This post is sponsored by Ace Hardware. I received compensation and product, but all opinions and content are my own.

This month marks three years since we moved into our current home. Our playroom was one of the first spaces we tackled upon moving in to give our son (then 8 months) a place to play. Now that he’s older, his needs are completely different, and we want the playroom to reflect that. A few weeks ago, we started working on the demo in the playroom. I’m thrilled to be sharing with you today the revamped space that is more functional, provides plenty of room to play and reflects our style more. The playroom before wasn’t a bad starting point at all. Here’s one look at a before and after: 

Blank Slate

My best design decisions happen when I can start with a blank slate and get everything out of the room I’m focusing on. Which, in this case, also meant taking the board and batten down in the playroom. I felt like it was limiting what we could do in this space along the walls so it simply had to go. With that though, I quickly realized the mess I created and it took one week to repair the walls to get ready for paint.

Paint Inspiration and Making Decisions

Some people say the best way to design a space is to start with the rug. For me, it’s the paint. For this playroom makeover I challenged myself to pick out a few colors from Benjamin Moore’s Color Trends 2020 Palette. It includes 10 harmonious hues that range from saturated to bright and airy. Basically, the best of both worlds. These colors are stunning colors on their own or if they’re paired with one another. So which ones did I go with? My final choices were White Heron, Thunder and Cushing Green. I also threw in Warmed Cognac and Black Beauty as additional colors by Benjamin Moore. Look at how gorgeous this color palette is for the playroom! You can also see the design board for this space here. 

Ace Hardware to the Rescue

I still remember the day I saw the “coming soon” sign in my town for Ace Hardware. I’m pretty sure I side-smacked my husband in his arm out of pure excitement. With so many childhood memories going to my local one in South Carolina, I was thrilled this one would only be 10 minutes down the road from us. Fun fact: Did you know that Ace Hardware is within 15 minutes of ¾ of all U.S. homes? Are you looking up your closest one now? 

We’ve gotten to know the owners since we frequently visit Ace for paint, lawn, power tools, and basically anything we need to fix and maintain our home. Majority of Ace Hardware stores are independently owned and operated by local entrepreneurs, which has made Ace a true staple in our community.

Ace Hardware is the true MVP with this project since my local Ace started carrying Benjamin Moore back in January. They’re the largest independent hardware retailer that carries Benjamin Moore paints (which you can’t find at any national big box or discount retailers). Now, you probably understand my excitement even more with having access to the highest quality and most trusted color palettes. My love for paint runs deep, my friends, and especially since I started using Benjamin Moore back in January when my Ace Hardware made the announcement it had arrived. 

I placed my paint order over the phone for the playroom and an hour later I was there for my curbside pickup which was hyper-convenient and efficient. I didn’t even have to get out of my car! You can also have certain items delivered to your home.

The Moment We’ve Been Waiting for: Time to Paint

I couldn’t get my paint opened quick enough once I got home to see them all together in person. I had so many amazing ideas running through my head. For all of the Benjamin Moore paint colors, I went with the Regal line in eggshell. The durability of this paint allows me to rest easy with it going into the playroom. Mommas, you know what I’m talking about!

The overall design of the playroom was color blocking with paint but also extending it to the trim, doors and baseboards throughout the room. This is something I’ve been wanting to try for the longest time! I used White Heron for the top half which is a very refreshing white. I wasn’t sure if it would show any undertones, but it is truly a crisp white. Also, it was the first white that I’ve ever used that only took 2 coats for full coverage versus 3-4.

For the bottom half I decided to use Thunder. I’m still in awe with how this paint color decided to show off in our home. It’s the perfect balance of hints of beige and gray hues depending on the lighting. I really don’t think another color would have worked as well with this design. 

Paint is one of the most budget-friendly yet dramatic ways anyone can refresh a room. And it’s shown with White Heron and Thunder working together to create this dramatic makeover in the playroom. Who knew a playroom could be so stylish and functional at the same time? Well, it just happened! 

But the fun with the paint didn’t stop there. When walking into our playroom, there’s a large wall on the left that’s also part of the walkthrough area. Since I can’t place anything along this wall, I decided to paint an abstract mural for the first time by using Thunder, White Heron, Cushing Green, Black Beauty and Warmed Cognac all together. Best. Decision. Ever.

The results of the mural provide a playful spirit for the playroom with a touch of sophistication which is perfect for a growing toddler. The magic of the mural really happens when you don’t discover it until you walk into the room. Because of the angle of the hallway and the room, it isn’t visible until you reach the doorway to the playroom. It truly offers an element of surprise. But my favorite part about it is seeing how well these five colors work together. And now it feels like this wall has a purpose.

One last paint addition was above the floating desk using Cushing Green. If you’ve been following along over on Instagram and the blog for a little while, you know that green paint is no stranger to my home. A simple design of adding a green, painted circle above the desk helped to define this area. Plus, it provides a bit of a playful spirit.

Finishing Touches

Once the paint was dry, all of the decor and furniture made its way in. The only pieces that are from the original playroom design are the chairs and the green art cabinet. Everything else was either built or picked out according to what would go with the paint colors. The floating desk, hanging bookshelf and wooden hooks for costumes were left natural so that they wouldn’t compete with the paint colors. The rug, pouf, lighting and artwork were all used in a way to further highlight the paint colors. My favorite has to be the pouf continuing the warmed cognac throughout the room. All of this combined has allowed the playroom to truly shine at its fullest potential.

And I know you’re probably wondering where all the toys went. I took the old shelves that used to be in the playroom and placed them in the closet where the toys are now stored and easily accessible. My goal with doing this was to create a space that had more intention. There’s now a designated work area with the floating desk (coloring, writing, playing, etc.), a reading nook, a large area to play on the floor and a cabinet housing art supplies for endless creativity.

I can’t even begin to tell you how thrilled I am with this makeover in the playroom. Everyone in our family is enjoying it but my favorite moment was my toddler seeing it put together for the first time. He immediately touched everything, yelled out thank you and took a moment to soak everything in. I can’t thank Ace Hardware enough for partnering with me to make this space a reality for my family. If you’re inspired to plan your own project, visit Ace Hardware to see the Benjamin Moore Collection. You’ll have such a successful project if you do because they’re known for premium quality and expansive color options (more than 3,500 colors). You can also find out more information about your local Ace Hardware by visiting AceHardware.com. I can’t wait to see what you create!

Looking for more playroom inspiration? See how we organized toys, installed board and batten, and installed a roman shade in ours.

Come join us on our other social channels for even more behind the scenes. 
Like on Facebook || Follow on Instagram || Follow on Pinterest