Ramp Up the Fun With Indoor Slides and Secret Passages
This collection of fun-house elements installed in people's homes is sure to bring out the kid in you
You’re never too old for a little fun in your life – or in your home, for that matter. If you’re still a kid at heart, these whimsical interior features will put a smile on your face and a bounce in your step. So slide on down and explore five great ways to add delight to your decor.
Maybe you already have a staircase in your home and simply want a fun addition to your daily routine. A twisty slide like the one can’t help but transform morning drudgery into instant playtime.
Of all the places to incorporate a slide, a children’s room is probably the most expected. But take a closer look at how this space might contribute to the budding imagination and creativity of the children who work and play here. There’s a chalkboard for sketching ideas, a lime green study nook to awaken the senses, a reading loft tucked up against the ceiling and a slide for homework breaks.
Creative kids’ rooms adults will love too
Creative kids’ rooms adults will love too
2. Spectacular stairs
Books are the ultimate fodder for imagination, and they deserve reverent environs. This dreamscape of a staircase is the stuff of fantasy. Broad laps around a monumental book collection and library seating in the centre invite leisurely wandering through the stacks.
Books are the ultimate fodder for imagination, and they deserve reverent environs. This dreamscape of a staircase is the stuff of fantasy. Broad laps around a monumental book collection and library seating in the centre invite leisurely wandering through the stacks.
Is there anyone out there who doesn’t dream about an indoor pool? Sure, we don’t all relish the chore of maintenance, but avowed water lovers will attest to the sublime luxury of immersing oneself in rejuvenating water any time of year, rain or shine.
This staircase leading to a rooftop deck in Germany is a sculptural work of art as much as a means of transit.
Look-at-me stairs that help a home rise to greatness
Look-at-me stairs that help a home rise to greatness
The perfect mixture of fun and function, this regular staircase on a sliding rail makes climbing to second-storey bookshelves something out of the ordinary.
3. Fire pole fun
A fire pole doesn’t have to be functional to serve a valuable purpose in the home. This family may not be sliding down their pole in a mad dash for the school bus, but the feature still hints at the personality of the owners and reinforces the entry’s industrial chic vibe.
A fire pole doesn’t have to be functional to serve a valuable purpose in the home. This family may not be sliding down their pole in a mad dash for the school bus, but the feature still hints at the personality of the owners and reinforces the entry’s industrial chic vibe.
An entry or mudroom is the perfect setting for a fire pole. Much more fun than sprinting down stairs, and safer than sliding down the banister, this straight line will always be the fastest route from point A to point B.
There’s so much in this photo that suggests fun is a high priority in this kid-friendly household. From the bright green car peeking into view to the network of kid-sized courtyards complete with two swings and a fire pole, smiles and laughter seem to have been the central design goal.
4. Secret passages
Secret doors and hidden entrances ignite the imagination like little else. They pop up in every creative genre, from children’s books to Hollywood blockbusters – and, for some adventurous homeowners, in home design. I wonder what’s behind that door?
Design a bookshelf that doubles as a secret doorway
Secret doors and hidden entrances ignite the imagination like little else. They pop up in every creative genre, from children’s books to Hollywood blockbusters – and, for some adventurous homeowners, in home design. I wonder what’s behind that door?
Design a bookshelf that doubles as a secret doorway
The door to this guest room in an American home masquerades as a bookcase. The team at Barnes Vanze Architects say that when closed, it looks like a normal door from the guest room side, but from the main hallway it appears to be a bookcase.
Reclaimed wood forms a facade over a secret door disguised as part of this accent wall. Behind it is a place to hide entertainment equipment.
5. Hanging out in style
Who says hammocks belong outdoors? Wherever there’s an exposed column, beam or rafter, there’s ample potential for hanging a hammock or two.
Check out more swinging sanctuaries
Who says hammocks belong outdoors? Wherever there’s an exposed column, beam or rafter, there’s ample potential for hanging a hammock or two.
Check out more swinging sanctuaries
If you’re having visions of children swinging Tarzan-like above your furniture, leaving no lamp or vase unturned, take a deep breath and look. There’s nothing fragile or loosely attached in this photo – just a jovial tyre swing inviting its owners to come and play.
In a space that’s anything but childish or whimsical, this in-ground trampoline blends right in with the decor. Large padded bolsters on the sides provide soft landing for wayward bouncers.
TELL US
Do you have a design feature in your home that’s there just for fun? Tell us all about it in the Comments section.
MORE
Does Your Home Have Peter Pan Tendencies?
World of Design: 16 Fun Homes That Encourage Play
Houzz Tour: A Playful Home Drawn Up by 8-Year-Old Twin Boys
TELL US
Do you have a design feature in your home that’s there just for fun? Tell us all about it in the Comments section.
MORE
Does Your Home Have Peter Pan Tendencies?
World of Design: 16 Fun Homes That Encourage Play
Houzz Tour: A Playful Home Drawn Up by 8-Year-Old Twin Boys
There are different ways to move between the levels of one’s home, but perhaps none is more engaging than a slide. A metal slide replaces a staircase in this chic Manhattan loft. Steely and sleek like the minimalist decor, it seems so natural you wonder why everybody doesn’t get downstairs this way.