Selfbuilder_and_Homemaker_-_September_-_October_2019

W

hile children should always be

monitored, their curious nature

means that it can seem

impossible to protect them from hurting

themselves every second of the day. But,

by child-proofing your home as much as

possible, you can eliminate avoidable

hazards which may cause your little ones

harm so you can spend time at home with

peace of mind your children are out of

harm’s way.

ROUND EDGES & FIXED FURNISHINGS

While your beautiful cream cushions may

look like the perfect springboard for

jumping on the sofa or a tempting item

to chew or throw, they can also be a

hazard to little ones. To prioritise safety in

your living space opt for a sofa design

with fixed cushions. This way you can

avoid any potential danger of suffocating

or crushing when younger kids start

building forts with cushions or using the

sofa as a bouncy castle – plus it’s a great

way to ensure your living space stays

looking neat and tidy.

For babies and toddlers learning

to walk, table edges are often the

ideal height for banging their heads,

so it’s best to avoid having glass side

or coffee tables with sharp edges in

areas where your child spends a lot of

time exploring.

If moving a side table is unavoidable,

consider purchasing corner protectors to

cover sharp edges. With a wide choice on

the market, it should be easy to find

protectors that match the material of your

side table to seamlessly blend into the

surrounding decor – meaning you can

protect children from injury without

spoiling the overall aesthetic.

Alternatively, for playrooms opt

for fun corner protectors in bright colours

that will highlight sharp edges and

encourage your child to recognise these

as a hazard.

CHOOSE SAFE STORAGE SOLUTIONS

Where children are concerned, the

more storage you have the better and

savvy storing techniques could work

wonders in reducing the risks in your

home, too. For instance, in the

living room, opt for a side cabinet with

cubby holes to make separating toys,

books and stuffed animals easy. This

way, you can divide the cubby holes

between your children, keeping their

individual toys all together or separate

living room items such as magazines or

TV remotes. To avoid a cluttered look,

utilise baskets or boxes that complement

your decor and will slide into the cubby

holes – providing a place for stowing

away items while still delivering a

chic finish.

Alternatively, in playrooms combine

storage with play by choosing standing

baskets that allow your children to

remove toys themselves, but be sure to

Play experts Foamë offer a ‘how-to’ guide on

taking the right steps towards creating a safe home

environment for children which still looks great

CHILD’S PLAY

HOME STYLING

12www.sbhonline.co.uk september/october 2019