area... but it works for me.
Like everyone else, I disagree with the title. Really. The BEST kids rooms need a play area? What if every other room in the house has a play area?
I like the room..We have a car mat like that in my son's room and some books. The rest of his toys are in his playroom. I was wondering for the OP, where did you get the bed? I really like it. We want to move my son from his toddler bed to a twin, thanks!
the bed is a twin MALM from IKEA. Its been a great 1st bed--I love that its low to the ground. The color is discontinued but you could probably find it on craigslist or in a lighter wood color