As children head back to school after summer days spent outdoors, their lives begin to be focused on the indoors with hours spent working on homework and playing with friends in their rooms. Along with a fresh pack of crayons and pristine notebooks, your children will likely appreciate a fresh look for their rooms.
Sally Morse, director of creative services at Hunter Douglas, Canada’s leading manufacturer of custom window fashions, has some suggestions:
A special place—It is important for your child to have a special space in his or her room dedicated to schoolwork—even if your school boy or girl does not have a room of their own, you can use moldings, a screen or even a curtain to separate the space from the rest of the room. A closet may even be converted into a study area with storage transferred to an armoire or under-the-bed containers. Wherever the study area is, make sure it is equipped with a good work surface and outlets for a computer and task lamp.
Peace and quiet—Noise from the outdoors can be a real distraction to all of us, and most especially children. All Hunter Douglas window fashions are rated for sound absorption. Duette Architella honeycomb shades and Vignette Modern Roman Shades have especially high ratings with several fabric styles absorbing up to 70 percent of reflected sound.
Cozy and comfortable—You want to make your child’s room as warm and welcoming as possible. Yet with skyrocketing fuel prices, cranking up the heat becomes a costly option. Duette Architella honeycomb shades provide great energy efficiency at the window thanks to their unique patented honeycomb-within-a-honeycomb design that can significantly reduce heat loss at the window.
Create an appealing atmosphere—Take a cue from your child’s special interests to select a theme for decorating their room and creating an inviting setting they’ll look forward to spending time in. Whether it’s a room bedecked with pennants and trophies for the sports enthusiast of either gender, an animal-lovers paradise with wallpaper, posters and prints featuring a favourite four-legged imaginary playmate or planets and shooting stars for the night owl, there is a design scheme for every interest.
Be safe—Above all else, you want your child’s room to be a safe haven. Use window guards and safety netting to help prevent falls, corner and edge bumpers to prevent injuries from sharp edges, and outlet plugs to prevent electrical shocks. Help minimize the safety hazards posed by window covering cords with the LiteRise cordless operating system or other innovative Hunter Douglas lifting systems for enhanced safety at the window.
