First-time parents have a lot to learn. You need to learn that not every cry means a trip to the emergency room, how to change diapers, what it means to wake up at all hours of the night, and that's just a fraction of what you'll need to know.

And when your child gets older, he'll need his own space.

Children love having their own space, and this means more than just having their own bedroom to sleep in at night. Parents that have the space can create a playroom that ignites a child's creativity and passions.

But how do you decorate the playroom?

That's the real question. If the room is cold and empty with a few sparse toys, the room won't provide the warm, comfortable feeling that it could.

1. Focus on Safety First

A playroom is all about fun and games, but when a child gets hurt, the room quickly becomes a nightmare for children. You need to put safety first, and this means starting to decorate the room with safety in mind.

A few tips that can help are:

• Do your research

• Remove lead paint

• Put protective covers on power outlets

• Rethink corded blinds

• Lock cabinet doors or put bumper pads on them

• Install carbon monoxide detectors

• Secure furniture over knee height

• Consider soft storage options over bins or buckets

Annually, 25+ million kids make trips to the emergency room. Putting an extra focus on safety can help lower your child's risk of becoming another statistic.

2. Splashes of Color are Fun

Playrooms are meant to be fun – not boring. A plain white room with no character doesn't invite fun into the room. You want your playroom to be inviting and not feel like a hospital. Children respond to different colors and patterns than adults.

Children want:

• Bright colors

• Large patterns

• Themes

There are a lot of contemporary color palettes that work well in playrooms, yet these palettes also help adults not feel like they're in a kid's space. It's the perfect compromise of kid-friendly colors and themes and a palette that doesn't make adults feel out of place.

3. Stick with Furniture Basics

I have a major issue with not planning for the future. I often plan so far in advance that I buy things I don't really need. This type of thinking is the same with kid's furniture – buy just in case your kid needs it.

But unless you have an unlimited budget, you'll want to stick with the basics.

And by basics, I mean:

• Storage

• Tables

• Chairs

Yes, this is just three items, but it's more than enough for a playroom. Kids playrooms will always need these three items, and they allow you to:

• Store items for now and in the future. I really like the soft storage options.

• Offer an elevated surface to draw, paint, write, play with toys – do anything on.

• Sit and relax while the child plays with his toys or other items.

Furniture doesn't need to be expensive either. You can opt for cheaper options, but make sure that there are no safety issues. You can then add in the bean bag chair or an easel to paint on in the future. But start small, as your child will have his own opinions of what he wants in the room in the future.