Making your home a happy place to play will develop your children's mental and physical wellbeing. Plus, thinking up new ways to stoke their imagination is enjoyable for us grown-ups, too. From fort building to fairy doors, check out these clever ways of making your home a magical place for kids to grow up in.

A colourful, graphic play rug will not only protect floors but, spark plenty of imaginary fun. Road and city map rugs are classic but why not try something more original like a bird's-eye farm scene or this funky beach house mat, which is three dimensional for more tactile fun. 

IVI Little Helper 3D children's play rug in Summer Houses design, Amazon.co.uk

Kids are usually into a theme so if you've got the budget why not turn their bedroom or playroom into their own personal fantasy world? This intergalactic bedroom has been made a masterpiece thanks to the impressive rocket shaped armchair. It has a light and sound system controlled by a mobile app to play a choice of music, light effects, and sleep time. And, the four engines are storage compartments. 

Rocky Rocket chair, Circu

Build a bivouac or wigwam with leaning garden poles wrapped in ivy. Or, better still a sweet-pea climber frame-turned-tepee makes a fun DIY project to involve children with. The plants grow at an astonishing rate and they can watch it transform into a beautiful living canopy perfect for hiding in.

Various kids garden tools, from £5.99, Dobbies

If you can't swing outdoors, then the only solution is to swing indoors, obviously! This stylish wood and canvas baby swing converts into a toddler swing and is also suitable for the garden. Be sure to comply with manufacturer's instructions for ceiling installation and weight restrictions. 

SOLVEJ baby and toddler swing in Merino white, Holmsater Ltd

Be creative with light. A soft glowing room will soothe children when quiet time is needed. Reach for the sky with motif moon and clouds style wall lights, and twinkling planets; cosmic dreams are sure to follow. Feeling inspired? See more adorable nursery ideas for a boy or a girl.

NightSky children's collection, from £7.99, Lights4fun

Adding art prints with inspirational words is a wider interior trend that works particularly well in a nursery, adding supportive charm to children's rooms. Whether it's hand-illustrated, a graphic wall-sticker or even a personalised version, the stamp of ownership will encourage a child's sense of belonging. 

Dream Big Little One art print, £4.50, Mode Prints

The slopping eaves of a loft space will create an intimate and cosy space for kids to feel secure in. The fact that they can fit in a room where parents probably can't stand up straight will also give them a sense of exclusivity. Keep the walls bright so the room doesn't feel gloomy and add a colourful blind (with safety cord) that doesn't compromise the light.

Little Monsters dinosaur blackout roller blind, from £29, Blinds2go

Children's learn by mimicking adults so creating role-play stations like this fabulous lemonade stall is not only cute and colourful but also a sure-fire way to boost so many skills including motivation, creativity, social awareness and mathematics. Look online to find an easy DIY stand tutorial like this one made from palettes.

Various paper napkins, from £3.50, Talking Tables

Creating a quiet corner for kids to retreat to for 'my time' is just as important as stimulating their senses. A book nook is a perfect solution, giving them a semi-private and comfortable place to relax and read their favourite stories. This colourful version has made use of a mantelpiece by turning the unused fireplace into easy-to-reach, face-forward bookshelves. 

Alfie mini two seat sofa in Tutti Frutti Caterpillar, £390, Sofa.com

Murals make colourful a brilliant bedroom feature and kids love how the large scale art encompasses the whole wall. A world map mural will take them on a journey, teach geography and show them the world is their oyster. 

Children's map mural, from £26 per square metre, Wallsauce.com

As well as the practical space-saving reasons choosing mini versions of classic furniture makes sense for kids, too. It makes them feel grown-up and allows tasks such as meal-times and play activities like crafts and puzzles to be a more comfortable experience. We love these classic plywood chairs with a twist; sweet little animal ears to make them even cuter.

Oeuf set of 2 Rabbit play chairs in white and birch, £210, Cuckooland.com

If you don't use the garage for a car it can make a great space for kids to call their own leaving the grown-up rooms for adults. As long as it's warm, well-lit and all harmful tools, liquids and other possible hazards have been removed, it's a blank canvas. To make it child-friendly, lay down rugs and beanbags and put up shelving stacked with easy-to-reach toys and games. A desk and chair are handy additions too. 

String system in white with white floor panels, from £72, skandium.com

Need extra table space during a garden party? Stained palettes make an instant rustic table for little ones to enjoy an exclusive picnic with friends or teddy bears. The budget-friendly, low-level surface is just the right height for children to sit comfortably on floor cushions. Make sure wood is properly sanded to avoid splinters. 

Palettes, from £1.99, eBay. 

Blocks of ice-cream colours on walls will make creative juices flow and zone a pretty pastel desk space for budding young artists. Keep things tidy by incorporating built-in storage to hold craft supplies and art tools. 

Crown Breatheasy emulsion paint, from £5.60 per litre, Homebase

If space is tight a simple pop-up tent can be transformed easily into a safe and secure hideaway for kids. Hours of imaginative role-playing fun can be had, or you can use it to create a calm place to nap and read by placing a tufty rug at the entrance and filling with cosy faux fur and cushions.

Silver bellybutton rug, from £119, The Rug Seller

Chalkboard walls have been on trend for a good while and their popularity is showing no signs of slowing. The block of black paint not only creates a stunning contrast, but the blank canvas is so tempting for kids and adults to create all sorts of non-permanent chalk art, messages and graffiti. For a twist, choose magnetic paint and go mixed-media with magnets too.

Who wouldn't want a slide inside their home? Designer and blogger Jill Smith has done exactly that – no wonder she uses 'The art of fun' as her tag line. Construction artist, Sam Jones, carefully crafted and sanded this beautiful slide made from reclaimed bowling-alley floors. Jealous? We are too. 

Slide construction by artist, Sam Jones, jillsmith.com

Express individuality and creativity with colour. Mum and Instagrammer @Charlotte_Faye_Holland has framed a play space in her youngest son's bedroom with a striking graphic mural. Painting a pyramid and one extra rectangle on the wall creates a seriously stylish playhouse and choosing the same cool mint shade as the wooden kitchen in front is genius. Spot the cute box shelves in the corner that echo the playhouse theme. 

House-shaped box shelves, £15.99 for a set of three, Amazon

We are not alone! Sticking mini dollhouse doors on the skirting boards is a super cute way to encourage your children's fairytale imagination. Get creative and decorate your own or buy ready-made. Why not encourage a story by popping tiny props by the door for children to discover when they wake up, perhaps, a small ladder, a teeny parcel or even miniature pints of milk?

Various fairy doors, from £5.99, Etsy

Interiors and parent blog Growingspaces.com has found an ingenious way of keeping children occupied indoors as well as agile. Spaced out black holds have been well-secured onto large-scale plywood sheets and mounted in the corner of a bedroom to create an impressive indoor climbing wall. A simple yet funky mountain skyline painted below makes this the perfect indoor activity for any outdoorsy kid. 

Climbing holds, from £7.96 for a set of 11, Alpine Trek

Kids love thinking they know something a grown-up doesn't which is why this secret passageway is so exciting. To the untrained eye, it's just an everyday cupboard door when closed – but when open its a hidden tiny link to another child's bedroom beyond. 

See more real-life secret rooms to inspire you!

You don't need to be super creative or flush with cash to make your home magical for children. Foldable cardboard with windows and turrets cut out can become an inviting castle or fort perfect for a little quiet time. Fuel their imaginations by adding comfy cushions, a soft best friend and some twinkling LED safety fairy lights. 

LUFSIG wolf toy, £8, IKEA

Playhouses and Wendy houses are widely available and popular among children. So, why not give your youngster's house individual character with a few easy updates? Blogger, Katescreativespace.com has transformed her son's into a picture perfect cottage by making curtains from tea-towels, painting window frames and adding window boxes for real blooms to grow. There's even a little slate name sign. 

Find a selection of playhouses at Wayfair

Pablo Picasso said that 'every child is an artist', so we are sure he would approve of this stylish frame print wallpaper. The monochrome pattern can be used to stick colourful postcards, children's artwork and if you're the relaxed type, give your children a box of crayons to express themselves directly onto the paper. We suggest the latter is done with adult supervision, or with wipe clean pens. 

Frames black and white wallpaper, £40 a roll, Graham & Brown

Unused cupboards or spaces can make exciting places to retreat to if decorated right. Highlighting it green and adding spotlights makes it a cool and creative addition to this teenage room and perhaps the perfect place to escape younger siblings.

Parakeet Green paint, from £15 per litre, Valspar at B&Q

Siblings who share rooms might want to express their own personalities. Give them their own piece of individuality by hanging different coloured curtains above their beds to create separation when needed and allow them to decorate the walls with removable washi tape to add their own character. 

Spectrascope pastel washi tapes, £6 for a set of 8, Paperchase

A mezzanine floor makes practical use of small bedrooms and playrooms. Use the upper level for a reading nook or even install a bed and keep the area below for play. This bright and colourful design by J & J Design Group has even installed a fun yellow slide. Kids will love that they are the only ones who will fit on either level.

Trampolines are fun for all ages, but let's face it can be cumbersome and ugly for parents. Plumbed in or sunken trampolines that are flush to ground-level may make a happy compromise. They are more of an investment but once properly installed with the correct ventilation are much more aesthetically pleasing. However, the fact that they are safer than elevated models is a misconception; manufacturers recommend surrounds should still be in place at all times.

8ft Capital in-ground trampoline kit, £645, Capital Play Ltd.

A tiny fairy garden will make a whimsical addition to any outdoor space ​– surprisingly easy to make and the possibilities are endless. Perhaps clear a space in the flower beds to set up an afternoon tea scene, a plant pot is a good size to put a little dwelling and front garden, or devotees could use a disused wheelbarrow to construct a fairy village. All children at some point wonder about fairies and pixies and find comfort in believing in the fantasy. 

Fairy garden accessories available at Etsy

Budding nature enthusiasts will enjoy this little science project. Bug hotels are beneficial for the garden too as they provide a place for insects to hibernate, pollinate close by and feed on pests that eat plants. Make compartments in a box and fill with garden materials that have plenty of holes such as cut up bamboo poles, piled pebbles and bark and then simply watch and wait for the creepy crawlies to check in.  

Insect hotels available from Amazon

"I don't want a treehouse in the garden," said no kid ever!  That's why they are so prominent in children's books: they are the ultimate childhood fantasy pad, and they provide hours of sheltered entertainment. Warning: owning a treehouse in the garden instantly makes kids popular and so will have a constant stream of friends coming over!

This fantastic bed for imaginative kids is like a fun take on a grown-up four-poster. The frame comes in handy for personalisation such as fairy lights, pom-pom garlands and even faux ivy like on this impressive treehouse-style with a pitched roof, cladding front, windows and even a skylight. 

Midsleeper Treehouse bed in white, £599, Noa and Nani Ltd