We seem to go through pillows, or pillow covers quickly.
For me it is more of an evolution of an admitted pillow addiction. But for the kids, it is survival of the fittest. Especially pillows that are destined (or have the unfortunate luck) to end up in our playroom.
I love our playroom. I have dreamed of having a space for the kids to play, build forts, snuggle up and watch their favorite movies, and do a little dreaming too.
If we end up staying in our home for a few more years, I will probably turn this into our homeschooling space too. My dining room will be relieved. I don’t use furniture polish on my dining table, it has a thick colorful layer of Crayola crayon marks to protect it. Keeping it real with kids, for real. They are hard on stuff!
So this last year I painted the playroom a warm grey, found a (still have to brag, sorry) couch for $20 at a neighbors yard sale, and up-cycled the heck out of every piece of furniture I could find. It’s not done of course, I have all of these ideas (more ideas than time or energy why is that even possible?) and as we continue to find new ways to use our space, the idea of a dreaming nook took root.
When I was a little girl, I was known to use a Saturday dedicated to rearranging all of my bedroom furniture, and creating a new gallery wall effect above my dresser and desk. Mind you it was mostly rainbow posters, and stuff I dug out of my Grandma’s basement but I loved this space.
I could think there, and dream.
And if the door was shut, it meant that creative genius was taking place, or I had fallen asleep watching Happy Days on my black and white Zenith. Either way, it was a nook to just be.
I was an only child until my sister came along, and by then a teenager and a baby had very different schedules. So I never really had to share a space, but my kids do. So I came up with a few different areas within one room that they can all be doing their own thing and still feel like they can relax too.
I’m not one to spend a lot of money on anything that will be heavily used and need to be replaced soon. I would rather buy a 2nd hand couch that is sturdy and good quality than one that is brand new but breaks down quickly. I can always slipcover it, which is what I think I may do with our playroom couch this year.
Right now I have about four different areas that just kind of happened and made sense and the paint dried and we put the room together. The wall-o-toys has a large area in front of it that bins and boxes can be dumped out then put away (on a good day) when we are done with them. The couch sits in the center of the room facing the media center (ok it’s a repainted coffee table with an old TV on top) which I have found is very heavy aka cannot be easily knocked over. The third area which my 7 year old kind of gravitates too is kind of a little reading nook. Right now he is very into Minecraft. Very. He spends so much time carefully drawing out different scenes and writing a caption underneath before he hangs them on his wall to enjoy. So this spot to stretch out with a good book or game, or draw and dream came together.
But it was missing something, so we made a few big throw pillows that are not only fun and bright, but durable too.
Here is what I used to make these Rag Rug Throw Pillows for our playroom:
The long pillow is one larger rag rug I picked up at Walmart for just under $4. The two smaller pillows are Dollar Tree rugs that took two rugs sewn together to make each pillow. I covered pillows that I already had on hand, so I was able to make all of them for $8. Not too bad.
The first step is to stitch either one side up of a larger rug lengthwise to cover a long pillow, or stitch the top and bottom of two smaller rugs together. I simply stitched these by hand while we were watching a movie together. Super easy. Next I placed each pillow inside it’s new cover, and clipped the strings at each end to unravel the pieces up to the end of each pillow. Working with two or three strands on each side, I firmly double knotted each together to form a fluffy knotted fringe all along the side. And while this part is a bit more time consuming, it’s worth it I think because I love the way the fringe looks. Kind of mod and retro, and happy all rolled into one.
Since they are already designed to be used as throw rugs, they are pretty strong, so they may be able to survive some time in our playroom. I could barely finish each one as little hands whisked them away to try them out upstairs.
I think they like them, don’t you?
What are some ways you like to dedicate a little space or nook in your home for a favorite activity, reading, creating?
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what a fund playroom Tanya….you need to come help me with mine…I want some fun pillows too!!!! Greetings from Olympia….
http://littlebrags.blogspot.com/2014/01/our-play-room.html
Hi Christine!! Greetings from the Couv’!! I’ll help you any day, especially if shopping is required 🙂
xo, Tanya
I love these pillows, they turned out really cute. I have been wanting to make a rag rug for my kitchen but I haven’t gotten to it yet. I never thought of making pillows! That’s really clever!
Hi Morgan,
That sounds really cool, I want to make a floor rug too, hope you are able to make yours soon!
xo, Tanya
These are so cool! I love the way you made the knotted fringe on the sides. They are so perfect for a kids’ space.
Thanks Alexis 🙂 The kids love them, if I want some I think I am going to have to make some for the grown ups!
xo, Tanya
What a great idea for super tough cushion covers (sorry I’m so English, for me a pillow will always be something you lay your head on at night time!) Our local Ikea has cloth rugs they are selling off for next to nothing at the moment, they’d be great for big outdoor cushions for the summer. I may steal your idea – thanks! I’ll pin so I can find you and credit you with my inspiration if I do get round to this!
Hey Julie! I love IKEA too, thank you so much for your sweet message and Pin too!!
xo, Tanya
Super fun, Tanya!! What a great idea with some eclectic charm.
Thank you Kelly! I have to admit I am loving them on our boring brown sectional 🙂
xo, Tanya
These pillows are absolutely positively awesome and will last a life time!!!! I am so so so upset that I didn’t see them before I did my collection…these would have been at the TOP!!!!! I am saving them for the next collection….they are amazing!!!! INGENIOUS in fact!!!! Sending hugs and wishes for a picture perfect week!
Thanks Andrea!! You are so sweet, that is an awesome compliment 🙂 Have a fabulous & blessed week- xo
Sweet space!
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