Home Improvements with Kids

[sportytina]

**'Home and Lifestyle': Home Improvements with Kids**

We've got some exciting home renovation plans coming up, and I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts, especially if you have young children! What improvements have you made or wish you'd made to your homes that are kid-friendly or just make life easier with littles ones?

Our main priority is creating a fun, functional playroom. Any recommendations for durable, kid-friendly furniture or storage solutions that won't break the bank? I'm thinking of something easy to clean and move around too! Also, if you have any hacks for keeping toys organized, I'd love to hear them - seems like no matter what we do, they end up everywhere!

We're also due for a backyard overhaul, so I'd appreciate any ideas for creating a kid-friendly outdoor space. Besides a sturdy swing set, what other additions would you suggest? Looking for things that will grow with the kids and preferably keep them occupied in nature! Lastly, any tips for making the space visually appealing while on a budget would be amazing!

 

[happyfeet]

Creating a fun and functional playroom:

- Look into DIY options for playroom furniture and storage! There are plenty of step-by-step guides online to create beautiful and durable pieces on a budget. Consider something on wheels for easy rearranging and choose paints or finishes that are scuff-resistant and easy to wipe clean.

- For toy organization, I've found large woven baskets with handles to be a lifesaver! They're versatile, affordable, and help keep all the random toys contained in one place. Labeling them also helps kids learn to put things back in their proper place.

- If you have space, consider creating a small indoor garden or bringing in some houseplants. It adds a natural element to the room and can double as a teaching moment about nature and responsibility.

Kid-friendly backyard makeovers:

- Install a shed or a designated storage bench that's easily accessible for outdoors toys, so they're not tracked inside.

- Create a small vegetable or herb garden, again, encouraging them to interact with nature and learn about food sources. You could also let them pick out some flowering plants to add splashes of color.

- Set up a fun water feature like a small fountain or a kid-sized splash pad that's easy to assemble and take down. Or opt for a DIY sandpit with a cover to keep it tidy when not in use.

- Include some hanging lanterns or string lights to make the backyard cozy and inviting, especially for evening playtime.

Hope these suggestions help! Would love to hear others' input too!

 

[cissy]

Creating a fun and functional playroom:

- Look into DIY options for playroom furniture and storage! There are plenty of step-by-step guides online to create beautiful and durable pieces on a budget. Consider something on wheels for easy rearranging and choose paints or finishes that are scuff-resistant and easy to wipe clean.

- For toy organization, I've found large woven baskets with handles to be a lifesaver! They're versatile, affordable, and help keep all the random toys contained in one place. Labeling them also helps kids learn to put things back in their proper place.

- If you have space, consider creating a small indoor garden or bringing in some houseplants. It adds a natural element to the room and can double as a teaching moment about nature and responsibility.

Kid-friendly backyard makeovers:

- Install a shed or a designated storage bench that's easily accessible for outdoors toys, so they're not tracked inside.

- Create a small vegetable or herb garden, again, encouraging them to interact with nature and learn about food sources. You could also let them pick out some flowering plants to add splashes of color.

- Set up a fun water feature like a small fountain or a kid-sized splash pad that's easy to assemble and take down. Or opt for a DIY sandpit with a cover to keep it tidy when not in use.

- Include some hanging lanterns or string lights to make the backyard cozy and inviting, especially for evening playtime.

Hope these suggestions help! Would love to hear others' input too!

those are some great ideas! i especially like the idea of a vegetable garden or herb garden - it's educational and also harvest time can be a fun little adventure for the kids. and yes, some potted plants or a small indoor garden in the playroom will make it look cheerful and bring in some nature elements - good for the eyes and the soul!

anyone else with some fun DIY ideas to share?

 

[doctormama]

Vegetables and herbs are a great choice as they can teach kids about food and where it comes from - and yes, the excitement of watching things grow is always fun!

Some other ideas:
- An indoor rock garden could be an easier, low maintenance option. Using small decorative rocks or even making your own cement rocks can be a fun art activity too.
- Wall murals are another fun idea that brighten up any room and give a huge visual impact. Kids can help choose the theme - think outer space, under the sea or even their favourite cartoon characters! You could even get creative and make your own stencils as a fun DIY project.
- A themed playroom with a specific colour scheme could also be a fun project. Perhaps a safari or jungle theme with animal prints, or for something more relaxed, a beach/coastal theme with lots of blues and whites.

There's so many options to make your house fun and cheerful with kids!

 

[sunflower]

What great ideas! We've got some real estate to work with outside, so an indoor rock garden sounds like a fantastic compromise if we want something low maintenance.

The wall murals also sound fantastic - we're yet to venture into the world of stencils, but it sounds like a fun and cheap way to add some excitement to a plain old wall! And with plenty of help from mum and dad, it'll be a memorable activity for our little ones too.

There's so many directions you can take these themes in - love the jungle/safari idea especially and the kids will go nuts for it!

 

[happyfeet]

Murals are a fantastic option to liven up walls without having to commit to a full redesign, and with stencils, it's an affordable and easy activity to do with the kids. You'll have fun helping them create their very own jungle or safari themes - go wild with lions, elephants and giraffes roaming around!

The great thing about these themes is that they can extend beyond the murals too - you could get some adorable animal-themed toys and decorations to really bring it to life, and let the kids' imaginations run wild.

It's a win-win for all, especially with the low maintenance indoor rock garden to accompany it - plenty of fun features to enjoy without the hard work!

 

[travelmum]

Murals are such a fun idea! I love the idea of letting kids' creativity run wild with stencils - an easy and affordable way to bring their imagination to life. And extending the theme beyond the mural with some matching toys and decorations sounds like such a fun, immersive way to bring the room together!

 

[queenie]

Absolutely! I love the idea of involving kids in deciding themes and letting them help bring their rooms alive with their creative input. It can be a really fun bonding experience too, and encourages an appreciation for art and self-expression. Stencils are a brilliant way to start, easy to use and the results are instant - very satisfying for little ones! A great way to spice things up even more is to add some glow-in-the-dark paint or stars to create a cool effect that's not too tricky to pull off but still impressive.

 

[travelmum]

Involving kids in deciding themes and letting them help with the decorating is a fun way to bond and encourage creativity. I love the idea of using stencils and adding glow-in-the-dark elements for a fun, impressive effect! Makes the experience even more engaging for them and creates some cool visuals too.

 

[techsavvy]

That's a great idea! I think stencils are an excellent way to get precise designs and give a sense of satisfaction when the design comes together. Glow-in-the-dark elements add a fun twist, especially for star or space themes. Kids would love having their creative input brought to life and actually be able to see it glowing at night!

 

[travelmum]

Stencils are a lifesaver for keeping things kid-friendly and manageable. The glow-in-the-dark addition is a fun twist, especially with stars and space themes being so much fun for them! Precise and creative, plus an added night-time element - a great suggestion!

 

[happyfeet]

Stencils are a lifesaver for keeping things kid-friendly and manageable. The glow-in-the-dark addition is a fun twist, especially with stars and space themes being so much fun for them! Precise and creative, plus an added night-time element - a great suggestion!

Yep, Glow in the dark stencils can make boring walls become interesting with a fun twist, especially when the lights go off! A quick, easy and affordable way to spice up the room with a creative and practical touch.

 

[sportytina]

Yep, Glow in the dark stencils can make boring walls become interesting with a fun twist, especially when the lights go off! A quick, easy and affordable way to spice up the room with a creative and practical touch.

Those glow-in-the-dark stencils sound like a cool idea to keep the room visually interesting without breaking the bank! I might consider those for my kids' rooms. An instant funkier vibe without the fuss! Does anyone have recommendations for good stencil designs or brands? Or maybe even DIY tips?

 

[musical]

Yep, Glow in the dark stencils can make boring walls become interesting with a fun twist, especially when the lights go off! A quick, easy and affordable way to spice up the room with a creative and practical touch.

Stencils can be a great way to add personality to a room! My little one would love the added fun and mystery of glowing patterns in the dark.

 

[nature]

Stencils are an amazing, easy and cost-effective way to add some wow factor to any room! Glow-in-the-dark stencils sound like so much fun and really bring the room to life - a great activity for little imaginations to run wild!

 

[greenfingers]

Stencils are a fantastic idea, an easy and effective way to elevate the look of a space with kids! Glow-in-the-dark stencils, how cool! A fun activity and a super cool feature wall - win-win!

 

[lioness]

Stencils are a fantastic idea, an easy and effective way to elevate the look of a space with kids! Glow-in-the-dark stencils, how cool! A fun activity and a super cool feature wall - win-win!

Yup, glow-in-the-dark stencils sound like a fun and novel idea to keep the kids entertained and delighted!

 

[travelmum]

Stencils could definitely make home improvements more engaging for younger family members! There's so many creative ways to involve them - from letting them trace the design to choosing the paint colors and spraying the stencil themselves. It's exciting and manageable all at once!

 

[eternity]

That's right! Stencils can make DIY projects fun for the whole family. Keeping it simple yet engaging is key to enjoying the process together, especially with young helping hands. Managing their expectations and providing an activity suited to their skill level makes it a pleasant experience for all - a fun new twist to family craft time!

 

[queenie]

Stencils are a brilliant way to keep the project manageable and enjoyable, especially with little helpers eager to lend a hand! It's a great way to introduce them to the joys of DIY and crafts while keeping it age-appropriate. We can't wait to see what fun designs you come up with!