Inspiration

How to create a colourful and carefree child’s corner

Find out how to recreate this carefree, colourful – but not overpowering – child’s play corner with these painting and decorating tips and tricks. With children’s favourite games, toys and craft materials at hand in easily accessible storage, let the fun begin!

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How to create a fun and stimulating playroom

A playroom or play area is just the place to cut loose and have some fun when deciding on a colour scheme and style direction. Kids love to play, so creating a fun, safe and stimulating space for your little ones is the number-one priority here. It doesn’t matter if the area is a large, separate space or just a little nook full of toys and books – you can turn it into a much-loved and well-used spot where the kids will be happily absorbed, with everything they need readily to hand.

  • Stow it! To ensure the play space functions well, work out what activities your children are likely to do and then figure out how much storage this entails, then add a bit more – you can never have too much storage!
  • A small table setting is the perfect spot for little ones and their buddies to do their colouring and drawing, paste, stick, tape, mould play-doh… and just be creative.
  • This gelato-coloured scheme of lolly pink (Resene Illusion) and pale aqua (Resene Riptide) has been teamed with a white floor and pops of black to make a fresh, happy space which is still easy on the eye. The paint effect on the wall was created using painter’s masking tape; the triangle is 2.4 metres high and 1.2 metres wide at its widest point.

YH0616_RESENEkids_ResenesJuneKidsCnr_3Easy weekend projects to tackle

  • Give white picture frames a new, modern look by painting them in colours to coordinate with the room. Create your design using painter’s tape and apply two coats of Resene Lustacryl for a semi-gloss look, or Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen paint for a softer look.
  • As well as prints, consider framing children’s artwork, postcards and favourite greeting cards – even a sheet of gorgeous wrapping paper looks fabulous when framed.

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  • Give plain stools a fun makeover by adding colour to the tops and painting the legs with a ‘dipped’ effect. Measure 10cm from the bottom of each leg and mark around with a pencil. Place masking tape along top of pencil marks and apply two coats of Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel paint to each leg. For the tops, mask around the sides of each seat and apply two coats of the same paint.

How to get the look

Walls, stools, bookcase and picture fames painted in Resene ‘Riptide’, Resene ‘Illusion’, Resene Lustacryl (semi-gloss finish) and Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen (low sheen finish). Hudson table and stool set, $99.95, from Mocka; cat wall decals on floor, $45 for a pack of 48, and ‘Alphacats’ A3 print, $45 unframed, both from onehundredpercentheart.com; ice cream play set on table, $6, elephant, $10, heart marquee light, $12, tic-tac-toe game (on floor), $12, Valencia picture frames in white, $10 and $6, all from Kmart; spot storage bag, $59.95, and striped cat, $36.99, both from Shut The Front Door; Hiccups Kitty Kitty cat cushion, $29.99, from Farmers; house tissue box cover, $15, from Collected; Hokus Pokus black and white, cube-shaped bag, $25, from SE3; wire basket, $29.95, from Cotton On Kids; wooden camera, $30, from decorhandled.co.nz; pinwheel, $5.99, from Palmers Planet. Bookcase, cape and mask, books, balloon dog, toys in basket and Connect Four game, stylist’s own.

All the colours here are from the Resene Total Colour System. Resene paints and colours are available from Resene ColorShops and resellers nationwide.

www.resene.co.nz or 0800 RESENE (737 363)

Created by: Vanessa Nouwens. Photographed by: Melanie Jenkins

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