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Child care center interior design is often an afterthought when preparing a new center. When we think of child care centers, we think of kids running on a playground, or playing with toys in a carpeted room.

But rarely, if at all, do we stop to consider the importance of interior design in children’s lives. Which really we should since the child care industry is such a growing field. You’re going to face a lot of competition and need to stand out.

After all, a building’s design sets its mood. No parent would want to bring their child to a dark, dilapidated building. It’s essential that your design is focused on creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Not sure where to begin? Here are some tips on child care center interior design that will delight children and adults alike.

Establish A Cohesive Theme

Have you ever walked into an area of a building that didn’t seem to mesh with the rest? Maybe it had a different color scheme or even a separate room shape.

Odds are the architect and client didn’t have a cohesive design in mind during the process. As a result, two different people expressed their visions in two very different ways.

The basic rules of design still apply to child care center interior design, to establish a single theme for the entire center. Not only will a fractured design look bad, but it may also confuse the children, resulting in wandering.

A quick word of warning, though. Some of the most popular designs revolve around the use of famous cartoon characters.

Sure, they’re cute. But copyright law suggests that you should think twice about painting Mickey Mouse on your wall.

Keep Your Child Care Center Interior Design Bright

A child care center needs to be someplace that parents and kids can both feel comfortable. The perfect care center creates a warm, homey atmosphere that can be felt the moment people enter the door.

One of the best (and oldest) ways to do this is through your color scheme. Pick bright, fun colors to set a mood. Check out some research on color psychology to learn how different colors affect moods differently and work from there.

Be Careful with Furniture

Of course, design and color are only part of the atmosphere. You’re going to need furniture — and lots of it. And as anyone who has spent time around kids can tell you…don’t expect it to last too long.

When shopping for furniture, make sure to keep a few factors in mind.

Are there any sharp edges where a child can accidentally hurt themselves?

Try and buy furniture with rounded edges to avoid any injuries. Generally speaking, the fewer the corners, the better.

Is the furniture comfortable?

Be it a rug or a couch, whatever you pick needs to be comfortable as well as safe. Kids are going to spend a lot of time on this furniture, so test it with them in mind.

What is the furniture made of?

You’re going to need to clean your furniture several times a day, make sure it’s made of a durable enough material that it won’t deteriorate quickly.

Want Expert Help With Your Child Care Center Interior Design?

There’s a lot of thought and care that goes into creating a great child care center. And sometimes, it’s best left to the professionals.

If you could use some help designing the perfect interiors for your child care center, get in touch! Whether your scope is big or small, we’d love to help you bring your vision to life.

-This article was written by Rebecca Calbert. 

Rebecca is a licensed architect with over 30 years of experience.  She owns and operates an architectural firm, Calbert Design Group,  and educates her clients through the commercial real estate development process with online content at SaveOnBuilding.com.  Rebecca’s “purpose” is to educate small business owners and protect them from what they don’t know.

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