If you are thinking of creating a safe and secure play area for your young child that is very close to the house, this article was written with you in mind. It is comforting to know that you have a covered area at the end of the terrace (or certainly nearby) where the children can play safely, and here are a few tips to help make the project a successful venture.
- Artificial Grass – This makes for the ideal floor covering as it is soft and very durable, essential when young kids are around, plus artificial grass is non-slip, even when wet. If you have one wall sheltering the play area, you could hang some artificial grass, which is nicer to look at than brickwork, plus you can hang things.
- Exterior Floor Tiles – You could tile the floor with natural pavers, and with a great selection of outdoor tiles at Amber Tiles, you can browse the selection and place your order via their website. Natural stone tiles can easily be washed and if the play area is at one end of the terrace, that is the perfect place.
- Cover – Ideally, the play area should be covered, which would be automatic if it is in the corner of the terrace, otherwise a cantilevered umbrella would be ideal. This gives you the option of having the sunshine is you wish and in no time at all, you can open the umbrella for some cover.
- Sand Pit – You could knock together a timber frame of around 1 metre square that is about 1 foot deep and fill it with sand, although this could get messy if the play area is next to the house. If the sand pit has a custom lid that is hinged, it can be closed when not in use, with the hinged trapdoor leaning against the wall.
- Windbreaker – This is best achieved with a good old-fashioned roll up canvass screen, which can be raised or lowered as necessary. A windbreaker isn’t always necessary, as it really does depend on the setting, and you may already have a still area inside your back garden.
- The Double Air Mattress – You may have seen these for sale on TV, and a large double mattress would make for an ideal soft floor for your kid’s play area. When not in use, it can be deflated and stored away, and when you buy an airbed, they usually throw in an electric pump for easy inflation.
- Road Mat – You may have seen the kiddie’s road maps, a series of roads printed on a soft and durable sheet that can be unrolled. If your kids love playing with toy cars, this would be the perfect flooring for the play area, plus you can cut it to size so that it fits perfectly.
Hanging chairs are another idea, and by using some creativity and imagination, there’s no limit to the way you can design a small area for play, and the above are just a few ideas to help get you started.