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Kids' Playrooms
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Starting with their first game of peek-a-boo, kids delight in disappearing, then popping back to face the grown-up world again. Keep them returning to the room by designing with secret spaces and bright colors that capture children's imaginations.
Allow the whole family to pitch in with ideas for the playroom. It's important to involve the kids in the planning. Let them choose the colors, even if you tweak them later. For the flooring, select a heavy-duty commercial-grade carpeting treated for stain resistance.
Playroom Pointers:
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FUNCTION: Plan your children's playroom or bedrooms to accommodate interests and activities, while allowing for future growth. Design with plenty of light and generous flat surfaces for art or craft projects, schoolwork or just spreading out. Use adjustable shelves that can display current favorites, but swap out as fads change.
STORAGE: Kids are magnets for "stuff." Open shelving, window seats and wall units are ideal for books, videotapes, computer games and treasures on display. Corral smaller items in bins, boxes and baskets you can tuck behind closed doors for a neater look. Stash bulky things in roomy plastic bins that slide under the bed.
SURFACES: Think washable. Choose toss-in-the-washer slipcovers on upholstered furniture; walls and floors with tough, scrubbable surfaces such as top-quality latex paint or durable made-for-kids wall covering; and treated carpeting or laminate flooring.
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SAFETY: Be sure drawers have catches that keep them from being pulled out completely. Smooth any rough edges on wood pieces to avoid splinters. Consider anchoring bookcases and other tall pieces to the wall with toggle bolts and brackets. Wall-to-wall carpeting absorbs the impact from falls, while non-skid tile in bath areas helps kids stay grounded.
VERSATILITY: Keep the permanent elements in the room plain such as beds and tables. Then, decorate with posters that change as your kids do.
