<h2 style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt"><font size="3" color="#990000">Designing the perfect playroom on a shoestring budget</font></h2><p><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt; font-size: 10pt">(ARA) – Playrooms are ideal spaces for encouraging children’s creativity, providing them with the stimulation they crave and helping them create a connection with others. The great news is that you don’t have to build an addition onto the house or set aside your family vacation fund to create a great playroom.</span></p><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt; font-size: 10pt"><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Many unused extra spaces in the home can function as playroom spaces. Whether it’s a sewing room you no longer have time for or maybe an extra bedroom that isn’t being used, make sure the space is safe and secure for the ages of children who will be playing in it. Spaces under staircases and large closets can make great play areas and give an almost fort-like feel for your child to play make-believe in.</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center"><img src="../images/play-room.jpg" border="0" alt="Playroom Design" title="Playroom Design" width="425" height="282" /></div> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Your next step is to define a goal for the room and take into account who will be using the space. Need some direction? Review online resources for playrooms or visit stores that offer playroom ideas. Places like Ikea, Target and the like can be great resources for fun, functional and inexpensive ideas and designs.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">"Create universal spaces that will grow with your children," encourages Nancy Bohnett, academic director of Interior Design at The Art Institute of Las Vegas. "Your first child may be a 3-year-old girl who loves princesses, but she may outgrow her love for pink in a few years and gain a baby brother who will also use the space as he grows."</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Once you’ve got an idea of how you want the room to function, you’ll be able to make a list of the items you’ll need and want, whether it’s an easel for your little artist, bins to store a large collection of blocks or a table for the perfect tea party. You may find that you have many of the items you need, whether they are crammed into your child’s current space or stored in the garage.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">For the items you need to purchase, take advantage of places like Ikea, peruse a garage sale, check the listings on Craigslist, find some treasures on eBay or visit a recycled furniture store to pick up pieces you need. With a little TLC and some paint, any piece can make a great addition to your playroom. Closet sweater stackers and over-the-door shoe organizers are great places for coloring books and art supplies.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">When it comes to the walls, playrooms should be bright and cheerful, but there’s no need to go overboard with paint. "The reality is that children’s tastes change as they grow. Creating an accent wall in a favorite color is a great way to bring color to the space and save money. It can be something your kids help with, putting their handprints on the wall or something fun and can be easily changed over time," says Bohnett.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">In fact, Bohnett encourages restraint in all the d’ecor. "Be careful not to choose a theme that will be outdated in a short period of time. Allow the toys and creative pieces your children create in the room to dictate the space. You’ll save time, money and frustration in the long-run," she says.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">When it comes to flooring, hard and washable surfaces are ideal for these spaces. "Having floors that can withstand the rigors of childhood play is important for a parent’s sanity," says Bohnett. "Not only do children play with many things that roll along the floor, but they also play with messy things like paints, clay and Mommy’s nail polish."</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/1b.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/1b.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Don’t let a small space rain on your playroom parade. "There are simple ways to make a room feel larger," Bohnett adds. "Do simple things like add a mirror to the room. It can be used for dress-up time and helps the space feel larger." Children can also use washable markers and paints on the mirror, which can easily be cleaned once playtime is over.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Lighting for the space can be a breeze as well. Overhead lights that are already built into the space, daylight and some indirect light are all you need. Grab an old lamp from the garage and paint it to match the new scheme. It’s a great way to personalize the space and an inexpensive alternative to a custom child-themed lamp.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Last but not least, don’t forget that even in a kids’ space, parents need a little room. Make sure there’s a comfortable place for you to sit and supervise your children and to have the materials at hand you’ll need for the space. To learn more about The Art Institutes schools, visit <a href="http://www.artinstitutes.edu/nz" target="_blank">www.artinstitutes.edu/nz</a> .</p> <p><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt; font-size: 10pt">Courtesy of ARAcontent</span></p></span>
Recent Posts
Archives
- November 2015
- October 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
Recent Comments