With easy-to-please green as your backdrop, be bold and add a dash of color here and a splash of color there to take an outdoor space from dull to dazzling.

Some people are born with a great eye for decorating or design. Others learn the skill and are able to apply it successfully. And then there are the rest of us. If you don’t have much of a knack for design, a few basic techniques can go a long way.

The perfect playroom is a bright, energetic place, with lots of color and light. It should also reflect your child’s interests and personalities, so it can grow with them over time.