As you dream about how you want your childcare center to look, gather design inspiration ideas and photos of what you like. Inspiration photos can be gathered from a number of sources. We recommend using an idea collecting website like Pinterest or Houzz to create an idea book that can be shared with your design team. This is a good way to make sure that when you describe the style of building you want, there are no misunderstandings. It also eliminates the need for you to label your style. You make think that you like Farmhouse style when really your vision is more Craftsman style. By collecting inspiration images, it no longer matters what name or labels are used to identify your thoughts.
Inspiration from Pinterest and Houzz:
When collecting ideas on Pinterest and Houzz, make notes about what you like about the image. It may be an image of a restroom with a pretty gray tile that you want to use in your Reception area. Write a note to remind you, and your design team, what it is exactly about this photo that you like and where you think it might be used appropriately. A simple note stating “gray tile for reception” is all you need. Don’t worry about what type of building your inspiration comes from. You may find you like a brick and stone combination from a house image, a porch column trim idea from a swimming pool gazebo, and a reception desk cabinet and countertop from a kitchen image. Let your imagination stretch beyond the building type and think about how that idea can be reinterpreted for your childcare center’s design.
Collecting Inspiration from multiple websites:
The web is a great resource for inspiration. If the photos you’ve collected are from many different sources, we recommend that you save the photos into a shared folder on the cloud so that it can be shared with your design team. Each image has a location for writing a description as well, leave your notes about what you love in this area so that others will know your thoughts.
Always include notes about your photos. The design inspiration gathering phase can be a long phase. Childcare owners tend to dream about what their school is going to look like long before they even have a parcel of land selected. Over time you will have forgotten what you originally liked about an image. The notes section is there to remind you what you were thinking at the time. As your style tastes change over time, having the notes handy will help you weed out ideas that you no longer favor. Removing photos that no longer apply will help you focus on the elements that you will ultimately include in the final design.
-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.
From Vision to Reality: Using Design Inspiration to Create a Unique Childcare Center
Imagine you’re standing at the edge of a vast, blank canvas. You have this vision of a childcare center—one that’s welcoming, playful, and utterly unique. But how do you go from that dream in your head to a concrete design that feels just right? It’s a bit like putting together a jigsaw puzzle, except the pieces are scattered across the internet, hiding in photos of homes, restaurants, and even swimming pool gazebos. This is where design inspiration comes in, and lucky for us, the modern-day treasure troves known as Pinterest and Houzz are here to help.
Let’s be honest: trying to describe your dream center with words alone is like trying to explain the taste of chocolate without actually tasting it. You might call your style “Farmhouse,” but what if it’s actually closer to “Craftsman”? Rather than getting caught up in labels, let your inspiration photos do the talking. Create an idea book on Pinterest or Houzz and gather photos of anything that speaks to you. Maybe it’s the tile from a swanky bathroom that you think would look amazing in the reception area. Jot down a quick note: “gray tile for reception,” and voilà—you’ve communicated an idea without a single design degree.
And don’t limit yourself to just childcare buildings. Find that perfect brick and stone combo from a cottage photo? Snag it. Love the trim on a porch gazebo? Bring it into your vision for the outdoor play area. The key here is to think beyond the obvious and let your creativity run wild. The magic of designing a childcare center is that the inspiration can come from anywhere. The challenge is how you reinterpret it to fit a space where little humans will laugh, play, and grow.
Now, let’s talk organization. You’ll soon realize that as you gather more ideas from multiple sources, it can get overwhelming. This is where the cloud becomes your best friend. Create a shared folder where all your images can live in one place, and don’t forget to include those all-important notes. Trust me, in six months when you’re knee-deep in construction plans, you’ll be thanking your past self for that note reminding you why you loved that kitchen countertop for the reception desk.
Finally, remember that inspiration is an evolving process. You might start with one vision, but as time passes, your tastes may shift. That’s perfectly normal! Keep reviewing your collection of photos, and don’t be afraid to delete images that no longer feel right. The goal is to narrow down your ideas until you’re left with the gems—the elements that will make your childcare center not just functional, but special.
In the end, designing a childcare center is like curating a gallery. Each piece has a story, a reason for being there. And the best part? You get to be the storyteller, using images and inspiration to bring your vision to life.
