Drab to fab: Sydney play therapist Bec turned a tired office into a beautiful sanctuary for kids

When Sydney play therapist Bec Burrowes decided to open her very own practice, Little Lights Play Therapy, she needed serious help transforming a drab office space into a sanctuary of healing and connection.

Helping children heal through play is Bec’s passion and profession. For more than 10 years, the registered play therapist and qualified mental health social worker has worked with children and adolescents to help them navigate the complex social, emotional and developmental challenges, from trauma to anxiety to grief and beyond.

“My journey into play therapy began when I met some children who had been trafficked across Southeast Asia,” Bec tells Business Builders. “I noticed that play really transcended language and that it was really pivotal in their healing journey.”

After working in schools, Bec pursued her dream of opening her own play therapy and counselling service. In early 2025, Little Lights Play Therapy opened its doors in Crows Nest, Sydney.

“The name Little Lights Play Therapy was inspired by the idea that every child – and each and every one of us – has an inner light within us, something unique and something bright,” she explains. “We want to nurture and foster that light to grow brighter.”

The challenge: Brightening up a tired space

Hunting for the right space took some time, so Bec was relieved when she found a three-room office space she could work her magic on.

“Getting the keys was a bit of a mix between excitement and absolute terror,” she says. “I was very excited because it was quite a blank canvas, and I could see that there was a lot of potential, but I also could see that we had a big daunting job ahead of us to get started.”

Bec had the vision for each room: a waiting room for parents and guardians; a private play therapy room for the kids; and a calm counselling room with a sectioned-off space for a small office.

There would need to be ample storage for toys and books, as well as curtains to maintain confidentiality for anyone coming into the clinic.

But with just a box of toys, no furniture and some dated blinds and curtains inherited with the space, Bec needed interior design expertise to bring that vision to life. Thankfully, a surprise was just around the corner …

WATCH: Little Lights Play Therapy workspace makeover with IKEA (Post continues after video)

The surprise: A $10,000 makeover from IKEA

Bec applied for Business Builders and IKEA for Business’ Furnish For Success competition to win a $10,000 workspace makeover for Little Lights Play Therapy – and she was one of the two winners selected from across Australia.

To help her plan the new space, Bec had a consultation with in-house IKEA interior designer Janet Rockliffe, who works with a team that specialises in helping businesses design their spaces.

“IKEA really helped us maximise our space. The space had quite a few unusual nooks and crannies that IKEA was able to work with us to find different ways to style it, as well as storage solutions and put in furniture that really matched the space that we had available,” Bec says.

“What I really loved was seeing how the designers focused on the playroom from a child’s perspective. They brought everything down to the child’s level to make it quite functional for them, but also to make it feel cosy and warm for them as well.”

The end result: Lights on at Little Lights

Within weeks, Bec’s space looked completely different. Let’s go room by room:

THE FOYER BEFORE:

THE FOYER AFTER:

“What I love about this foyer is that it’s quite natural and cosy. The greens bring in a real natural vibe,” Bec says.

“We’ve got a few little seats where kids can grab a book and come sit down while they’re waiting for their session to start.”

THE FOYER ENTRANCE BEFORE:

THE FOYER ENTRANCE AFTER:

THE PLAYROOM BEFORE:

THE PLAYROOM AFTER:

“This is where all the magic happens. There’s many things I love about this room – I love that they’ve brought the paint down lower so it’s at a child’s level. We’ve got lots of storage, there’s so many different stations where children can choose how they want to express themselves. We’ve got lots of options for constructions, lots of options for arts and crafts.”

THE THERAPY ROOM/OFFICE BEFORE:

THE THERAPY ROOM/OFFICE AFTER:

“We’ve got a couch, we’ve got quite a lot of storage. And hidden behind is the office, while [at the couches] we can have the therapy session and the meetings with parents and guardians.”

The final verdict

Since opening earlier this year, Bec has been able to welcome children, parents and guardians into a space she’s proud to call her own.

“The future for Little Lights Play Therapy is incredibly bright,” she says. “With our new space, we’re better equipped to support even more children and families. We’re excited to help more kids let their little lights shine.”

She recommends other small businesses work with the IKEA interior design team (IKEA Business Network members get a free one-on-one interior design consultation, as well as further discounts on products and design services).

“IKEA had everything that we needed for every aspect of our business, whether it was the office space, the children’s therapy room, or the waiting room,” says Bec. “There was a solution for everything.”

To find out how IKEA for Business can help you, visit ikea.com/business.

This article is brought to you by Business Builders in partnership with IKEA for Business.

Feature image: IKEA’s Janet Rockliffe and Little Lights Play Therapy’s Bec Burrowes. Source: Pinstripe Media.