Ideas for Redoing a Playroom

Cork Floor

• Carpeting is a traditional choice for playroom floors, but it is not the only one. If you'd like to replace that playroom carpet with an environmentally sustainable alternative, install cork. Cork flooring is soft enough for children to play on and is easier to clean than carpet. In addition, cork does not trap allergens such as dust, ragweed and pet dander. The flooring material is made without killing the cork tree, so using cork floor does not contribute to deforestation. It is also an insulator for both sound and heat, so it will cut down on your heating costs and decrease the sound of your kids tromping around.

Theme Painting

• As your children's interests change, redo the playroom to fit their preferences. If your children are interested in dinosaurs, paint a jungle theme along the baseboards with simple trees and volcanoes, then let them paint in dinosaurs. Add posters from natural history museums and other dinosaur-themed decor. If your kids are into sports, paint the walls the colors of their favorite sports team and add pennants, balls and other sports memorabilia. If you have several children with different interests, allow each child to decorate a portion of the room. Even if you leave everything else the same, new paint will give the room a fresh feel.

Game Room

• As your kids get older, turn a toddler- friendly playroom into a family-friendly game room. Replace children's play furniture with furniture comfortable for both kids and adults. Add couches, bean bag chairs and low recliners. Include a coffee table or mid-height game table. Install shelves for games and books. Decorate the walls with interesting posters such as world maps or nature panoramas, or with jigsaw puzzles that were assembled by the family.