Also, green is a hide-all color! I wouldn’t use it on the walls unless it’s for small recessed spaces, like under kitchen cabinets. I’ve lived with an Amazon green carpet which, in retrospect, was one of the best floorings I’ve ever had, and I never thought of myself as a carpet person or one who would incorporate large amounts of green in a room. A fresh green is refreshing.

For different colored walls, or transitioning spaces, don’t make a drastic leap in hue, unless you have a separate dining room, for instance.

Also, the light from table lamps create a lovely warm glow, and create a more intimate feeling than stark ceiling lights.

My family has always used cheap white small horizontal blinds, while some others preferred fancy blinds and then couldn’t afford shades or curtains or to put the blinds in all the windows. Textile coverings create a soft yet crisp feel, filter or block light and drafts, and allow freedom to accent your decor much like throw pillows. They unify the windows from the inside and out. Darker ones do help block light, however, and I believe you can get ones that still look white from the outside. Not to pitch a particular company, but I’ve found J.C. Penney’s has a good basic variety of Roman shades and curtains, and it seems to me, they are almost always on sale. I have made great use of the washable thermal drapes, and used the same ones in three homes now. If needed, double up, or add two smaller panels to equal a larger one. The fuller the better.
Most of this advice comes from wanting a crisp, cheerful home that meets our needs, (we have kids and cats) and can be achieved on a modest budget. Also, this has mostly been passed down from my mother, who people have accused of having a decorator, when she hasn’t!

I have a few other suggestions to go with the other touching toys you suggested. A bin full of flour feels interesting and fun but much easier to clean up than sand. It’s non toxic, so it’s great for younger kids. Great for the outdoors, as well, because it will blow or wash away without clogging up drains, walkways, etc. Used coffee grounds inside a large, shallow container (like a cookie sheet with edges) is great for practicing letters or making pictures – just shake gently to “erase” and start again. Children don’t usually like the taste of coffee grounds so if they get a bit in their mouth by accident, they aren’t encouraged to keep eating it!

I also love the feel of well washed cotton so I cover everything I can in it.

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One thing I did for our daughter’s bday party this past Feb. was to assign a laundry basket or some other kind of bigger tub to each family where they threw their shoes, coats, diaper bag, and whatever misc. items they would typically leave at the door all into one basket. Then, I took the basket upstairs away from the party, and it was then easy to retrieve each family’s belongings when they were ready to leave.

Not exactly on topic, but somehow I got there.

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@sevenjobs – Lovely idea with your kiddos. Very sweet.

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