The day has finally come! I’m finished with the kids’ new outer space playroom and the result is out of this world! (I couldn’t help myself there. I had to get a space pun in immediately to kick things off!)
I started this project in February and thought I would have revealed it long before June. However, life got in the way and this secret room was always pushed to the bottom of my to-do list.
Until now! The space is complete, I revealed it to the kids (Ahhhh!), and now it’s time to reveal it to all of you!
Where We Began
Before we get to the good stuff, I have to show you where it all started. This is a small closet under the stairs in our basement. It was previously stuffed to the brim with extra blankets and our air mattress for guests. We were squeezing all of those things into this closet space and it was impossible to keep organized. No matter what I did, it always looked like a huge mess.
I thought it would make for a better play space than an actual closet, so I devised an idea to create a space-themed playroom for my solar system-loving kiddos.
The concept evolved as the project progressed. Eventually, I decided to make it look like the inside of a spaceship so the kids could get creative during their playtime adventures. I figured there would be just enough space for the two of them to have some fun together in this little closet.
Adding Starry Wallpaper To The Play Area
I started with wallpaper on all of the walls in this small space, which made such a big impact. I used paste the wall wallpaper (my favorite kind) and it took about a half day of work to get it up. I did get paste in my hair along the way, along with a backache, but it was well worth the effort.
Painting The Baseboards
With the wallpaper up, the bright white baseboards stuck out like a sore thumb. I decided to paint those the color “Galaxy” by Benjamin Moore. Yes, I was swayed by the name, but it also magically worked well with the dark stars of the wallpaper. I even learned a few tips along the way to paint baseboards when you have carpet!
Adding The Coolest Moon Light
Next, I hung a moon light in the closet for some additional lighting. This closet had zero lights in it and no electrical, so it was a bit of challenge. I ended up drilling through the wall to access power in the utility room on the other side of the closet wall. It all worked out and this moon is stunning. I think it’s a must for space-themed playrooms.
That’s where I left you and here’s what I’ve done to finish up the space.
Creating NASA Lab Coats
My next project was to create NASA lab coats for the kids to wear when they are working on the space shuttle. I found these white lab coats on Amazon, along with these outer space patches. I ironed on the patches to decorate the lab coats and they look so official!
To really get them in the mood for playtime, I found these headsets to wear along with the lab coats. I hung everything up on the wall next to the moon using these astronaut hooks. These stick right onto the wall and they’re an awesome playroom idea.
Building The Mission Control Board
Once I decided on the mission control board idea, I started collecting random items from friends and neighbors. I got an old keyboard, calculator, and some old-school phones to hang on the wall. I then found this light-up switch board and knew it would be perfect for the board.
When I had every item, I then had to figure out how the heck to build the actual board for them. I wanted it to be at a 45-degree angle instead of at 90-degrees, like a desk. But how could I build that without spending much time and money on it?
I ended up finding these 45-degree angle brackets from a seller on Etsy and they were perfect. They took about a month to ship (hence the slowdown of this project) and once they arrived I took them to Home Depot to get a board that would fit. I painted that wood piece using metallic silver paint so it would look more like a spaceship.
To attach all of the items to the board, I used industrial-strength velcro. These are awesome and keep everything secure, even on that angle.
Space Playroom Decor & More Lighting
With all of those pieces in place, I was almost to the finish line. I realized that I needed a bit more light in this space, especially to illuminate the mission control board for the kids. I found this inexpensive gold picture frame light and I love it! I mounted the hardware to the wall and I just remove the light to charge it! It comes with a remote control and I can change the color temperature and dim the light too.
I would add this picture light to any room in my house! It’s high quality and would look gorgeous over a gallery wall to elevate the entire look.
To really make it look like the inside of a spaceship, I decided to add a few decals to the walls. I bought this pack and placed a wall sticker over the mission control board and one on the far wall. Man, I’m not a fan of peel-and-stick items and these were tricky to get perfectly smooth. I much prefer paste when it comes to wallpaper! In the end, I persevered and got them up there.
The Kids’ New Space Theme Playroom
Here’s a full look at the before and after of this entire room makeover. It’s one of the coolest projects I’ve ever worked on! If you also have a space-loving kiddo, I hope you now have some ideas for a space-themed bedroom or kid’s room.
The Kids’ Reaction
Over the past few months, I’ve kept the door on this closet shut and they haven’t peeked inside. My final step was to remove the door and hang a curtain rod, along with this star curtain, so they could easily get in and out of the room.
On a Saturday morning, I told the kids I had a big surprise for them after breakfast. They had no idea what was coming! We brought them downstairs and Rory went bananas.
She immediately put on the lab coat and started talking about fixing the satellite outside of the space station. Ellis was mostly interested in playing on the phones.
They see me doing a lot of DIY projects around the house and I think it was a big deal for them to have an entire space that I created just for them. Rory talked about it all weekend and it made me feel so good knowing that my hard work paid off.
Suffice it to say, they love their new creative play space. The weather has been nice, but if we’re ever inside, they are down here playing together. I adore it!
I filmed their reaction and I’ll be sharing those over on Instagram if you want to check it out.
Outer Space Playroom – Sources
Wallpaper // Paint Color, Benjamin Moore “Galaxy” // Moon Light // Astronaut Hooks // Lab Coats // Lab Coat Patches // Headsets // Misson Control Board Shelf Brackets // Light-Up Switch Board // Phones // Calculator // Wall Decals // Picture Frame Light // Tension Curtain Rod // Starry Nights Shower Curtain
Signing Off For Summer
I will be taking off the next few months from my traditional work hours. About a year ago, after going at a crazy work pace for ten years, I was suffering from insomnia, anxiety, and severe burnout. I decided to take off the summer months and it was the best thing for me and my business. I’m doing the same thing this year! Not because my body is forcing me to, but because I know it’s what’s best for me, my business, and my family in the long run.
When I came back last fall, I did so with a renewed energy to work smarter, not harder. I dove deep into my analytics and reworked my priorities to focus on the tasks that move the needle for my brand. I’m now working less, while growing my bottom line. It’s been a welcome shift and I’ve had a wonderful year so far.
Because so much of my job is sharing my personal life and constantly being on my phone, I look forward to having time, just for me, without feeling obligated to share it for the world to see. While I love connecting with this community, it can be exhausting to constantly answer messages and questions all day long. A mostly unplugged summer will be good for my soul!
I will likely log a few work hours each week to keep up with the back end of running a business, but I’ll be taking a step back from posting my twice-weekly blog posts and large projects. So to thwart the inevitable “Are you okay? Where are you?” messages that are bound to come my way, I wanted to share this so you’re in the know! I will likely be popping in on Instagram, just to share daily life now and then.
I’m so grateful for every one of you. I hope you have a fantastic summer ahead!