Transforming a Sunroom into a Vibrant Playroom: A DIY Makeover with Sherwin-Williams

When Al and I discovered we were expecting our second child, the reality of our cozy two-bedroom home started to sink in. The idea of moving to the suburbs was tempting, but after much consideration and a few underwhelming house viewings, we decided against it. Our long-held dream was to raise our family in the city, and we weren’t ready to give that up so easily. We were determined to make our current space work for us. After some brainstorming, we realized we weren’t fully utilizing one of the rooms in our house.

Our side porch, which had gradually become a sunroom, was primarily occupied by our laid-back Goldendoodle, a few guitars, and a collection of our toddler’s scattered toys. It was the perfect candidate to be transformed into a dedicated playroom! Our son’s toys were constantly growing in size and number, especially with birthdays and holidays, and we needed a designated area to keep everything organized and create space for his baby brother. The transformation didn’t require a major overhaul – just some fresh paint, carefully chosen accent pieces, and a dash of creativity to make a world of difference. This playroom would be a haven for imagination, learning, and endless fun.

We partnered with our friends at Sherwin-Williams to embark on this exciting journey of transforming our outdated sunroom into the perfect toddler playroom. The experience was incredibly smooth and enjoyable from start to finish. We were thrilled to discover that a Sherwin-Williams store was conveniently located just a few miles away. Using the store locator tool on their website, we quickly found the exact location and headed over to begin our paint adventure. Sherwin-Williams is known for its high-quality paints, extensive color selection, and knowledgeable staff, making them the ideal partner for this home improvement project. Their reputation for providing durable and long-lasting finishes was also a key factor in our decision.

Upon arriving at the store, we were greeted with warm smiles and exceptional customer service. One of the employees, who was pursuing an interior design degree at our local art college, offered invaluable assistance in helping us get started. We had a clear vision for the playroom’s color scheme: we wanted to use various shades of gray for the walls and floor, and we needed to find the perfect lime green hue for accenting some shelves, a color that would seamlessly match a set of chairs we already owned. The staff at Sherwin-Williams were eager to help us bring our vision to life, providing expert guidance and personalized recommendations throughout the entire color selection process.

Nelly expertly guided us through the seemingly endless array of gray paint options. The selection process felt almost like a therapy session, as she patiently listened to our preferences and helped us narrow down the choices to find the two perfect shades that aligned with our vision. To visualize how the colors would look in a real room setting, we utilized the Sherwin-Williams ColorSnap® digital tool. This innovative tool allowed us to digitally paint different room settings with our chosen colors, giving us a realistic preview of the final result and helping us make a confident decision. The ColorSnap^® tool proved to be an invaluable asset in the color selection process, ensuring that we were completely satisfied with our choices before committing to the paint.

Next, Garry showcased Sherwin-Williams’ incredible color-matching capabilities. He used a specialized scanner to precisely capture the lime green color of our playroom chairs and then seamlessly translated it into an actual paint color that we could use on our shelves. The color match was absolutely perfect, which was truly amazing! This service ensured that our shelves would perfectly complement our existing furniture, creating a cohesive and visually appealing playroom design. The accuracy and precision of Sherwin-Williams’ color-matching technology exceeded our expectations, and we were thrilled with the results.

The team at Sherwin-Williams also recommended their Sketch Pad™ dry-erase coating, which transforms any painted surface into a dry-erase-friendly canvas. We planned to apply this innovative coating to the built-in desk we were constructing specifically for the playroom, anticipating the countless drawings and creative expressions that would adorn its surface. The Sketch Pad™ dry-erase coating promised to be a valuable addition to the playroom, providing a space for our child to unleash their artistic talents without the constraints of traditional paper.

To make the entire experience even more pleasant, Garry went above and beyond by helping Al (and our toddler) load all of our paint supplies into the car. Overall, it was a truly exceptional in-store experience, thanks to the friendly and knowledgeable staff at Sherwin-Williams. Their dedication to customer service and their commitment to providing high-quality products made the entire process seamless and enjoyable.

We returned home from Sherwin-Williams and immediately started working on the transformation. Our first step was to remove the old window on the main wall and complete the sheetrock repairs. This crucial step ensured that the walls were smooth and ready for painting, providing a solid foundation for the entire project.

Next, we focused on the trim and walls. We started by applying a few coats of primer to the walls, followed by the chosen paint colors. After applying a coat of Extra White SW 7006 semi-gloss paint to the trim, we began the process of covering up the existing beige walls. We selected Gray Screen SW 7071 because we wanted to create a room that felt both spacious and inviting. Since we planned to wallpaper one of the walls, we chose a subtle and complementary gray shade to provide a calming backdrop for the busy print. The Gray Screen SW 7071 paint perfectly achieved our desired aesthetic, creating a harmonious balance between visual interest and tranquility.

We used Sherwin-Williams Harmony Interior paint on the walls. Harmony is a zero VOC formula that contains new technology that helps improve indoor air quality by reducing VOC levels from potential sources like carpet, cabinets, and fabrics. It also gives your walls a washable, durable finish, which is great for kids. This paint was the perfect choice for a playroom, ensuring a safe and healthy environment for our child while also providing a surface that is easy to clean and maintain.

Next, we shifted our focus to the flooring. Following Garry’s expert recommendation, we started with the Extreme Bond Primer. We applied two coats to ensure adequate coverage of the red, cracked tile. We then finished it off with a few coats of Web Gray SW 7075 to give the floor a neutral, concrete-like feel. This transformation completely changed the look of the floor, giving it a modern and sophisticated appearance that complemented the overall playroom design.

After installing the wallpaper, we built shelves to line the walls. We painted the shelves with the same semi-gloss paint we used on the trim and then painted the shelf brackets with the custom lime green color we had created in-store. The shelves provided ample storage space for toys, books, and other playroom essentials, while the lime green brackets added a playful pop of color that tied in with the existing furniture.

The final step was mixing the Sketch Pad™ dry erase coating and applying it to the wall-mounted desk we had built specifically for this playroom. We are incredibly excited to see the countless creations that will come to life on this special desk. This dry-erase surface will encourage creativity and provide a dedicated space for our child to explore their artistic talents.

By primarily using paint, we were able to completely transform this room. What was once a space for our dog’s afternoon nap has now become a toddler’s oasis. We are very pleased with the results of our hard work and the quality products from Sherwin-Williams. The transformation is remarkable, and we couldn’t be happier with the final result.

This post was sponsored by Sherwin-Williams, makers of quality paint products. All opinions are mine alone. Thanks for supporting the brands that help make this possible.