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OK, I don’t know how we did it, but our duplex has insane closet space. Combine that with the fact that I try to keep our “stuff” to a minimum, and you have a combo for some pretty fun decorating projects. After I completed my Home Office in a Closet earlier this year, I turned my eyes to this bad boy:

Yep, that was our hall closet a few months back. Actually, it’s one of our hall closets. Try not to be jealous! It’s one of those funky things with the three giant steps, because underneath it is the stairway to the basement.

First I got to purging, organizing, and cleaning. The kids “helped.”

The twins were thrilled with the empty space.

They would spend hours playing in there. It was their own little fort. But I felt a little bit bad sticking my kids in a closet. There is something about telling your kids to go play in the closet that makes you look over your shoulder to see if anyone is reporting you to the child protection authorities.

So… I decided our hall closet needed a facelift to transform it into a (teeny tiny) playroom in a closet. I gave myself $150 budget and a Saturday night, and here’s what I came up with:

A Playroom in a Closet – The Big Reveal

The bookshelves are plastic rain gutters, cut down, and screwed into the wall. Check out this tutorial from Sunshine on the Inside.

All of those printables on the gallery wall are freebies from the blog-o-sphere. Here are their sources:

Pretty in Pink Flamingos – Oh So Lovely the Blog

Ombre Scallops – Oh So Lovely the Blog

Banana Leaf Watercolor – Rain on a Tin Roof

When All Else Fails Take a Nap – I Rock So What

Pineapple – Little Gold Pixel

Love Each Other – Danielle Burkleo

Pineapples – Design Love Fest

The felt board frame is a thrift store score, painted yellow…

… and the magnetic chalkboard is a metal oil drip pan (Walmart automotive section) painted first coral, and then with clear chalkboard paint.

A Playroom in a Closet – Budget Breakdown and Source List

The Gallery Wall – $21

Frames – Ikea
Free Printables – printed at FedEx Office
Command Picture Hanging Strips

Rain Gutter Bookshelves – $4

10-foot vinyl rain gutter – The Home Depot

Felt Board -$10

Frame – thrift store find, painted yellow
Blue background felt from Joann Fabrics
Various critters made from assorted felt from Joann Fabrics

Magnetic Chalkboard – $28

Glidden paint sample in “Cabana Coral” – The Home Depot
Rust-Oleum Clear Chalkboard Paint – The Home Depot
Large metal oil drip pan – Walmart

Cushions and Pillows – $56

Queen size foam mattress topper – with a coupon at Joann Fabrics
Green fabric – Joann Fabrics
Pillow forms – Ikea
Palm leaf fabric – on sale at Joann Fabrics

Grand Total – $119

That’s well under my original budget of $150!

Our New Playroom in Action

I am beyond thrilled with how everything turned out, and I think the twins agree. Plus, now I can confidently tell my children to “go play in the closet!”