We wanted a playroom for the kids to trash so converted a cupboard for £50 and it means no more toys in the living room
A MUM has been praised for her ingenuity after showing how she transformed a cupboard under the stairs into a playroom for her kids.
Jade explained that she wanted her two children to have their "own space", so found a clever way to transform the otherwise redundant cupboard.
"POV: You converted the cupboard under the stars into a little playroom for your kids so they have their own space to trash," she wrote over the top of .
"Although I’m pretty sure we love it in there just as much as them!" Jade joked in the caption.
The clip showed her pulling back the tasselled rainbow curtain to reveal the room, which had the kitchen on one side and glow in the dark star stickers - £4.99 from Amazon - all over the wall.
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She'd already painted the room with some leftover paint from her son's nursery, adding: "You could use whatever you have in the shed!"
Luckily, Jade already had many of the items herself, but estimated the entire makeover would have cost around £50 if she hadn't.
The floor was covered in foam number squares, which she picked up for £9.99 from B&M, and the mirror, surrounded by £6.99 flower lights from The Range, made the room seem bigger than it actually was.
On the other wall was an alphabet poster, which she'd got for £2.99 from Aldi, as well as a £7 shelf from Argos holding some of the kids' books.
While they already had the kitchen, Jade suggested you could put anything you wanted in its place - "dressing table, drawing board or anything else that takes up a lot of space in the living room", she laughed.
The comments section was quickly filled with people praising the incredible makeover, with one writing: "I love this!
"Imagine someone came and you said oh sorry the kids are just in the cupboard under the stairs!"
"I was worrying about her telling people this!" Jade laughed in response.
"At school I can imagine the kid saying 'my mum makes me go into the cupboard under the stairs'," another joked.
"Imagine her saying ‘mummy makes me play in the cupboard under the stairs’ at school," a third giggled.
With Jade replying: "Oh she will 100% sell us down the river like that!"
"I did this at one point but we made it more of a ‘snug’ for the kids," someone else wrote.
More parenting hacks
IF you want to make your life easier as a first-time mum, here's nine hacks you won't want to miss.
1. Routine Charts
Create visual charts for daily routines. Use pictures and stickers to make them engaging for younger children.
2. Meal Planning
Plan meals a week in advance to save time and reduce stress. Involve your children in meal prep to teach them cooking skills.
3. Toy Rotation
Keep a portion of toys stored away and rotate them periodically. This keeps playtime fresh and exciting without the need for constant new purchases.
4. DIY Cleaning Solutions
Make child-safe cleaning solutions using vinegar and baking soda. It’s effective and keeps harsh chemicals away from little hands.
5. Time-Out Jar
Create a time-out jar filled with calming activities written on slips of paper. When emotions run high, children can pick an activity to help them settle down.
6. Educational Apps
Utilise educational apps and websites to make screen time productive. Look for ones that offer interactive learning in subjects your child is interested in.
7. Command Centre
Set up a family command centre with a calendar, key hooks, and a bulletin board. It helps keep everyone organised and aware of daily schedules.
8. Emergency Kit
Keep a small emergency kit in the car with essentials like snacks, water, first aid supplies, and a change of clothes. It’s a lifesaver for unexpected situations.
9. Label Everything
Use labels for clothes, school supplies, and lunch boxes. It makes it easier to keep track of belongings, especially in shared spaces like schools.
"Foamed out the flooring, fairy lights and looked so cute.
"They never used it after week one! Lol (I went in more than they did)!"
"I’m pretty sure I love it in there more than them at this point too," Jade admitted.
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"Such a great idea, love it!" another praised.