Please ignore the green paint, realized I didn’t like it after painting that wall. First house, still trying to pick a color scheme for the house that’s not so cold

Visitors who love you know you have a little one who needs their play space. I’d keep the chairs so you can enjoy space with your kiddo. Don’t like the green, do a neutral since most kid stuff is very colorful. Someday, when playroom is no longer needed, then make it a space for visitors.

I'm with the others...a child's playroom is a joy, not something to be hidden. That said, you don't want toys, etc., flowing out and becoming a trip hazard, so lots of fun AND EASY storage is a must.

I guess I don’t really mean hidden but contained and when people are over it doesn’t look like a hot mess since it is the first thing you see when you walk in.

I’d put nice book shelves on the full wall. Fill a bottom shelf with pillows for a cozy nook and the other lower shelves with bins to hold toys. You can start helping your child learn to put toys away.

Keep the chairs so adults have a place to sit and chat while children are playing.

Things that your child may enjoy: chalkboard easel, small table and chairs, “play house” furnishings, costume box. What ever your child likes. The key is to have easy to use, designated areas to put things away when done. A one year old isn’t going to clean up after themselves but this is the time to get them used to it, so your home doesn’t feel taken off over by childhood clutter.

As to "discrete", you might begin by finding a child gate and then fill the rest of the opening between foyer and playroom with a pair of pony wall cabinets -- bookcases made from shelving boards with plywood back (painted the same color you choose for the room). Make the cabinets deep and wide enough to be sturdy (and also attach them to the wall and/or floor if necessary -- whatever it takes -- so you know they will not tip over on your child). Have the shelving open to the playroom side of the cabinets so they can be used to store toys -- unseen from the foyer because entering guests will be looking over and beyond the bookshelves.

Put child proofing plugs in any/all outlets (especially important that they be in any outlet that will remain exposed after the room is furnished).

If white plantation shutters are in the budget, use them for each of the windows; otherwise, hang white mini-blinds in all the windows -- the newer kind without the strings.

You now have a "discrete" and safe playroom to which to add your carpet and/or any child safe furnishings that meet the needs for the intended use of the room.

The best playrooms have lots of storage. Even if the stuff in the bins is chaos it gets off the floor fast and away and the room looks put back together quickly. Ikea is a dream for this and costs next to nothing.

You might consider adding a large storage ottoman with a totally removable top for extra adult seating -- make sure there are no finger pinching hinges for when the child decides to remove the top and ditto that for any toy boxes you choose.

Better yet, budget permitting, IF instead of an ottoman, you can find a well made lockable cedar chest, that is a piece of furniture will "weather the test of time" and be usable by your child as your child grows up ... perhaps even becoming a family heirloom. In the meantime, you could store stuff in it that you only want used with adult supervision -- (Disney movies) or just family photographs and mementos.

Re: Bookcase reading nook

Here’s one a friend made for her grandchild.

We have almost this exact setup. I’ll try to take pics tomorrow (though it is far from finished). I think the key is to not commit to anything that screams “baby”. We are doing two charcoal swivel chairs from west elm, a neutral cotton/jute rug, we have a funky light fixture, neutral storage bins from target, an ikea kallax shelf with bins. It’s a nice play space, but also a cosy space to watch tv or a movie with or without the kids (ours are young, 5 and 2)

One idea for storage could be to re-purpose an old deep analog tv cabinet for toy storage. If you already have one or can find a quality built one at a thrift store with doors to cover what isn't drawers, you can add plywood to the back to close off all the cable/wire/dust holes and then remove and/or add additional shelving within the space where the tv sat.

A while back at a local Habitat for Humanity Restore Store re-purposed to be a child's toy kitchen.

Others have been repurposed as mini-office(desks), sewing center, pet beds/feeding stations and even fish tank cabinets,

Discrete means many things. IMO a toy room at the entry would never be my choice but if all the toys can be put away at the end of the day then go for it.I think a play room for a 1 yr old should still be in the kitchen or where you spend most of your time. As for this space a nice reading chair , a cabinet to hold toys , a book case low tethered to the wall so the child can access the books and this is a good time to start the habit of putting toys away at the end of the day. Also IMO kids do not need every toy they own out at one time so try to keep the toy invasion to a level that can be put away at the end of the day. We lived in a small space when our 3 boys were little and my dad built a chest with a seating pad on top we had it in our LR and before dinner all the toys went into the chest , the chest had drawers instead of a lid and the drawers were on casters it was awesome .I do not think having kids means the whole house has to look like toyrus.

You can build a bookcase that houses toys or books on the playroom side and shoes and purses on the door side. use it to create a foyer by the front door and storage in the playroom. I love the reading nook idea above. Kids love a fort or closed in space.

Forgot to say, I love the green!

I like the green too.

One word: IKEA. Done.

Update for anyone interested:

We purchased this custom gate without the drop bar and instead with a second latch on the bottom.

We are going to move the couch for sure and I think keep the chairs.

I am looking into storage solutions from Ikea. I liked the idea of having the shelves/cabinets up against the pony wall so they aren’t visible so I’m going to try doing that on one side of the gate. I’m also looking into a taller vertical unit that I can put on the other side of the wall with the shoes.

Thank you for everyone’s input!

Hi there, there have been some great comments!
I’d add that playrooms work especially well if you think of them in zones.

Playing area with easy child height toy storage next to it.

Cosy/ reading area with cushions cuddly toys and books stored next to it- some face on book display at child height would be great.

Role play/ fancy dress- a play kitchen tent etc with storage and enough space to use it. Dolls and figures and puppets too.

Art/crafts - Easel with supplies stored nearby- some at child height others like paint and glue and boxes of glitter well out of reach.

Wet/sand play play table or buckets and cups - doesn’t have to be out all the time but children really be edit from such sensory play

I’d also add a music corner with odd things that make sounds As well as conventional instruments.

As they get older add in board games to the mix.

I like to put in a child sized table with a couple of chairs as they get so much use and it is really good for them to have furniture that fits them!