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If you are a parent trying to design a house that will be perfect for your children, you’ve clicked on the right article. There are lots of different elements that you can include in your home to make it the ideal place to raise children. Here are a couple of the best features to consider as you’re preparing to buy or design your future family home.
A Mudroom
One great feature that you should include in your home design is a mudroom. Mudrooms function like a home locker room and are generally connected to the garage. This provides a place for your kids to take off and put away their shoes, jackets, and backpacks once they come inside from the car or garage. Consider having an individual space for each child to use including a storage space for shoes, and a cabinet or space to hang jackets, bags, coats, etc. Especially if you live in an area that has dirt or sand surrounding your home, having a mudroom can be a great option as it can serve as a space for your kids to clean off before they enter the rest of your house.
A Large Backyard
Another great feature in a family home is a large backyard. The design of your backyard will probably depend on your family’s lifestyle and personality. For example, if your kids love to play on a playset or trampoline, you’ll want to make sure you have space to include those features in your backyard. On the other hand, if your kids love to run around and play sports such as soccer or football, you’ll want to make sure that the majority of your large backyard has nice, soft grass laid down for them to play sports on. Another benefit of having a large backyard is that it is a great place for your kids to play with their friends or host parties. For example, with a large backyard space, you could set up an outdoor movie for your kids and their friends. The possibilities are endless and the fun never stops in a large backyard.
A Treehouse
If your kids are imaginative and adventurous, you might want to consider adding a treehouse to your backyard. Of course, in order to do so, you’ll need trees that are big and strong enough to support a structure and the weight of your children. The fun part of building a treehouse is that there are hundreds of different designs that you can choose from. You can personalize your kid’s treehouse to be more outdoorsy and exposed, or more covered and cozy. You could even make your treehouse look like a certain structure from a book or movie. Building a treehouse for your kids will guarantee hours of undistracted fun and entertainment.
A Pool
Having a pool at the house is something that almost every kid dreams of. Especially if you live in a hot location, having a pool can make the hot summer months more survivable, and can encourage your kids to get outside and play rather than staying inside all day. If you are worried about the construction of a pool in your yard, don’t be. Concrete pump trucks can easily reach over your fence and other obstacles on your property. There are also many companies that regularly build pools in residential areas and are able to do it in a safe and productive manner.
A Playroom
One great way to give your kids a place to play is to have a designated playroom. This not only helps your kids to store all their toys in one place, but it also can prevent those toys from getting spread all over the house. One fun part of having a designated playroom is that you can personalize it according to your children’s personalities. For example, if your kids are really imaginative and love fairy tales, you could stock your playroom with dress-ups, fun toys, and you could even paint the walls with a beautiful fairy tale mural. If your kids like to play with toy cars, you could provide different bins to store and organize the cars, and you could put down wood floors for them to drive the cars on. If your kids love to read, consider including some comfy spots that could function as a reading nook, such as a window seat or a beanbag.
Open Spaces
Not only does your backyard need to be open and big, but you also want to make sure that your house has a nice, open room for your kids to play in. Kids often get pretty messy and like to spread lots of toys around as they play their imaginative games. Having a large, open, unobstructed space will allow them to play together for many hours. This is especially important if you live in a location that has winter months, since your kids won’t want to play outside in the cold all the time. Many people like to leave their basement or family room nice and open for their kids to play in.
Home Theater
If you’re really wanting to give your kids their dream house, make sure to include a home theater in your design plan. Why have a regular TV when you can have theater seating, professional surround sound, and a huge projected screen? Home theaters provide a great way for families to bond, and adding a treat bar with movie theater popcorn and mixable drinks will be the cherry on top. Your kids will want to have family movie night every day of the week!
Kid-Proof Décor
Finally, one thing that you should remember as you’re designing and decorating your home is to make sure that any decorations you include are kid-proof. That might mean putting the expensive glass goblets or fragile decorations away for a few years while your kids are little. Keeping things on higher shelves will also deter children from playing with and damaging them. You never know when a ball might accidentally break something, despite the many times that you’ve told your kids not to play in the house!
Remember to keep this article in mind when you’re deciding what features you should include in your home plan. As you’re designing a home and trying to include features for your kids, remember to ask them what they think! You’re designing the home to be a fun place for them, so getting their input will only make it a more special place for you to be as a family.
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