Getting started with childcare interior design is a deceptively difficult task. It seems as though it would be easy; just throw down some tables & chairs, put up some picture and you’re set, right?
Well, not exactly.
Young kids require a daycare interior design that is both aesthetically stimulating and functionally logical for their young minds. In essence, they require a design that is safe and comfortable.
But how can you bring this design to fruition?
Here are 5 tips for daycare interior design.
1. Keep It on the Down Low
One of the key things to remember when designing the interior of a childcare center is that kids are short. And as such, they aren’t going to be able to access anything above around 3 feet in the air.
For this reason, it’s important to keep everything in the daycare as close to the ground as possible.
Low-sitting storage cubbies, tables, chairs, and otherwise will work best for young children.
Anything placed above 3 feet is reserved solely for childare workers and other adults.
2. Use Cushioned Furniture
Kids are clumsy and fragile. They are far more susceptible to injury than are adults.
You never know when a child in your daycare may trip and fall into something within the room. Avoid furniture with sharp edges as much as possible.
It’s wise to make use of cushioned furniture such as bean bags, padded chairs, and otherwise to reduce the risk of injury to the kids you’re watching.
Not to mention, cushioned furniture is just more comfortable than hard furniture.
Keep in mind that cushioned is not the same as soft. Always make sure that the furniture you choose is a wipeable or cleanable surface to prevent the spreading or germs and diseases.
3. Make It Colorful
Kids will have plenty of time for dull, white-lit rooms when they grow up and start working in offices. Until then, they’re best served by a wide variety of bright colors.
There are a number of reasons kids enjoy colors. Not only does a wide variety of colors improve a child’s mood, but it also helps them to identify specific objects.
Use plenty of colorful wall decorations. Pick a carpet that’s visually stimulating. Just nix the black and white, and go for a wide variety of colors instead.
4. Set Aside an Area for Quiet Time
Kids are prone to becoming overwhelmed. When they become overwhelmed, they often need to seek solace in a quiet area.
Make sure to have a generally quiet area included in your daycare for exhausted and confused kids to seek refuge in.
It’s wise to stock the quiet area with cushioned and comfortable furniture.
5. Eliminate Clutter
Everyone hates clutter. It’s confusing, irritating, overwhelming, and a variety of other adjectives. For kids, it’s doubly so.
Children’s brains have not yet developed enough to easily handle the stimulation of clutter and disorganization. For this reason, it needs to be eliminated as much as possible.
Do your best to keep your classroom functions open and separated. Divide it into different sections such as the quiet area, the work area, and the eating area, and make sure those different areas are distinguishable from one another.
Proper Childcare Interior Design can certainly be challenging. If you’re struggling to set your childcare center up so that it’s both aesthetically pleasing and functionally practical, we here at Calbert Design Group can help.
Our team of designers, planners, and architects has the knowledge and resources needed to create a daycare interior design that is both visually impressive and logical.
Contact us today to get your childcare interior design project started.
-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.
