The Cupboard Under the Stairs

Now that our house is feeling more livable… I’ve decided that we need to add a little fun! When my granddaughter saw the door under the stairs she said, “Oh look! It’s Harry Potter’s cupboard!” I decided right then and there that I would turn it into a play space for her and her brother. When I announced this to John, he said “I thought we’d keep the vacuum cleaner in there.” Seriously??? That doesn’t sound even remotely fun.

Currently it looks like this.

Just a 3×8 space with a bare bulb and a musty smell. If it was a space for Riley alone, it would become the most awesome Frozen Ice Palace you ever saw… but since it also needs to accommodate Jamie, I’m going to go with something more neutral… it needs to be a place where they can both engage their imaginations. My plan is to get a colorful rug, some throw pillows, a simple light fixture, and create a spot for toy storage as a starting point. I will let Riley choose another pillow for each of them (Jamie is only one. Pillow choices are still beyond him.) and the paint color for the walls.

This is my jumping off point…

I will invite Riley for a sleepover and then we’ll get to work. And by we’ll get to work, I mean Riley will tell me what to do and I’ll do it. She is very good at giving direction.

Mission accomplished! Riley and I took a quick trip to the paint store where she chose light blue, dark blue, and teal green. Then we got to work painting and adding the pillows.

Next I added Riley’s pillows. She chose the pink flower for herself and the truck for the vehicle loving Jamie.

And the finishing touch…

I’m looking forward to many happy years of children playing in the cupboard under the stairs.