Not all homes are built with kids in mind. However, since you’re moving into your new home, you practically have a blank canvas you can turn into a functioning kid-friendly space. You have the freedom to create a home that’s aesthetically pleasing for you and practical for your little ones. Yes, that’s absolutely possible! You just need to think outside the box. Luckily, we’re here to give you little nudge into the creative direction. We did thorough research and gathered the top 7 tips for making your new home kid-friendly. So, grab yourself a cup of coffee, and let’s read up on this guide!
Flooring
Let’s face it – kids are bound to spill something on your beautiful and expensive carpet sooner or later. That’s just a harsh truth every parent needs to face. So, to avoid learning it the hard way and in a new home, we suggest you rethink covering your floors in wall-to-wall carpets. Instead, go for hardwood floors and vinyl tiles in all rooms of your new home. They are easy to maintain, and you can clean spills and other dirt much, much faster.
For a layer of comfort, add an area rug in your living room. It will provide warmth for your little ones when they play on the floor. Moreover, area rugs can be a great aesthetic addition to your living space. You can choose one in a fun shade to add a pop of color to your room. As a plus, your kids will love it too, and it won’t look dirty all the time as the ones in neutral colors. Making your new home kid-friendly has never looked so good, right?
Storage space
When you have kids, you can never have too much storage space. You’ll have to find creative ways to store everything from toys to clothes. Fortunately, there are a million and one storage solutions nowadays, even DIY options. For example, storage cupboards for your kid’s toys are practically lifesavers. We suggest you purchase two or three of these things and put them around your home wherever you have additional space. Of course, you can store there more than just their toys. These are good for storing shoes as well.
Furthermore, woven baskets can also be extremely helpful. You can use them for storing toys, dirty clothes, books, etc. The best part is you can put them practically anywhere in your home. They can fit into every corner.
We also suggest investing in double-duty furniture. This type of furniture can serve you sitting areas and additional storage. These are the two things you don’t want to lack when living with kids. So, when purchasing kid-friendly furniture, make sure to find these multifunctional pieces.
Speaking of storage, we must talk about storing during a home renovation, especially if you’re just moving into a new home. The fact is you probably have a bunch of new stuff, so you’ll have to use the right techniques to protect all of it from damage. We think the best solution here is renting a short-term storage unit. This way, you’ll know your items are safe and sound. Another solution is to turn one room of your home into a store if you don’t want your belongings out of the house and you want to save a few bucks.
Indoor playing area
The truth is you can’t avoid having toys all-around your home. However, you can minimize this by creating a playing area for your kids. The best place to build one is in the room where you spend most of your day. This could be in a living room or a corner of your dining room. So, somewhere you can keep an eye on your child at all times.
Lay down a comfortable yet easy-to-clean base so your kids can sit on the floor without getting a cold. Then, add a toy cupboard and a bench with a storage unit underneath. You can also add a beanbag if your kid is old enough for it. A little table where they can draw or be crafty would be ideal as well. Oh, and don’t forget to make this area colorful and fun for your kids. If you’re open to it, you can even let your kids paint the wall in the playing area or choose a fun wallpaper for it. Whatever you decide to do, remember one thing – the more fun you make it for your kids, the fewer toys you’ll find around the home. This is a perfect way to turn your new house into a home and create a happy environment for everyone.
Kid’s room
Making your new home child-friendly also implies creating a safe and beautiful room just for your child. Yes, we’re talking about kid’s room renovation. If you want to remodel your child’s room properly, you’ll have to involve them in this process and make it to their taste. Of course, this doesn’t mean implementing every crazy ridiculous idea that comes into their mind, but you’ll have to listen to their wishes. For example, let them choose the color for their walls or a fun wallpaper.
Additionally, ask them if they want to have bedsheets on their favorite superhero or animal. Kids love to feel involved. This will also help them adjust to the new home and life faster.
In the swirl of creativeness, don’t forget about the functionality. You’ll have to find a way to make your kid’s room 100% accessible to them. In addition, you’ll have to think of a way to keep things organized at all times. That’s where storage cupboards and easily-accessible shelves come in handy. Also, don’t forget to make the closet accessible to your kids. If you make everything within reach for your children, you’ll encourage them to stay organized.
Kid-friendly paint
Kids are messy. That’s the unfortunate fact we all have to face. Besides spilling and breaking things, toddlers like to draw on the walls and sofas. This is a phase every kid goes through, and yours will, too. That’s why we suggest that you use kid-friendly paint for your walls. Lucky for you, you can find washable interior paints in practically every hardware store. So, don’t wait until your freshly painted white walls are ruined with your kid’s latest art project; prepare on time!
Locks & Covers
Locks are one of the most frequent home safety precautions that a parent should implement. Numerous things in the house should be locked if children are around, ranging from toilets to high cupboards to windows. Furthermore, outlets should always be covered with plugs because they are one of the most accessible threats to youngsters in the home. Therefore, if you have a baby or a toddler running around the house wanting to touch everything, this is something you simply must do.
Outdoor fun
Think about what things you might add to your backyard to make it an enjoyable playing area for kids. A swing, treehouse, sandpit, tramp, climbing wall would keep your children entertained for hours. If you don’t have much room but have a blank fence, why not make a large chalkboard for the youngsters to play games like a hangman on?
When it comes to the safety of your children, make sure you keep all your tool out of the reach of your children. You should definitely keep your garage cleaned and locked at all times. In addition, regularly mow the lawn and clear out the debris.
To wrap it up
Moving into a new home is an excellent opportunity for you to create a space that’s both fun and safe for your child. You’ll have to think about the functionality and durability of everything in your home, from flooring to paint on the walls. However, don’t let thins discourage you – you can still have nice things on your own. You’ll just have to organize your home correctly. Thankfully, these seven tips for making your new home kid-friendly will help you achieve just that!
Photos used:
https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-couple-looking-at-their-son-inside-the-box-7415039/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/empty-bedroom-set-1648768/
Article provided by Tanya Douglas; tanya@eastcoasthaul.com