Archive for the ‘Children room’ Category

Using Sustainable Designs in a Child’s Playroom

Friday, February 25th, 2011

If you are an environmentally conscious parent, you are undoubtedly aware of the various materials being used in your home. Perhaps you choose to decorate with wood or metal wall hangings from recycled materials instead of newly manufactured items from a metal wall art store.  A child’s playroom can often be especially challenging in an eco-friendly home, because of the number of toys and plastic items that are popular for use in these rooms. Fortunately, there are still some ways that you can utilize eco-friendly and sustainable materials in the playroom.

Cork for Floors and Walls

Cork is a great material to use in an environmentally conscious home. It works well as a flooring material, or on the walls to provide a child with an area to hang artwork. It can be easy to install, providing a lot of versatility to the room’s overall design. Cork can also be painted with low-VOC paint if you want to add a bit more visual interest and color. Cork works well as a flooring material for the playroom, due to its natural cushioning properties. As a result, your child will be able to comfortably crawl around on the floor without hurting their little knees. Although it’s not the most inexpensive flooring option, it is a great choice if you want to use a sustainable and environmentally responsible material.

Bamboo Flooring

Although you might not immediately think of bamboo for a child’s playroom, it is actually a very good choice. Bamboo is among the world’s most sustainable resources, making it a good choice for an environmentally friendly home. Bamboo grows to maturity in only seven years, at which time it can be harvested and used to make a variety of different products. Although bamboo is a grass, it has the strength and feel of wood. When used as a flooring material, it is scratch resistant, stain resistant, and very durable, making it a great playroom choice. You might also choose to add bamboo cabinets to the playroom walls to provide extra toy storage space. They will be durable, strong and beautiful, even as your child grows older.

Wall Coverings

When choosing wall coverings for the playroom, select only environmentally friendly choices. Although natural grass wallpaper can be a beautiful option for walls, it’s not a good choice for lower areas of the playroom walls where little hands can reach it. However, it is a good choice for covering the upper areas of the walls. Because it is available in a wide array of textures and colors, it’s great for adding visual interest to the room. Low VOC paint is also an environmentally friendly choice to use on playroom walls. Not only is this paint friendlier to the environment, but it will cut down on paint odors in the home when you are applying it.

If you use a bit of thought and creativity, it can be easy to use sustainable materials in the playroom. Think outside of the usual realm of children’s furnishings, shopping at specialty stores in order to find the products you’re looking for. By using sustainable materials in the playroom, you’ll be protecting the environment and teaching your children the importance of being environmentally responsible at the same time.

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Decorative Nursery Lamps for a Baby Girl

Monday, December 20th, 2010

Adding a lamp to the nursery may not seem terribly important, but any parent that has taken care of their baby through the night understands the importance of having the right lighting in the nursery. A decorative nursery lamp is pretty to look at, but it is also brings an important function to the nursery: namely, soft lighting for the middle of the night. Nursery lamps can be found in a lot of different colors, sizes and styles, so finding one to fit baby’s nursery should not be a problem, whether you want to coordinate with ballerina or fairy theme decorative door toppers or play up southwestern wall art featuring little cowboys and smiling horses.

Designs that Blend

For a little girl’s nursery, finding the perfect little lamp simply involves fitting it into the nursery’s existing decorating scheme. For example, if the nursery is decorated in butterflies or teddy bears, look for a little lamp that carries through with this theme. There is a huge selection of lamps available that fit just about every décor imaginable, so finding one to fit a particular nursery theme should not be too difficult. A parent who wants to add a uniquely decorative touch to the nursery may decide to create their own lamp design. Find a little lamp that is plain and embellish it as desired. When purchasing a lamp, though, make sure that it is well balanced and that the base is properly weighted so that it will not easily tip over.

Important Functions

When selecting a lamp for the nursery, consider where it will be located, how it will be used and when it will be used. For example, a candlestick lamp that emits a soft glow is perfect on a table beside the rocking chair when rocking baby to sleep at night. However if a parent wants to read while rocking the baby, then a stronger or more direct light may be needed. Asmall lamp tucked on a shelf over the changing table may offer just enough light to change a diaper while keeping the surrounding areas very dim.

Diminutive Designs

There are many different lamp designs available. The diminutive, candlestick lamp is very popular for offering an ambient glow to the nursery. Little lantern lights are also popular for this use. Tiny lamps with designer fabric shades may offer the perfect accent to a simple nursery design. Quite often the lamp and the shade can be purchased separately, so that a parent can customize the look that they want for their baby’s nursery.

Custom Building a Nursery Lamp

When a parent cannot locate a lamp that works for their child’s nursery, they can create their own using a lamp kit. These kits can be found in many different stores as well as online. Another option is to find a plain small table lamp that matches the style of the nursery, and then paint it to match and embellish the shade in whatever style works for the nursery. Something as simple as stenciling baby’s name on the lampshade can add the perfect personal touch while providing functional lighting.

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Fun Ideas for Decorating Using Toys

Sunday, December 19th, 2010

If you have been seeking a fun way to decorate your home, you need not look any further than those toys you have stashed away in the toy box or closet.  You can add a fun and lively look to the home by decorating with toys and games.   Depending on which type of toy or game that you use, you can lend a playful, cheery, trendy, or retro feel to your decorative theme.  Let’s look at some fun ideas for decorating using toys.

Game Boards

Many fun decorating ideas can be achieved using game board for unique wall art. Select a board game that fits that theme of the room, like Life or Monopoly for the home office or Candyland for your game room or kitchen; or decorate a game room by using game boards as an unexpected door topper.  Choose board games that have a sturdy board. You will find that the older versions of board games are made from heavier chipboards, cardboard, or wood, and this makes them especially good for hanging on the wall.  Another option is to frame the board to bring a particularly decorative touch to the room.  If you do not have game boards lying around, you can often find them very inexpensively at second-hand stores, flea markets, and garage sales, although some may not have their individual pieces with them.  If you want to simply use the board on your wall, it is not a problem to have missing pieces.  You can, however, choose to use the game pieces as decor too. For illustration, you might hang a chess board on your wall and use the game pieces on a shelf nearby as small sculptures.  Displaying a chess board set up on a shelf or table is also a fun element.

Dolls and Plush

Using plush animals and dolls to add whimsy and charm to your room is also a good way to decorate with toys.  Decorating with older dolls or stuffed animals that you have kept since childhood is a great way to enjoy these special items again.  It is also fun to decorate a particular room with your child’s favorite plush and stuffed toys, particularly if the child is grown now.  This is a great way to bring a sense of nostalgia to the room while affording you the opportunity to walk down memory lane.  Be sure to display vintage dolls or fragile items on higher shelves or in glass cabinets in order to preserve them and protect them from damage.

Trucks and Other Vehicles

Vehicle toys like cars, trucks, tractors, and more, can bring a fun and exciting look to a room.  This is also a great way to get the toys out of the closet where you can enjoy the toys once more.  In the country or rustic kitchen, a toy tractor can be a welcome element, and it can look great when displayed in the family room on a rustic mantle.  Display a collection of tiny cars, like Hot Wheels, for example, in a collector cabinet or a small shelving unit in the family room or media room.

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Trendy Themes for a Teen’s Bedroom

Sunday, October 24th, 2010

When redecorating a teen’s room, it is a good time to leave the trappings of childhood behind and embrace a more contemporary style room. Creating a more modern design in a teen’s room can be a wonderful way to add an updated look and feel to a young adult’s bedroom.

Enlist the Teen’s Help

Before settling on any particular style or design, it is probably a good idea to check with your teen first to see what ideas they may have for decorating their room. By allowing them to inject a little of their own personality into the space, it will be a comfortable place to hang out with friends, do homework and listen to music. If the room is large enough, add some fun by giving them a cool seating area where they can play video games or watch movies.

Basic Black and White

Some themes can be classic and modern at the same time. Take a black and white theme for example. Creating an entire room in black and white is a great way to bring a fresh look to the room. Add a splash or two of color throughout the room, and this accent color will add energy to the room.

Another theme that works well in a black and white room for a teen is a music theme; or for a girl, a wild zebra print is fun and hip. Decorating a room in black and creates a really contemporary feel that any teen would love. Add a platform bed with a bold patterned comforter to complete the contemporary look of the room.

Somewhere in Between

Sometimes by the time a child reaches the teen years, they have had enough themed bedrooms to last a lifetime. In this instance, it is probably time to take a little more adult approach to the room’s design. Since a teen is somewhere between a child and an adult, it may be time to design a room that speaks to their more mature interests and tastes. It is important, however, to still keep a youthful feel to the room, maybe by introducing a collegiate flair to the design. Another idea may be to offer a nod to their interests like favorite hobby or sport. A teen girl may love a shabby chic look that features painted furniture, french wall art and garden style landscape art decor. It is not necessary to have a theme for a successful room design for a teen’s bedroom.

Go Green for Teens

Many teens are environmentally aware, and may be interested in having their bedroom designed in a planet friendly way. Finding furniture created from recycled material, like paper or plastic, or bedding made from sustainable materials like bamboo is becoming easier than ever. Adding LED lighting to a bedroom not only offers cool lighting, but it is environmentally friendly too. So, for the teen who wants to help save the planet, decorating a ‘green’ bedroom may be the best way to go.

Designs for a Teen Boy

Remember, if decorating for a teen boy, to keep things as simple as possible. Find basic, modern furniture pieces that provide enough storage for him to keep his room picked up, while allowing him to kick back and enjoy a video game with his friends. While the style of the room can be very simple, make sure that the fabrics and furnishings are comfortable and functional.

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How to Decorate a Boy’ Bedroom with His Collections

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

If you ever want to be really amazed, just look at the little treasures that any little boy collects. Rather than fight the inclination, you can help him develop workable storage space for his collection. You can allow for display space as well, depending on what types of objects your child collects: Your child may collect some things that are strictly for display while other things may be to play with. For example, a tropical fish wall decor display rack can hold a vintage fishing rod and lures that once belonged to his grandpa; or, a metal tree art with hooks can hold his growing collection of every day baseball caps.

Photo credit to scrapstothefuture.

Arranging Action Figures

If your son loves to collect toy cars or action figures, while he undoubtedly plays with them, it might also be fun to display them. You could arrange for a display cabinet or open shelves with bins for storage and space beside the bins for display. For smaller children, open shelves are preferable to breakable cabinet doors. As the collections grow more delicate or sophisticated, then a glass front cabinet may be in order.

Trading Cards

Trading cards are another popular collectible. Collections of baseball cards, or just about any type of sport cards, can grow to be very large. There are several ways to store and display them. For a special card or smaller grouping of cards, you can mount and frame them to hang on the wall. For a larger collection, using a book with pages designed to hold the cards is probably a better way to go. For a fun display, you can draw a baseball field poster, and then mount the cards on it. Start with a piece of green poster board, and then cut a brown square for the infield. Mark off the bases, and then you can affix each player on the field in the position that they normally play. Not only is your child neatly storing their baseball card collection, but they have created a piece of wall art as well.

Storing Video Games

Some little boys are enamored with video games, DVDs and CDs. Some others love books, magazines and comic books. This type of collection works well on shelves or a bookcase where it can be easily retrieved for use.

Shelves as Storage

A fun method for display in a kid’s room is to install a narrow shelf about eighteen inches from the ceiling around the perimeter of their bedroom. A young boy can display all of his collections and keepsakes on this shelf all around the room. The display is safely out of harm’s way, and it is in a place where your child can view it all of the time.

Displaying Photos

If your child collects photos, you can store and display them several ways. You can create a fun wall display in a multi photo frame, or you can create a collage with them. Clear plastic frames are also a great way to display photos as are multi sided photo cubes. Photo box storage is a handy way to store a large volume of photos, and of course a photo album is an old favorite.

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Working Wonders in a Kid’s Room with Wall Decals

Saturday, June 19th, 2010

Photo credit to wallcandyarts.

When you are decorating a child’s bedroom, you can have some fun painting designs on the walls, or you may choose to hang some fun and funky wallpaper. Kid-theme wall art, like cartoon style tropical wall decorations or a bold and bright musical notes wall art can also add vibrant fun. However, one of the newer products out there that can be used to add interest to any room’s walls is the wall decal. You can use decals to put the finishing touches on just about any theme for a kid’s bedroom quite easily.

Where to Begin
When you are redecorating your child’s room, it is also a great time to go through and weed out things that they have outgrown. Get rid of furniture that they have outgrown and toys that they no longer use. Thin out clothing that no longer fits, and pass everything along to someone else who can use it. After clearing the room think about what theme you would like to build the room’s design around. Design your furniture layout, and pick what piece of furniture goes where. As you are arranging furniture in the bedroom, make sure that you keep your theme in mind so that you can arrange it in a clever way to support whatever look you are instituting in your child’s bedroom.

Tiny Town
One of the more popular themes for a young boy is trucks and cars, so if your little boy loves cars and trucks, you may want to incorporate this interest into a theme for their room. You can paint a scene on your child’s walls including a road, a garage, a construction site, and a park. Then you can place removable, vinyl car and truck decals in your little town. This type of decal is removable and reusable, so your child can move the cars and trucks around at will. So you not only have a design theme for the room, but you have created an interactive play wall for your child too.

Fairyland
Every little girl dreams of being a princess at some point in her life. So for a little girl’s theme, you can turn her room into a fairy princess castle. First paint your wall a soft pink, and then paint a mural of a castle complete with beautiful gardens and a tower. Now you can add vinyl, removable, reusable wall decals of all the princess’s accoutrements like a glass slipper, a crown and radiant jewels along with a decal of the princess herself. You may also want to add some flower decals in the garden, and then your little girl can dress her favorite princess and take her to play in the garden. Again, you have created an interactive wall that will provide hours of fun playtime for your little girl.

Creating Characters
Many children have favorite characters either from cartoons or movies. For these kids, you can create a room whose theme centers around their favorite character. You can include the character into the room on wallpaper borders and wall decals. Choose a color from the decal for the base color on your child’s bedroom walls. Choosing your color in this fashion will give your child’s room a very cohesive and fun look.

Hinging your child’s bedroom design on their favorite character or theme is a great way to decorate his or her bedroom. Using wall decals, you can add a lot of character to the room’s design, and if you use removable and reusable wall decals, you can provide your child with hours of playtime fun along with a great bedroom. Then you can incorporate your theme elements into the décor throughout the room to really create an all around entertaining bedroom for your child.

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