With the arrival of March, our kids have been noticing all the bulbs popping out of the soil here in Vancouver and it’s giving me hope that Spring is on its’ way! While I know we are still at least a few weeks away from the real arrival of Spring weather, these picks are good enough to get us through the last of the wintery days.
Click on any image to shop the item…
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While having a kids’ art studio is your own home may be out of reach for many people, creating an art space for children is something that you can do no matter how big or small of a space you have!
Sophie & Minji Playroom Project
“Art is a place for children to learn to trust their ideas, themselves and to explore what is possible.”
~Maryann F. Kohl
After creating art spaces in both clients’ homes and also our own home, I have learned some key takeaways about how to create a functional art space for kids.
A table space without clutter is the ideal place to start art creations. Having a clear area (can be a piece of floor!) gives kids the opportunity to start with a blank slate and let their imaginations run wild. In the same way as starting any organizing project by clearing away the clutter, having a clear area to create really is the ideal start.
Group like supplies together (i.e the corks in a jar, paint brushes together, washi tape together, egg cartons together, etc.). Giving open ended supplies (rather than craft kits with a one purpose art idea) encourages kids to use their own imagination and ideas to create. Process art (basically art that is self-directed by the child with the emphasis on discovery) is by far my favourite way to create with kids, as the focus is on the artistic experience rather than the final product. I love this type of art, especially when kids are learning (always!) and still feel like they are making ‘mistakes’ with their art; you can always alter your course when there is no end ‘product’ that needs to look a certain way! If you are working with a small space (i.e. an art corner), think about having a box tucked away in a nearby closet with key supplies to bring out when needed.
Kids Creative Art Studio Project
Harder said than done, but a relatively tidy space when starting out allows creativity to go wild! While our art space appears like a chaotic mess by the end of an art session, so much is learned in the clean up and keeping of a simple and organized space. Kids tend to treat materials with more care when they are tasked with maintaining an organized system and having items that are easy to find enables a good start to a new project. With an organized space, kids can learn to come and create more frequently and independently when the impulse (or need to decompress) arises.
This one is SO important! Making a point of keeping your children’s art on display in your home and making a point to share your joy in their projects will certainly help little ones feel proud of their contributions to your home decor. I love the Ikea Dignitet wire for a simple and easily changeable hanging solution and of course, hanging framed work or canvases of kids’ art is a lovely way to incorporate their work into your home too.
Kids Creative Art Studio Project
Art, like almost everything in life requires patience and practice. Keeping the mood happy and light and navigating new supplies together with your little ones can keep an art session from turning into a frustrating experience that ends in tears. One tip I’ve learned over the years is to provide supplies that are age appropriate - while small beads will be near impossible for toddlers to use, finger painting will likely provide a super fun, albeit messy experience. As kids spend more time practicing, they can work more and more independently.
GET THE LOOK…
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February is here and that means we are through the shortest and darkest days of the year. Hurray for that! This months’ edit is all about the everyday…things you’ll find around my home and a beautiful fair trade quilt by newcomer Kindred Baby.
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Let’s talk play tables! One of the biggest requests’ clients have when we create playrooms is to design a space that will grow with their child. Each item is chosen intentionally for the age and stage that children are in and play tables are no different. While a low kids table is ideal for toddlers and very young children, once kids are over six, I find something a little higher is slightly more comfortable.
While chairs and stools are great to have, many toddlers prefer to stand up at a table and ensuring the right size table is a good start for keeping kids interested in what’s on the table to play with. As we know, entertained toddlers are the happiest toddlers! So, in order to accommodate our youngest clients and also children over 6, I’ve rounded up my favourite play tables in two categories:
Play tables that are 20” and under; and
Play tables that are over 20” in height
Some come with chairs and some do not so we’ve included a few extra chairs sets to match these adorable tables just for kids. This play table (below) is one of our most commonly asked about tables. It’s the perfect simple white table that will last until kids are 10-12 years old. With no edges to hold in toys, this table works best for arts and crafts, games, etc. and could even be used as a desk.
SHOP THE LOOK…
Source: Courtney Nye Design
What to look for when shopping for tables:
When it comes to choosing the perfect table for your little one(s), consider the height, the number of children who can be seated at the table as well as the space you have for the table to fit in. If you are working with a small corner, consider a round table for 2-4 kids. If you have a bigger space (like above), choose a table that can accommodate more. You will find the bigger size useful for little cousins or friends, playdates or making bigger projects as kids grow.
While this really comes down to personal preference, a round table allows all children to be facing each other and is well suited to a corner situation. If given the option between a round play table or a square one (both fitting the same number of kids), I choose the round to eliminate sharp corners. A small rectangular table can be placed against a wall and a larger rectangular table can be great for two kids working at each end; especially useful to give kids their own independent space or for arguing toddlers (speaking from experience here!).
Whether modern or traditional, or a different style all together, a play table can fit with your other home decor beautifully if you choose carefully. I love a simple white table because it is easy to clean and most marks can be removed without changing the colour.
Now that you’ve considered all of the different angles of the perfect play table for you, here are our favourites!
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Big blank walls can be intimidating, but they don’t have to be! Here are my tried and true ways to turn a blank wall into something special for a nursery, child’s bedroom or play space!
Wallpaper provides instant gratification and BIG impact. I mean, why not?! Kids’ spaces are the perfect opportunity to do something temporary or different than you would do in other parts of your home and it is FUN! Why not try a bold pattern? Or a print that really speaks to you in this moment? While old traditional wallpaper can be difficult to remove, the new paste on wallpaper is relatively simple to remove and there are SO many peel and stick options now that there really is no good reason to skip this fun trend. If you haven’t already, see our roundup of favourite wallpapers that will transform any blank wall in sight.
A huge piece of art, large letters, a big storage unit, even a fireplace - these all add a point of focus when you walk in the room. Try to make the key focus the wall opposite where you enter the room to give the most immediate eye catching detail.
You know I love them and they fill a wall so well! You can choose a simple grid pattern or get creative and create a more eclectic gallery wall; both will work equally well to decorate a blank wall and add personality. A quick tip for keeping gallery walls cohesive is to space the frames 2-3 inches apart.
Serving dual purposes of decoration and adding functional storage, a storage unit or shelving can be a lovely way to fill a blank wall! If you are wanting the most storage, consider at least one part closed storage while leaving some shelving open for styling favourite objects or rotating seasonal toys. I love using a mix of open and closed shelving to fill a huge wall, like we did in the playroom below.
The most affordable way by far to decorate a blank wall is to get creative with paint. There really are SO many options - a bold colour, a half wall, a mountain scene, a mural! This is the perfect opportunity to try your hand with paint and an interesting colour.
Source: Room to Bloom
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