Creating a Relaxing Hang Out Space for Kids

by Corcoran McEnearney

As the start of the school year creeps closer and closer, it’s more important than ever to think about creating a relaxing space for your kids at home. If your children have outgrown their playroom but still need a place to lounge that isn’t their bedroom, you may wish to consider designing a hangout space that’s just for your tweens or teens. Here’s what you’ll need to create the ultimate at-home retreat for your kids.

Photo courtesy of: West Elm

Comfy Furniture:

As any parent knows, it isn’t worth investing in furniture that kids will just lay on (possibly with dirty sneakers or while consuming sticky snacks). However, your not-so-little ones will need a surface on which to splay out as they play video games, scroll through TikTok, or finish that pesky summer reading novel. We suggest opting for swivel lounge chairs (like these, which are oversized) or going for a more modern twist on the traditional bean bag.

Ottomans are also excellent as they can serve double or even triple duty. Place a tray atop one of them and turn it into an end table, but simultaneously take advantage of its storage capabilities and stuff some throw blankets inside. When friends come over, ottomans can turn into extra seating.

Open Shelving:

Open shelving will jazz up plain walls in an instant and your kids can choose to display whatever they’d like: books, succulents, speakers, art pieces…the list goes on. You can even designate a shelf or set of shelves for each child to decorate as he or she pleases so that there’s no arguing over what goes where!

A Stylish Media Center:

Mount a flatscreen TV on the wall or consider splurging on a Samsung Frame TV (it’s ultra sleek in appearance and is well loved for its ability to camouflage as a framed art piece when turned off). To help disguise the TV even further, hang a gallery wall of favorite art pieces around the screen. Retailers including Etsy, Artfully Walls, and Society6 are chock full of affordable, contemporary looking art pieces, some of which can even be downloaded digitally and printed out at home. Looking to go a more sentimental route? Incorporate favorite art pieces your kids have brought home over the years, as well as special awards, family photos, and mementos from trips and sports games. The more personal touches, the better!

Photo courtesy of Crate & Barrel Kids

Finishing Touches:

Now that you’ve incorporated the essentials, don’t forget about finishing touches that you’ll need to take your tween hangout room from good to great. These include an area rug, some throw pillows, and a few lamps, all of which will help add a cozy touch to the space. Let your kids play a role in helping choose these items so that the room feels more like their own. They’ll appreciate you letting them have the opportunity to weigh in!

Sarah Lyon is a New York City-based freelance writer, originally from Bethesda, MD. She contributes to a number of national design and lifestyle publications like Architectural Digest, Apartment Therapy, MyDomaine, the Washington Post, and more. Sarah also works with designers to help them style spaces for photo shoots. Find more shelfies on her Instagram page, @sarahlyon9