Talking today about something that is so near and dear to my own heart as a mom and a designer. Not sure if many of you know that I have a special needs son. He was diagnosed on the severe end of the Autism spectrum when he was three.
That was an incredibly difficult time in my life, as I was wracked with self-doubt about how to help my son that I loved so much deal with something I knew so little about. Autism - I didn’t know much, and the more I read, the more confused I got. It is such a huge, huge spectrum and for every one bit of research that seemed to apply to him there were 3 other pieces of research that didn’t.
When he was diagnosed, in 2005 there was much less mainstream information about autism and treatments available. I was so afraid that as a mom, I wasn’t going to know enough or be able to learn enough or be able to do enough to help him have the best life he possibly could.
All of that felt so completely out of control, I turned to the one thing I could control and the one thing I DID know something about. I COULD create a home that could support him and help him as he struggled and tantrumm-ed 25 times per day. Going out into the world was so difficult for him, as he was struggling with sensory input issues and it became easier to just stay home, and avoid the potential trauma and pitfalls.
So between reading everything I could about Autism, and utilizing the therapy strategies I was slowly learning about, I layered in things into our home to help him feel safe and supported. We had trampolines and tents and inverted bookcases and crash pads and sensory tables - you name it, and I found a way to shoe horn it into our home. As a designer, for my own sanity, I also had to find a way to make it not feel like a therapy room had landed in the middle of our compact, family home.
Obviously, my son’s situation was incredibly specific, but it always goes back to the heart of why I still love interior design. If we can make something better at home, that is cosmic. That is life-changing for anyone that our homes support. And, what works for a special needs kiddo, I found, also works for typical kids and typical families.
Our playroom at home was the perfect retreat for our in-home therapy sessions, our family game nights and cozying up for story time. Below are some of the decor and furniture items that made our playroom everyone's favorite room in our home.
A visual schedule, or routine chart allowed my son to see what was next without verbal exchanges. Transitions were difficult for him, and when we added verbal demands, too, it often triggered distress and a tantrum. Often we would just put the morning routine on, or the afternoon routine on the schedule - based on where we were in the day, so he wouldn't become overwhelmed by the number of steps or activities in the day. This one was his second visual schedule, after he was comfortable with his reading skills. His earlier one relied on pictures, before he could read. 
Our play table also doubled as a coffee table in front of a comfy sofa in our playroom. Generous in size, this one was perfect for setting up legos, train tracks, a board game or coloring project. The durable finish could take a beating and fit seamlessly into the space without looking too juvenile, as my kids aged.
Never forgetting that the room needed to be fun - for the entire family. Layering in easy and playful details kept the vibe light and inviting for our family and the therapists and specialists that were often in our home.
A bit like a beach ball, round pillows were perfect for my son to give "squeezes" as a compression exercise, or an impromptu game of catch.
Dominoes, or games without the need for verbal exchanges were always a great way to get a therapy session started. My son also like arranging things in rows, and dominoes were perfect on all counts.
As a designer, I was always looking for ways to extend the aesthetic and details of the rest of our home into our playroom, so it would work as our family den, as well as a playroom and therapy space. Classic colors and details in plaid and botanical pillows were an easy way to tie it all together.
Comfortable chairs in our playroom allowed me to be on the periphery of a therapy session, but still allow my son a comforting presence, if he was having a tough day or was struggling with a transition. He could see me, and my presence would often reinforce to him, without verbal exchanges that I supported what the therapist was asking him to do.
Washable slipcovers. Easily the best invention in home furnishings. This sofa's slipcover is so tailored that you have to look twice to see it is actually a slipcover. There is nothing slouchy or sloppy about this, and it gave me peace of mind as the kids and their friends climbed all over it with peanut butter fingers and skinned knees.
We used ottomans, poufs or kids activity chairs to pull up to our play table or coffee table to join a game or activity. These were also soft enough to use to build forts or to put up your feet from the comfortable sofa.
Varied light levels in our play space allowed us to turn off any ceiling lights as a visual cue that we could ease into waking up in the morning, or winding down to get ready for bed. These lamps are woven from rattan, so unbreakable. Always a great idea in a space where a quick game of catch could always break out.
Equally great for sorting legos or puzzle pieces, this beautiful bowl can always double for more traditional duties -like popcorn on a movie break in a particularly long or stressful therapy session.
We are a game-loving family, so anything that is stylish to be able to be left out in our playroom all the time welcomes a quick game of checkers. This painted wood piece adds subtle style on any surface.
Our Nested exclusive artwork was created for this space, and a rustic frame adds texture and style to this midwestern-inspired landscape. 
Open wall ledges or shelves are perfect for young children, as it allows books to be arranged with the faces out. These were a constant presence in our home - the ledges allowed our kids to quickly find the book they were looking for themselves. With the cover of the books facing out, they would never have to verbalize the name of the book they were looking for. They could grab the book they were looking for or point the to the title they wanted to read.
Of course, so much happens on the floor in a playroom! Having a soft and comfortable rug also absorbs a lot of sound during those boisterous therapy sessions or heated board game battles! This one is a variegated wool option, which allows spills to be quickly blotted up, as it is naturally water repellent. Wool is also ideal for cleaning and steaming out stains, as this natural fiber allows it to be cleaned at a higher temperature.
Would you like more tips for building your own Sanctuary for your family? More tips can be found here, just click on the image for your link:
We are always wanting to get to know you and the special needs your family has for your spaces at home. Send us a message, ask a question, we are here for you! If you would like to schedule your own, Free Discovery Call, we can be a resource for you while you are building your own play space for your crew.
