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School starts soon, and I’m sure parents and teachers are hoping it goes smoothly. However, the one thing the past several years have shown us is that we are reimagining our homes and what we do in them, adapting them to our needs. I’m a big believer in having a designated play area for kids and creating different zones in your home.

When designing a kid’s playroom, think about what it is like to be a kid and, more importantly, what your kids like. There are a lot of possibilities, but the three essential factors to consider are performance, safety and practicality.

Kids will be kids, so make sure you choose durable and washable products. When working with children, scratch-resistant flooring, like vinyl or laminate, is always a good choice. Hardwood or engineered hardwood is not ideal as it is pricey, can scratch, and costs more to replace.

I like carpeting too but it can get stained over time. Fortunately, carpeting now comes in tile format, which can easily be replaced and is available in various styles and colours in case of a stain. Another good choice is hypoallergenic carpeting if you have kids with allergies. Not to mention, the carpeting provides a soft, cosy surface that can also help absorb the sound.

Storage space will help keep your kids (and you) from tripping over stuff while reducing clutter. Create hidden cubbies behind walls or under staircases for your children to store their books, crayons, and toys while conserving valuable space. If you don’t have any closets nearby, consider storage baskets or cubes on open shelves. Also, consider storage organization solutions, like cabinets, shelving, peg boards, and hanging baskets. We’ve used some great storage solutions on many of our recent episodes that are customizable, durable and easy to install in any space.

Use chalkboard paint to create a fun and versatile craft area. You can paint just a section, or an entire wall, allowing your children to scribble and write on their playroom walls without risk of damage.

Let your imagination run wild with paint colours or wallpaper. Consider doing a mural or creating a fun design using several colours as an alternative to plain painted walls. Remember, when picking paint check that it has zero to low VOCs.

Cover all of your unused electrical outlets and make sure to have tamper-resistant receptacles installed — this is a must. I have no idea why electrical outlets attract young children, but I recall repeatedly warning my son Mike Jr. not to stick anything in our outlets, which only seemed to encourage him more. He didn’t realize his error until he severely shocked himself. Make sure your room is safe from preventing electrical shocks.

Create a cool-looking playroom by introducing colour-changing LED smart bulbs and a lighting system is another great idea. Some smart lights comes with an app that helps you personalize any room, and some systems allow over 16 million hues of colour-changing ambient lighting. You can create lighting themes, such as the Northern Lights (how cool is that), or add smart bulbs to floor lamps with your child’s favourite colours.

Your kids grow up, and your playroom will probably be converted into a room for teenagers to hang out or perhaps an entertainment room down the road. Consider using door hardware that allows you to customize your look with interchangeable faceplates, handles and functionality all in one. Having interchangeable door hardware will make it easy to update the room when the time comes, like simply adding a pin lock for more privacy without replacing your entire hardware system.

The quality of the air dramatically impacts the health of your kids. Better furnace filters shield your kids’ lungs from viruses, dust mites, mould spores, and other allergens. I also think every home should have a portable air filtration system or air purifier for added protection. Some of these systems can automatically detect poor air quality and switch on to purify your air of bad odours, allergens, bacteria, and more.

Whether you design a large or small playroom for your children, the first step is to put their health and safety first. Once that’s taken care of, the area’s design should reflect their preferences and interests, because providing them with the proper space to play gives them room to grow.

Residents of the GTA can apply for Season 2 of Holmes Family Rescue at www.makeitright.ca

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