Remember when your world felt like a never-ending playground? When a rainy day just meant indoor forts and shadow puppets? When life gave you lemons, and you went out and set up a lemonade stand? Your inner child – the wildly imaginative, bold-hearted part of you – is still there, waiting to be invited back in. And now, thanks to the joyful explosion that’s the Primary Play trend, it’s finally their time to shine.
This vibrant movement is about rediscovering the wonder, creativity, and courage we had before our ‘adulting’ routines took over. With a few bold touches and a little imagination, you can transform your home and your mood into a space that feels like playtime again. And the best part? Zazzle’s custom décor makes it easier than ever to bring your inner child’s dreams to life.
Imagination Station: All Aboard!
Why does embracing your inner child matter? Well, it’s about reconnecting with your authentic, carefree self that often gets buried under the weight of silly adult responsibilities and boring societal expectations. Begin by jumping into activities that bring you unadulterated happiness – whether it’s coloring outside the lines with your crayons, building a LEGO flower bouquet, splashing in muddy puddles, or simply dancing around your kitchen!
How does this connect with the Primary Play trend? By allowing yourself a moment to tap into that raw creative energy, you might trigger new inspiration for your home décor – allowing yourself to think outside the box, explore new style possibilities without judgment, and approach design challenges with a fresh view. Give yourself permission to get playful, explore new things, and create without the pressure of perfection.
All About the Color
The time for color is now! Because the Primary Play trend is all about using bold, unapologetic bursts of color: firetruck reds, sunshine yellow, and icy blues. Color psychology is a powerful thing, so implement it within your home! Think bright reds that pop with passion in your home accessories, sunny yellows that radiate optimism on your walls, and deep blues that symbolize calmness on your accent pieces! You don’t have to stick to the primary colors either; the beauty of this trend is its diversity. Experiment with secondary colors like outrageous oranges, playful purples, and gentle greens!
Next, consider how certain colors interact with each other! Color blocking pairs contrasting, solid blocks of color to create a bold and visually striking effect. This basically couples colors from opposite sides of the color wheel to give the illusion of a whole new design absolutely jam-packed with personality! Whether it’s a statement wall here, a collection of throw pillows there, or pieces of artwork everywhere – add the finishing touches that suit you, and that infuse your home with your own creativity.
Design Outside the Lines
Let’s dive deeper into where our creativity can take us! Primary Play encourages us to work with what we have and rediscover our childhood imagination in our everyday environment! You don’t have to commit yourself to grand renovations, though; look towards the tools and supplies you have to hand to rekindle the love between you and your house. Curate a collection of fun, nostalgic items to spark happy memories in your daily life throughout every room in the house.
The trend also leans into jazzing up tired trims and hand-painting little murals onto furniture – basically, turning grown-up spaces into playful little paradises! Paint happy little designs all around you on walls, floors, and ceilings – or, if you would prefer a more low-key option, you could add some decals to your surfaces, to bring colors to life without the mess. But remember, messy is more than okay!
Your door is more than just an entry point; it’s a first impression to a room! Elevate it with a bold paint job, add doorknobs in contrasting hues to set the playful atmosphere for the rest of your house tour! Add a fun doormat or planter in bright colors to frame the doorway for color without the commitment.
Staircases are often overlooked, but can be an unexpectedly fun spot for a pop of color. Paint each stair a color of the rainbow to create a visual journey upstairs. Soften your ascension with a patterned carpet runner or include customized tiles on the stairs to add joy to every step!
Add an out-of-sight paint pop to your pantry, closet, or cupboards! This will create a secret primary color burst every time you open the door. Accent wallpaper on doors, floors, and ceilings can also add a subtle touch of individuality to those forgotten corners without overwhelming the full room.
A couch is the prime place to add a primary color into the living room, because it can be an eye-catching feature piece! Alternatively, if you’d prefer not to install a completely new furniture set, add a dynamic splash of color to your chairs with throws and poufs. If you’re feeling crafty, reupholstery with flamboyant fabric can add a funky touch!
The real magic of this trend? It reminds us that home isn’t just a place to be productive; it’s a place to be you. Loud, expressive, unapologetically colorful you. So go ahead and color outside the lines. Build a space where your inner child feels seen. Say yes to the reds, the patterns, the playfulness. Whether you go all in with a rainbow staircase or just sneak a happy surprise inside a cabinet, Primary Play gives you permission to create for the joy of it!
Lily is a Content Specialist at Zazzle from Galway, Ireland. Before she could even walk, she was begging her parents to read her fantastical stories filled with great adventures. To this day, just give her a cup of tea and a good book to cozy up with, and she will be happily lost for hours! If she doesn’t have her nose in a book, then she will probably whipping up something delicious in the kitchen for her friends and family, or, negotiating with her house plants to stay alive.
Read more from Lily.
