At Home: Cool but kid-friendly playrooms

Outfitting a play space for children might consist of nothing more than setting up a few old furniture pieces, plastic storage bins and the extra TV.

But some parents want the play space to reflect their design aesthetic. Does the rest of the home read more Eero Saarinen than Superman? More Verner Panton than Pokemon? Is the vibe less Nickelodeon, more George Nelson? If so, youll want to try balancing kid-friendly with cool.

Some options:

Mod Mad

Lots of decor from the 60s and 70s works well in a play space: mod lamps, modular furniture, pop art, and fun, space-age prints for wallpaper and textiles. Hues popular back then orange, yellow, teal, green, white add energy to furniture, cushions and rugs.

New York-based designer Amanda Nisbet used a Roy Lichtenstein print and a chrome-trimmed bubble chair in one of her childrens space projects. Victoria Sanchez, a designer in Washington, D.C., used colorful Missoni fabrics to liven up a teen lounge.

Check out Modshop1.com and Designpublic.com for pieces many of them kid-size that fit the style.

Hip, retro-style robot, typography and animal patterns designed by New Yorker Nancy Wolff are at AllModern.com.

And chocolate, tangerine or red knitted poufs and flat weave rugs with zingy geometric graphics are part of the signature line at Fab.com. For a low-key look that still fits the aesthetic, think smooth-edged Danish modern wood furniture. Armless upholstered club chairs look smart and are perfect for lounging; find new ones at Overstock.com and vintage ones on Etsy.com. Or take a cue from Australian designer Anna Williams and use mid-century credenzas for toy storage check out ThriveFurniture.com and OneKingsLane.com for options at various prices.

Accent with Mad Men -era posters or toy ads, and add floor pillows covered in patterns drawn from the era. Soothing hues like umber, avocado, mustard and sky blue keep the energy relaxed.

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At Home: Cool but kid-friendly playrooms