Los Angeles Area Resource for Eco-Friendly Parents

Room Ideas

There were some key elements I wanted to keep in mind for a toddler room: storage low to the ground for toys and books, shelves up high for breakables and keepsakes, a place to do artwork, sensible sleep options and a manageable space to keep clean and tidy.

These were several fun rooms I found that were inspiration for my journey:

Finn's Montessori Room

I like the simplicity of the room and the thoughtfulness of each item in the room and how it caters to the child.

Some other favorites

I love these space-saving modular systems! While these are custom-made options, with some creativity, second-hand bookcases and paint, any combination can be created for your child's room.

First Comes Paint

Low and No-VOC paint is a great option to keep nasty toxins from your child's room. These paint options can be purchased from your local Home Depot or Lowes.

Stripes or other shapes are very easy to create with some painters tape and two tones of paint. It is an inexpensive option to create depth and character to an otherwise bland wall.

Bedding and Textiles

While desirable, purchasing organic cotton bedding is often not in the budget. Instead of purchasing expensive bedding, consider creating a more personalized comforter by using old dresses, onesies or tshirts your child has grown out of to create a quilt.

If you aren't handy with the sewing machine, there are often local people for hire that will create these for you. Check your local sewing store.

Decorations

For a child's room, there are endless options for decorations and most can be accomplished on a budget and even do-it-yourself.

If you are artistic or adventurous, try creating your own artwork on canvas with your child. Or use an old printed tee or other fabric with a print to cover and staple onto an 8"x8" piece of wood.

If you have photo editing skills, add words and resize images to frame and hang throughout the room. For instance, if you choose a theme like music, pick images of instruments and add words like "guitar", "piano" and "saxaphone". At Michael's, they carry frames made from 80% recycled materials to frame and hang your prints in.