Playrooms are a boon if you have busy, boisterous toddlers at home. They can be designed with a whole lot of imagination but care should be taken to see that they are child-friendly, provide a safe environment for your kids and help in boosting their creativity.
One of the most important aspects of playroom decoration is the flooring. It is important that you take every precaution while choosing the right kind of flooring, mainly because your child will spend more time on the floor than anywhere else. Keep in mind your child's likes and dislikes while designing the playroom, as that is where he will spend a majority of his waking hours. The flooring needs to be comfortable and safe for the children. Ensure that it is easy to clean, especially with activities like eating, painting, arts, and crafts all taking place on the floor!
Vinyl Tiles
Vinyl tiles are a better option than wooden flooring, since they can be cleaned easily with a damp cloth. Vinyl flooring is also easy to install and is available in an assortment of colors.
Carpet Tiles
Covering the playroom floors with a carpet is probably not a good idea since any kind of spillage would be difficult to clean without involving harsh chemicals. Use carpet tiles instead, they are not as expensive, can be cleaned easily and can be placed over hard surfaces. They are even easy to replace, in case a tile gets damaged. If you would still like to go in for carpets, choose low-nap carpets. These are relatively low-maintenance, and can be vacuumed like the regular carpets. Do not choose colors that will make every stain visible, instead opt for earthy colors in brown or gray undertones.
Rubber/Foam Tiles
A popular and fairly inexpensive option is using rubber or foam tiles. They are durable, easy to clean, come in interlocking pieces, and available in a wide range of colors. Choose vibrant colors that will liven up the playroom environment. An added advantage is, such tiles cushion your child's fall, so you do not have to bother about any cuts and bruises or scraped knees and elbows! You can even choose tiles which have animal patterns or alphabets and numbers printed on them. They can spruce up your child's interest in learning new things.
Area Rugs
Another option is using area rugs on wooden floors. Use rugs which blend in well with the playroom decor and furnishing, or use ones that have brightly painted scenes on them to give the room a cheerful look. Being in a playroom, they can get soiled very easily. Use ones that are easy to wash (steam cleaning is a safer option) or cheap enough that they can be thrown out and replaced with new ones. You can also use non-slip and washable rugs. Rugs and floor mats can also be used in places to cover up prominently stained areas. You can probably divide the room in separate zones for different activities - like having a part of the room free of any carpets, and the other half lined up with rugs. The uncovered part can be used for craft and modeling activities, which are more likely to cause spills and stains. The carpeted area can be used for reading, playing with building blocks, etc.
Avoid linoleum flooring, as it has a slick and hard surface, which can easily hurt children if they happen to trip and fall. Avoid any kind of flooring that is not skid-resistant, especially if you have toddlers who still have a wobbly gait. Remember to use flooring that is not only in harmony with the entire playroom design, but is also kid-friendly and reflects your child's personality. As your toddler grows up, you may want to change the flooring to suit his or her choice, by progressing to a more mature design that is both fun and contemporary.
One of the most important aspects of playroom decoration is the flooring. It is important that you take every precaution while choosing the right kind of flooring, mainly because your child will spend more time on the floor than anywhere else. Keep in mind your child's likes and dislikes while designing the playroom, as that is where he will spend a majority of his waking hours. The flooring needs to be comfortable and safe for the children. Ensure that it is easy to clean, especially with activities like eating, painting, arts, and crafts all taking place on the floor!
Vinyl Tiles
Vinyl tiles are a better option than wooden flooring, since they can be cleaned easily with a damp cloth. Vinyl flooring is also easy to install and is available in an assortment of colors.
Carpet Tiles
Covering the playroom floors with a carpet is probably not a good idea since any kind of spillage would be difficult to clean without involving harsh chemicals. Use carpet tiles instead, they are not as expensive, can be cleaned easily and can be placed over hard surfaces. They are even easy to replace, in case a tile gets damaged. If you would still like to go in for carpets, choose low-nap carpets. These are relatively low-maintenance, and can be vacuumed like the regular carpets. Do not choose colors that will make every stain visible, instead opt for earthy colors in brown or gray undertones.
Rubber/Foam Tiles
A popular and fairly inexpensive option is using rubber or foam tiles. They are durable, easy to clean, come in interlocking pieces, and available in a wide range of colors. Choose vibrant colors that will liven up the playroom environment. An added advantage is, such tiles cushion your child's fall, so you do not have to bother about any cuts and bruises or scraped knees and elbows! You can even choose tiles which have animal patterns or alphabets and numbers printed on them. They can spruce up your child's interest in learning new things.
Area Rugs
Another option is using area rugs on wooden floors. Use rugs which blend in well with the playroom decor and furnishing, or use ones that have brightly painted scenes on them to give the room a cheerful look. Being in a playroom, they can get soiled very easily. Use ones that are easy to wash (steam cleaning is a safer option) or cheap enough that they can be thrown out and replaced with new ones. You can also use non-slip and washable rugs. Rugs and floor mats can also be used in places to cover up prominently stained areas. You can probably divide the room in separate zones for different activities - like having a part of the room free of any carpets, and the other half lined up with rugs. The uncovered part can be used for craft and modeling activities, which are more likely to cause spills and stains. The carpeted area can be used for reading, playing with building blocks, etc.
Avoid linoleum flooring, as it has a slick and hard surface, which can easily hurt children if they happen to trip and fall. Avoid any kind of flooring that is not skid-resistant, especially if you have toddlers who still have a wobbly gait. Remember to use flooring that is not only in harmony with the entire playroom design, but is also kid-friendly and reflects your child's personality. As your toddler grows up, you may want to change the flooring to suit his or her choice, by progressing to a more mature design that is both fun and contemporary.
