Hallelujah — the sun returned to the East Coast, and when it did we finally photographed our finished bonus room. “Finished” is a loose term since we’re always tweaking, but this space is now a comfortable, functional retreat for the whole family: a contained play area for the kids, a cozy spot for grown-ups, and a flexible guest-sleeping area. The couch in here is especially irresistible.
If you missed the transformation, we originally turned this unfinished storage space above our garage into a usable room, then added built-ins and floating shelves to fill the window niche and created a wire-free TV wall. It’s almost hard to remember what it looked like in January.
Our goal was a fun, casual room with a few distinct zones that serve multiple purposes. We didn’t want to label it strictly a “playroom” because adults use it just as much. It’s ideal for movie nights, sleepovers, quiet reading sessions (the door is a favorite feature), and keeping kid activities contained yet accessible.
We divided the room into four main functional zones:
- Arts & crafts desk
- Mega-sofa and TV area
- Dress-up corner
- Wall-to-wall storage with floating shelves
The art desk has been a surprising hit: both kids end up here first thing in the morning, which has even helped make the elusive morning shower a reality more often. The desk and chairs were a generous hand-me-down from a neighbor and have been working beautifully. Above the desk we hung colorful prints by one of our favorite illustrators — intricate, playful art that appeals to both kids and adults.
We organized supplies using painted wooden spice racks repurposed as supply trays and clear plastic cups for pencils and markers. A small soup can became our sizing reference for containers that would fit neatly on the shelf — practical and thrift-friendly.
One of the room’s signature features is the butterfly display. We mapped the arrangement with post-it tabs, then swapped in the butterflies one-by-one. Each butterfly attaches with a small removable adhesive on the end of a bendable wire, which lets us nudge them for dimension so they appear to float off the wall.
Spinning around from the art desk, you face the rug, the wall-mounted TV, and our Mega Sofa-Thing — three chaise sections joined together to form one massive, lounge-worthy couch. We used a trio of slipcovered chaises secured together; the result is a perfect spot for family movie nights and an easy guest bed when needed.
The mega sofa has quickly become the house favorite. It’s hosted movie nights, sleepovers, and impromptu naps. We went with a warm gray-brown slipcover that feels durable and cozy — an upgrade that didn’t require replacing our family-room couch.
Behind the sofa we tucked a dress-up corner against the built-ins. Costumes, capes, hats, and other dress-up gear were overflowing in a downstairs bin, so moving them here made perfect sense. The open display has encouraged more dress-up play — and the mirror tucked into the corner might be the secret to that resurgence.
We added hooks for hanging costumes and a framed piece of artwork made from Clara’s “recipes.” We photographed her drawings, arranged them digitally, and printed an engineering print at a local print shop for an affordable, heartfelt display.
We didn’t fill the room with new toys; instead we moved existing favorites so they’d get more use. The play kitchen was relocated from a closet, Duplo bricks were split between floors, and lower cabinets make puzzles and games easier for little hands to access. The result is a room that feels purposeful rather than cluttered.
At first, right after drywall went up, the space felt underused. But once furniture, storage, and a few activities were in place, it found its rhythm. Now it serves multiple functions — play, relaxation, TV, guest sleeping — and makes the upstairs feel much more complete.
To end, here’s a quick visual memory lane: the finished view down the upstairs hall contrasts sharply with the dated laundry closet and the unfinished storage space we started with. The transformation is gratifying — and now I’m off to claim a horizontal spot on the trio of chaises.
P.S. We updated our photo gallery to include this room and refreshed some other spaces. For a quick reference of paint colors and sources for pieces used throughout the house, check our shop and house pages.
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