Tips on Creating a Green Playroom for the Home

No, this isn't a treatise on how to paint your playroom walls green - although it's certainly an option as well as a very nice, versatile color. No, this is how to create a child's playroom using earth friendly alternatives. If you’re a parent who wants to go green for both the environment and your children’s health, here are some tips to help you decorate and furnish a playroom the eco-friendly way. Your children will be able to play in an area that is healthier for their bodies and a playroom done over in an eco-friendly format is likely to become a selling point if you decide to market your home in the future.

The floor of the playroom should be done over in an easy to clean, natural material, such as bamboo or cork, both sustainable alternatives. If you’re after a warmer touch, consider scattering natural fiber rugs around. They are both more sustainable than a new carpet (especially if you make or reuse them) and easier to clean.

The walls should be painted with a low- or no-VOC (volatile organic compounds – very bad for lungs of all sizes!) paint, or covered with earth friendly wallpaper, sustainable natural products or fabric. One terrific option is painting with chalkboard paint, something that allows the kids to unleash their creativity on the walls without rousing parental wrath!

Lighting should be ample. Energy efficient compact fluorescent or low level LED light bulbs will give you the best bang for your buck. A playroom should have a mix of overhead and close lighting. A couple of good reading lamps will provide light for both reading and craft projects.

Furniture should be mixed for big and little users. Re use old couches, chairs and tables – they can be made to fall in with a room’s décor with a coat of paint. You can repurpose old clothes and leftover fabric to make pillows and patches for old upholstery. Consider making your own bean bags and filling them with recycled Styrofoam bits that come in packaging of various items or may be got cheap or free from local stores. Plenty of bins and shelving will help contain toys and craft supplies and lessen clean up time.

While toys, craft supplies and books are important parts of a playroom’s appeal, don’t rush out to buy them new. Many popular books can be found in secondhand shops. Stuffed toys can be found in secondhand stores as well – run them through the washer before giving them to children.

Crafts are another area where you can go green. Instead of buying construction paper, consider reusing things that already come into the home, such as cardboard boxes and newspaper. There are a number of instructions on the Internet that will teach you how to make a nontoxic “play-dough” from household baking ingredients.

After expending a lot of time and effort to make your playroom eco-friendly, it doesn’t make much sense to use a bunch of chemicals to clean it. Most cleaning can be done with water, rags, a broom and a mop. For more serious cleaning, consider natural products like enzyme or orange oil cleaners. Many natural cleaners leave behind a pleasant scent as well.

Congratulations on choosing the green alternative for your children’s play area! You are helping out the environment and creating a cleaner, healthier atmosphere for your children. With more parents looking for earth-conscious living spaces, a playroom done over in an environmentally friendly way will also be a good marketing point if you choose to sell your home in future.