Ever get stumped on how to make your children’s playroom feel more like an actual room in your home and less like one you are tempted to always leave behind closed doors? Yeah, me too.

My top 3 tips for making a playroom fun for your kids with a cohesive aesthetic are:

1. Start with the Basics

Paint, Lighting, Flooring, Furniture. These are the four primary ways to infuse your home’s overall aesthetic into the playroom. If you tend toward neutral colors — don’t paint the room orange. If you hate geometric patterns, don’t buy a rug just because it’s marketed as a “children’s rug.”

2. Infuse Personality

Once the basics are covered and cohesive, look for ways to incorporate special + meaningful items into the room that reflects your child’s personality. Do they love to bake? Set up a dress-up corner with their chef’s hat and apron to go along with their “fully stocked” play kitchen. Are they obsessed with skateboarding? Hang some used boards on the wall or frame some of their favorite skating pictures. There are tons of ways to make their playroom personal without painting it their favorite color of the week.

3. Let the Room Grow with Them

The playroom is not going to look the same for your 3 year-old as it does when they turn 8. Pivot as they grow, but when you get the basics right the first time, the only changes you’ll be making are the personal ones. Swap out the stuffed animals for a drum set, and you’re good to go!