A dedicated play area gives little ones somewhere safe to climb, crawl, slide and tumble, and gives you a tidy, contained space instead of toys spread across every room. The good news is you don't need a huge playroom. With the right foam pieces and some soft flooring, a spare corner of a living room, a box room or a nursery space can become a proper mini soft play area.
In this guide we'll walk through how to plan the space, what to include for different ages and how our indoor play area bundles make it simple to get everything in one order.
1. Measure your space first
Before choosing anything, measure the floor area you have available and note any radiators, doors or furniture nearby. As a rough guide:
- A small corner works well for a climber and a set of play mats.
- A medium space can take a climber or slide plus a 130 x 130cm ball pit.
- A playroom or nursery room can fit a full setup with a climbing set, slide, ball pit and mats.
Leave a clear border around the play area so children have room to land and move between pieces safely.
2. Start with soft flooring
Soft flooring is the foundation of any indoor play area. Foam play mats cushion landings, define the space and protect your floors. That's why every one of our play area bundles includes the Soft Play Mats 5 Piece Set in pastel, giving you padded flooring from day one.
3. Choose pieces for your child's age
Babies from 6 months
Crawlers and early walkers need low, gentle shapes for tummy time, crawling and pulling up. Look for small wedges, ramps and steps rather than tall pieces.
Our Baby Play Corner Bundle combines the Little Crawler Set, Mini Climbie and play mats, a calm, cushioned space that fits most living rooms.
Confident crawlers and new walkers
Once babies are climbing, a corner climber adds more challenge, and a low-sided ball pit brings sensory play that keeps them busy for longer.
The Corner Play Area Bundle pairs the Corner Climber with the Pastel Play Ball Pit and play mats, ideal for turning a spare corner into a play zone.
Active toddlers from 12 months
Toddlers love to climb up and slide down again and again. A step and slide set with a ball pit to land in creates a mini indoor playground.
Our Slide & Splash Play Area Bundle combines the Mega Fun Slider, Pastel Play Ball Pit and play mats, perfect for siblings and playdates.
Nurseries, childminders and bigger playrooms
If you have more space or several children playing at once, a full setup with climbing, sliding, balancing and ball pit play keeps everyone engaged.
The Complete Indoor Play Area Bundle brings together the 7-piece Discoverer Set, Mega Fun Slider, Pastel Play Ball Pit and play mats for a complete mini soft play area.
4. Keep the colours calm
Bright primary colours can feel busy in a living room or bedroom. A soft pastel palette looks stylish, blends with your home and creates a calmer environment for play. All of our play area bundles come in matching light pastel, so every piece goes together.
5. Think about safety and cleaning
- Choose firm, closed-cell foam that holds its shape and won't sag.
- Look for wipe-clean covers so spills and sticky fingers are easy to deal with.
- Check products are BPA and phthalate free and CE marked to toy safety standards.
- Keep the area away from radiators, windows and furniture edges.
- Always supervise children while they play.
Every piece in our bundles is made from firm, lightweight PE foam with a wipe-clean eco-leather cover, BPA and phthalate free and CE marked to toy safety standards.
6. Make it easy to change
Children's interests and abilities change quickly. Lightweight, modular foam pieces let you rearrange the layout to keep play fresh, and you can add extra sets as your child grows. Browse our full range of soft play to build on your setup over time.
Which bundle is right for you?
- Baby Play Corner Bundle - for babies from 6 months and smaller spaces.
- Corner Play Area Bundle - for climbing plus ball pit fun in a compact corner.
- Slide & Splash Play Area Bundle - for active toddlers who love to slide.
- Complete Indoor Play Area Bundle - for nurseries, childminders and bigger playrooms.
See full details, pictures of what's included and answers to common questions on our indoor soft play area bundles page, or shop all indoor play area bundles.
About Children's Soft Play UK
Children's Soft Play UK specialises in high-quality, safe and engaging soft play products for homes, nurseries and play providers across the UK. To learn more about us, visit our About Us page.