A finished basement is an ideal place for a kid’s playroom. The noise and clutter that naturally follows children can be kept out of the rest of the home and kids won’t cause damage to costly furnishings upstairs.

Safety Concerns

Besides creating a fun decor, you should of course consider safety. Wall-to-wall carpeting with thick padding beneath can help cushion falls. Since children are prone to allergies, cork may be the best option for kid-friendly flooring. Cork flooring is naturally cushioned hypoallergenic, resists pet hair and dust, is easy to maintain and moisture resistant.

Avoid area rugs that can be a tripping hazard and steer clear of tables with sharp corners or glass tops. Also be careful to store any hazardous or poisonous materials in a locked cabinet. Then turn your attention to making the room colorful and fun!

Lighting and Furniture

It is no mistake that Big Bird and Barney the dinosaur are big and colorful. These characteristics help to maintain the attention of youngsters. Paint the walls a bright hue of your child’s favorite color, and then add some fun discount wall art or appliques of favorite theme characters. Include colorful furniture and cheerful accessories in the room: Bean bags, floor cushions and comfortable furniture with forgiving fabrics are ideal for reading, relaxing, or watching TV. You can transform adult-height furnishings into child-size furnishings. Trim off a few inches of a wooden garden bench and add some comfortable cushions on top. You can also remove a few inches from an adult-size table making it just the right size for coloring, drawing and crafting.

Lighting is particularly important when creating a playroom in a basement, since tiny basement windows limit the amount of sunlight that enters the room. Use light-colored and lightweight window treatments with a cheery color and design to maximize the amount of natural light that can enter the room. Supplement natural light with track lighting and recessed lighting. Floor lamps and table lamps are more prone to being knocked over, potentially causing injury.

Affordable Storage & Decor

Even a room that is dedicated to play time can become overrun with games, toys, game pieces and arts and crafts supplies. Discount stores offer affordable shelving that can be outfitted with plastic bins and tubs to organize toys, books and odds and ends. Be sure that the shelves are not so high that the kids can’t reach them and for safety’s sake, they must not be top heavy. If in doubt, attach free standing shelves to the wall. Popcorn tins, ice cream tubs and clean cat litter buckets can stand-in for more expensive specialty storage bins. Paint them or add decals to make them part of the décor. Repurpose a old chest or trunk as a toy bin; removing the hinged lid will make it easy for the kids to use and will make it less likely to pinch tiny fingers.

Decorate the room with wall decor made by the kids, being sure to hang it at the child’s eye level. Frame favorite drawings and finger paintings with brightly colored frames. Make a collage of sports team photos, ribbons and medals or special achievement awards. Frame photos of family, friends and teammates and use them to decorate shelves or table tops. Vinyl or wood letters spelling your child’s name, the ABC’s or favorite games and activities can brighten walls as well. Make it fun and choose decor that reflect your child’s personality and interests.

All text copyright Shanel.Photo from Flikr - "Playroom" courtesy of tiffanywashko.