Margaux Follis created the ultimate Montessori play room for her girls. A place of wonder and fun to play in and explore freely.
By Mama Disrupt®
Chances are you’ve seen Margaux Follis on Insta (@thefrenchfolk). Her gorge Northern Victoria home and cool DIY hacks are widely shared and loved by mums everywhere. But it’s the beautiful playroom, which was originally created for her eldest daughter Ambre that has always us totally swooning.
What’s the theme of the room?
I worked more around making it all accessible for Ambre, she can grab everything and play on her own. If Montessori is a theme then this is probably the theme I went for. I love the idea of letting a child play freely, be creative and independent.
Why was creating a special play space important?
I loved pretend play when I was kid. We could play for hours and hours with my sisters and I wanted to create a special space for the girls so they can play together and encourage independence, imagination, motor skills and concentration. I love styling pretty things too, so it is always really fun for me to style this space, rotate and organise. It always evolves, which I think is important for your child’s interest.
What made you decide on the theme?
Many things pushed me to create a Montessori space. First of all they are always really welcoming spaces, inviting kids to play and use their imagination. By displaying toys, you make them more visible and accessible. They are also soothing and cozy spaces with neutral tones, which help with concentration and I am all about earthy colours.
Another reason why I went for that theme is because I absolutely refuse to buy any plastic toys, so the room is filled with only wooden, felt, metal or rattan toys, which is also a lot more aesthetically pleasing. They are often more expensive, but also more sturdy, so you don’t have to change them like you would do with plastic toys, which break in no time.
What is your main piece of styling advice?
Start with a moodboard. It will give you an idea of the general look of your space. Also, always choose something that will drive the whole styling process, like a theme, a rug, wallpaper or a colour scheme, and then pick your furniture last. Don’t work with too many colours, but don’t restrict yourself to only one colour either, you have to find a good balance.
MARGAUX’S FAV FIVE FEATURES
1. The three tier open shelf is homemade and I love it. It was inspired by one I found scrolling on Pinterest.
2. The desk was a vintage find from Facebook Marketplace, it was in pretty bad condition so I dismantled it, sanded it and painted it.
3. The play kitchen is the Duktig from Ikea, I hacked it twice and my last hack was my favourite project so far, I absolutely love how it turned out. I wanted to make something a bit different and with a fancy look.
4. The wallpaper is also a nice feature, we created it in collaboration with Minnie and me interiors to bring a pinch of fun in the space, it works so well in there and feels a bit special.
5. The dollhouse. I bought this house-shape shelf from Aldi when Ambre was still in my belly and created a really cute dollhouse for her second birthday with it. It is one of her favourite things to play with, she has all the little Maileg furniture and mice in it and creates little world stories, this is the cutest!
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