Where Kids Can Paint the Walls and Parents Can Actually Relax: BloomHouse Studio

There are some places you walk into as a parent and immediately start saying things like “Careful,” “Don’t touch that,” or “Please stay at this table.” BloomHouse Studio is NOT one of those places. We got a sneak peek inside before their grand opening on May 23, 2026, and after experiencing the space with my 2-year-old, I can already tell this is going to become an absolute favorite spot for families in the upstate.

Located inside the same building as Village Play in Fountain Inn, BloomHouse Studio combines sensory play, messy art, creativity, and community in a way that feels really refreshing. See all the unique details about this place below.

What I am most excited about is how thoughtfully Bloom House Studio is designed for both kids and parents:

• The process art philosophy – Kids are encouraged to explore, create, and fully immerse themselves in messy play without parents constantly worrying about spills or accidents. My toddler got paint on the walls, floors, chairs, and herself — and it was completely okay. Everything is washable or meant to be messy, which made the experience feel surprisingly relaxing as a parent. 
  
• The drop-off classes and preschool program – Parents can enjoy a real break while their kids create and play in a safe, engaging environment. Since the studio is located near downtown Fountain Inn, it would be easy to grab coffee, get some work done, run errands, or even relax in the café area outside the studio.
  
• The semester-long Mommy & Me classes – I especially loved the idea of the 8-week sessions because they create opportunities for genuine friendships and community among moms while little ones learn and create together. It feels like so much more than just a one-time class.
  
• The connection to Village Play and Cafe – Every class includes half-off admission to Village Play, which makes it easy to turn the outing into a full morning or afternoon of fun. As a toddler parent, I especially appreciate having two activities in one place since attention spans can change quickly from one moment to the next.

A Space That Feels Like Permission

As parents, so much of our day can feel like constant correction and redirection.

Don’t climb that.
Careful not to spill.
Don’t touch that.
Please stop coloring on the furniture.

BloomHouse Studio feels like a rare place where the answer is finally just… yes.

Owner, Shay Potter emphasized this: “All the stuff we use is washable. When parents come in for a toddler mom and me class, I don’t want the parents to be worried about it. Just relax and let them make a complete mess. It’s ok. We clean up. We want them to be able to have the freedom to create what they want to create. Anything that you see, they can mess up.”

Honestly, watching my daughter fully relax into that freedom was probably my favorite part of the entire experience. And, as a mom, I got to simply watch her play instead of hovering over her every second

When we visited, the studio was set up with an ocean theme, and every corner had something different to explore. My daughter immediately bounced from activity to activity completely on her own timeline:

• Coloring the floor of a cardboard boat
• Scooping sand and rice from an ocean-themed sensory table into large funnels
• Playing with whale figurines in buckets of soapy foam
• Stacking translucent building blocks on a light-up table
• Painting aluminum foil paper to have something to proudly bring home

There were sponge brushes, roller brushes, normal paint brushes, and large artist markers. The paint palette was mostly shades of blue with bright pops of color throughout the room. As I mentioned earlier, my daughter got paint her face, the walls, the floors, and the chairs. And for once? Nobody cared. She kept coming back to the giant cardboard boat that had been built as a paintable play space just for kids to climb into and decorate however they wanted.

The studio itself is incredibly well stocked with thoughtful stations and materials. It feels immersive without being overstimulating.

For parents using drop-off programs, there are several nearby coffee spots in Fountain Inn plus the Village Play lounge and concession area where you can relax, work remotely, or simply enjoy a quiet moment while your child plays and creates.