If you had the extra room your toddler would be delighted to have their own specially designated play area, decorated and equipped specifically for the purposes of play. Their bedroom or part of it will do but it's even more fun if you have enough room in your house to have a play room. For some ideas on decorating your toddler's play room or space, read on.
Of course the first thing that might spring to your mind when you start considering creating a play space is toys. Before you get started there however, you are going to need some storage for them. You don't want to have all the toys out on view all the time. If there are too many things for the child to choose from, he or she will be over stimulated or have trouble focusing on any particular activity. It is always best to keep the décor simple. So keep most of the toys stored in an attractively painted cupboard or chest, and just bring out a few at a time.
Toy Storage Chest
Liven up the walls with some pictures. These don't have to be expensive, just some posters, or pictures from magazines, and of course the child's own art work, are perfect. You might also want to add a bought frieze or stickers, and perhaps something with the alphabet on it, just for an educational touch! Don't forget the ceiling, especially if it's a bedroom, because a nice idea is to add some glow-in-the-dark stickers, maybe of stars and moons.
Keeping in mind that your toddler is going to be spending a lot of time playing on the floor, an area rug would be a splendid idea. There are lots of different children's designs of rugs available on the market these days. Some of these rugs can even add to the play experience, such as ones with roads on them that the child can drive toy cars around. Whatever the theme of the play area, you will be able to find a rug to suit; fairies, cars, animals, sport, teddy bears, pirates, and much more. You could even have your educational alphabet on a rug!
Every play area should have a quiet space, with a comfy chair or bean bag and some books, and maybe a cosy rug or cushions. You will also want to have somewhere for those teddy bears to live! One good storage idea for these is a hammock, strung across a corner or side of the room.
Toddlers love to dress up, so find room for a dress up box. It is a good idea to have a small table and chairs, too, which the toddler can use for sitting down and drawing, or for tea parties.
If you want an overall look for the play area, choose a color scheme, such as pink and white or primary colors, and pick these out in the paintwork and soft furnishings. Or you could choose a theme such as fairies or pirates, and pick these out in the cushions, rug, pictures and so on.
So, plan ahead, and you will have a space where your toddler will feel happy and comfortable and where he or she will want to play for hours.