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  Daycare centers provide a safe, healthy, monitored environment for children during those hours of the day when their parents are not available to provide the constant care kids require. Daycare centers should be appealing, not just to the parents, but also to the children they serve. Make the space inviting with daycare decorating ideas.
  
  

Murals

• Paint colorful murals directly onto the walls or on large canvas panels to hang on the walls. Murals depicting storybook scenes or natural landscapes will make rooms look bigger and add colorful details to walls that would otherwise appear plain and boring. Many themes are child friendly and exciting in nature. Paint the walls with large plants and exotic birds to create a jungle theme, surround a barn with horses and cows to present a farm theme or use dark blues and blacks to create an outer space look. Use different murals in different rooms or areas of the daycare to effect mood or encourage learning. For instance, a dark space theme is ideal for the nap time area while you can use a more active animal scene to decorate an area where activities take place.
  
  

Colors

• Bright, vivid colors provide punch and interest to any daycare setting. Soft pastel colors are often associated with young children, but bolder shades are more likely to capture their attention. Studies show that infants notice contrast between light and dark, so don't be afraid to add a few touches of dark brown or navy blue to the color scheme. The floors, walls and window treatments should be vividly colored to make the daycare look bright and feel exciting. Colored plastic tables and chairs will provide more bright spots within the daycare.
  
  

Crafts

• Get the kids themselves involved with decorating the daycare, and help them make the space their own. Buy plastic cookie cutters and colored cardstock or construction paper to give them a fun craft project. Using pencils, the kids will trace the cookie cutter shapes they like onto the colored paper of their choice. Supply them with safety scissors and adult supervision so they may cut out their shapes. Punch holes into the tops of the shapes and suspend them from the ceiling with long lines of colored yarn. Kids may add embellishments with crayons, colored pencils, buttons, feathers and shells.