5 Home Renovation Tips to Make Your Home Safe and More Spacious for Baby
A home renovation is a good way to attend to any safety issues before baby arrives.
When it’s comes the family unit, you could say that the saying, “first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in the baby carriage,” is rather out of touch with today’s reality. A better way to put things now would be: “first comes love, then comes cohabitation, then comes mortgage, then comes home renovation, and then comes baby.” If you’ve just found out that your cozy nest for two is about to become occupied by a bundle of joy, then there are some house renovation ideas that can be taken to make your home more spacious and safer for baby.
1. Seek Safer Stairways
You may think that a standard baby gate at the top of the stairs is a simple solution for making your home safe for your baby as they get older, but there are other staircase baby proofing measures that should be considered. This is especially true with older homes where the stairs may not be up to modern building codes, or for staircases that have more complex designs.
Some of these hazards include:
- Stairwells where gates cannot be securely fitted
- Flooring that can present a trip or slip hazard
- Lack of or poorly constructed handrails
- Large openings on balusters where a baby can slip through
A renovation company can help make your staircase safer by removing hazards and replacing them with up-to-code balusters and handrails and also covering the stairs with anti-slip and trip stair treads and or replacing the stair risers all together with non-slip flooring.
2. Eliminate Electrical Hazards
It takes more than just a few outlet plugs to make your home safe for baby. Poor and defective electrical wiring as well as poorly located outlets, combined with an inquisitive infant, can be fatal. It’s important to take extra precautions to make your home safer by covering up any exposed wiring and moving outlets so they are out of reach or are away from hazards such as sinks. Another option is to replace older electrical outlets with safer power points such as tamper-proof receptacles. It’s also important to get the expertise of your interior renovation contractor or an electrician before attempting to do any electrical work yourself.
3. Hide Those Hiding Places
As your baby grows older and starts crawling or walking, he or she is likely to become more curious, and that could mean trouble if you have any spaces that could be used as a hiding place. This includes:
- Closets or cabinetry
- Fireplaces
- Openings under the stairs
- Basements or rooms without doors
A home renovation contractor can help by installing sliding or fastening doors that lock and open from the outside, self-closing cabinetry, or filling in those unused spaces, such as fireplaces, that your baby can get into.
4. Babyproof Living Spaces
When it comes to babies, sometimes cutting corners in the physical sense is a good way to cut back on potential injuries. There are a number of renovation steps you can take to babyproof your living spaces to make them more suitable for the youngest member of your family. This includes:
- Softening sharp-angled corners and furniture, such as hard-edged coffee tables
- Paddling and upholstering furniture
- Replacing worn carpeting or installing easy-to-clean flooring such as hardwood, bamboo, laminate or vinyl
- Fastening furniture such as dressers, armoires, cabinets, sideboards and TV stands to the walls
- Repainting and touching up walls and ceilings that are cracked, damaged or show signs of mould
- Opening up smaller spaces
5. Consider a Room Addition
If you feel your home may become cramped with the arrival of a baby, adding space may be a more affordable alternative than looking for a new house all together. House additions can include converting an existing room such as a den or office into a nursery, undergoing a basement renovation to accommodate a playroom or extra bedroom, or adding extra space with a build out or a second-floor addition.
For more information, read our Q&A on what to consider when deciding whether to Move or Undergo a Home Renovation.
Whether you’re looking to add more space or want to renovate your existing space, Rafter 4K Contracting can help. Our team of renovation specialists are equipped for any type of project, including interior and exterior renovations, home additions and accessory buildings.
