From Empty Garage to Kid-Friendly Space
How I reimagined a garage in a home 20 minutes away from downtown Austin into a kids’ dream space
April 12th, 2026 | 5 minute read
After visiting this property, I started thinking about how to bring more interest to the home despite its limited bedrooms and distance from central Austin.
Being a bit further out from the city can actually be a plus. Some families specifically look for that quieter, more removed experience when they travel. So instead of seeing the location as a limitation, I leaned into it and started thinking about how to make the home feel more kid-friendly overall.
One of the most overlooked areas was the garage. It wasn’t really adding anything to the guest experience, so I started rethinking it as usable space rather than leftover space.
For a lot of short-term rentals outside central Austin, these underused areas are often the easiest way to add value without changing the footprint of the house.
Turning “unused” into useful
The goal with this space was to turn a garage into a real kids’ playroom that feels like a natural extension of the home. It needed to be functional for families, durable enough for everyday use, and flexible for different ages and ways of playing.
So the direction became:
Keep the layout open so kids have room to move and play
Choose materials that can handle real, repeated use
Make sure the space still feels consistent with the rest of the home
A simple, easy-to-use playroom that adds something meaningful to the home experience.
A space designed for family stays in Austin
In Austin short-term rental design, family-friendly spaces are a major differentiator. Homes that can comfortably host kids tend to perform better because they offer a more complete guest experience.
This playroom adds that layer to the home. It gives families a dedicated space for kids to play, which helps keep the rest of the house more relaxed and functional during a stay.
The space includes:
a rock climbing wall
an arcade machine
a foosball table
a popcorn machine
two separate TV zones so kids and adults can enjoy the space at the same time
a large sectional that adds flexibility for lounging or sleeping
The result is a space where kids can have fun, go a little wild, and make a little mess.
Why this works in short term rental design
Small design decisions can have a big impact on how a property feels and performs.
Instead of expanding the footprint of the home, this project reassigns existing space in a way that better supports real guest use. In Austin Texas short term rental design, it is often not about adding more square footage. It is about making the existing home work harder for the people staying in it.
A garage turned kids playroom is a simple example of that shift.
Reviews from guests:We loved our stay here!! We visited with two little ones and this house was exactly what we needed. There was plenty of space for them to run and play outside with wonderful things to do inside as well. The rock wall and game area in the garage were really amazing and can be used for all ages. We had a fun movie night on the giant couch with popcorn and snacks.
- Christon
Best Air BNB we have stayed in. We were looking for a fun sleepover home for our girls and this place was perfection. The home was beautiful and clean. The kids area was amazing, inside and out. I highly recommend this home for a family but also for a fun adult spot. Thanks so much for providing what you hope every Air BNB will be... A great, worry free home!
- Jenna
The rest of the home
The rest of the home had a pretty tight budget, so I leaned into smaller moves that still made a big difference.
Instead of changing major pieces, I worked with color, pattern, and layered decor to bring more life into the space.
The direction stayed playful and family-friendly, with an animal-inspired theme carried through in a subtle way. Just enough personality to make it feel fun for kids without taking over the space.
It was really about using simple details in a smart way so the home still feels cohesive, warm, and memorable without needing a big spend.
This project is a reminder that some of the most effective STR design moves come from rethinking underused spaces and designing around how guests actually live during their stay.
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