Tips to make a toddler's room sustainable

Whether you've been taking steps toward green living or you're a newbie and want to jump start your efforts and reduce your carbon footprint on earth, one area of opportunity is your toddler's room.

 

 

 

 

Two interior designers share how to make your toddler's room sustainable. "Sustainability is a popular subject, and most experts in design agree sustainability has to be a way of living and incorporated into our every day," says Kristina Held. "Wooden toys are a small investment and a good place to start."

 

 

Wooden toys

Even Kourtney Kardashian promotes wooden, sustainable toys as opposed to plastic toys on her mommy blog. Some of the top reasons to buy wooden toys:

• Conserve energy: It takes more energy and fuel to make plastic toys.
  
• Plastic toys are made with chemicals - and we all know how toddlers tend to stick toys in their mouths.
  
• Wooden toys are durable compared to plastic toys (you also don't have to replace batteries).
  

 

 

 

Fabrics

Consider bedding, curtain treatments and upholstery. "Think about choosing natural fibres such as linens, cotton and bamboo," says Kelly Spewock. "Bamboo is the most popular at the moment, and it is also a renewable resource."

A blend of cottons with acrylic and rayon make great upholstery fabrics. Worried about the softness to the touch? Cotton textiles that are brushed are soft on toddler's skin, and so are terry clothes made of hemp and cotton. Try to avoid dyes. Cotton is the best for preventing irritated skin and breakouts, and it is also easy to clean.

 

willey design

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repurposing furniture

If you're taking the room from baby to toddler-friendly, Spewock recommends repurposing your furniture. "Get creative by converting the crib into a bed by taking off the railings and use old wooden boxes as shelving," Spewock says. Go the shabby chic route by sanding an old desk and painting it white or a pastel colour. Then, remove some of the paint with a cloth for an old/distressed look and feel. Saw off half of the table's legs to make a toddler-accessible play / work area.

 

 

Flooring and carpeting

Carefully consider flooring and carpeting because toddlers are on their hands and knees all day. "Carpets are tough. You have to constantly steam clean to get rid of the dust mites and dirt they collect. Toddlers are breathing the dust, dirt and the glues on wall to wall carpeting," Held says. Carpets with natural fibres create less off-gassing (toxins and glue coming from the carpets and furniture).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take sustainability to the walls

Spewock recommend low-VOC paint which has no off-gassing and is water-soluble. Paint gives off fumes just like the glue in furniture and fabrics in the carpets. "Ten years ago you'd pay twice as much for environmentally friendly paint. Now, it's affordable and much more common," Spewock says.

 

 anita roll murals

 

Incorporate green touches

Consider maximizing the natural light in your toddler's room. It's been proven in a classroom setting that children stay awake, more alert, and they are generally happier when exposed to natural light. Expose them to fresh air, especially if your home is cooled by central air where toxins are circulated. Open up and freshen up to avoid harvesting viruses, dust mites, animal hair, etc.

Decorate the walls using symbols and imagery such as trees, a globe of the world and other items that represent the natural world. To teach them about energy conservation, paint a sun with its eyes closed for the off light switch position and a sun with its eyes open for the on switch position. Celebrate Earth Day and get your children interested in helping to recycle. Live it so your child embraces it.