Adding A Playroom

If your home has an unused bedroom, why not convert it into a Playroom for your kids? A kid's playroom or retreat is a wonderful idea! It will be a space in which they can use their creativity and play without worrying about making a mess! Your children (and you) might enjoy some of the ideas below.

• Use four different colors of latex paint on the walls in the playroom, each wall receiving its own bright color. Ask your children to help you select the paint colors. Don't worry if they don't seem to "go together", the playroom is a place for creativity, imagination and "coloring outside of the lines".
• If you use a satin finish paint, it will be easier to clean than a flat finish would. There are some great "prints" and "murals" that you can easily apply to painted walls to create a custom look . One company that has some large and small scale appliqués for the walls is Walls of the Wild (www.wallsofthewild.com). Choose either a tall giraffe, a small bird to perch on the light switch, or dozens of other fun animal prints.
• Magnetic Poetry Paint (www.fridgedoor.com/magpoetpainp.html) applied to a section of the wall will create a "magnetic" surface , just like on the refrigerator! It is a kid safe, latex based primer that you paint under any color of latex paint. You may want to paint a pretend kitchen complete with a "faux refrigerator" on the wall. You could also frame a section of one wall with wood trim and paint the area inside the frame with "blackboard" paint, available in several colors.
• Leave plenty of wide open spaces in the playroom. Children love to play on the floor and need plenty of room to move about. If you are concerned about soil and stains on the carpet, you may want to purchase several child area rugs. These are available in fun designs and colors.
• You will want plenty of storage and shelf space for their toys and books. With young children, you should only use low shelves so that they can easily reach their things. If the shelves are freestanding, make sure that they are securely attached to the wall to prevent tipping over.
• Remove the closet doors so that they can easily store and retrieve their toys.
• If your budget allows, purchase some child size furniture. A small table and a couple of chairs in one corner would be nice for playing and tea parties. Add a comfortable chair or sofa in another corner for curling up with a good book or taking a nap.
• Keep the window treatments simple! Unless the room receives strong direct sunlight, a basic valance at the top of the window is really all you need. Make sure that any cords or pulls are secured out of your children's reach.
• Last, but not least, use an intercom, either a built-in model or the inexpensive mobile type, in the playroom, so that you can stay in touch. Also make sure that there is a smoke/fire detector in the room as well.

Creating a fun playroom is really just child's play!