When children become part of your family, life changes in every way, and décor is certainly no exception. But you can work around the unsightly baby gates (and perhaps invest in far more handsome options). Family-friendly décor is an achievable, attractive interior design option because, hey, your home still deserves to look good even if it’s overrun by toys.
A Dedicated Play Space
The difficulty with kids and their toys is that many homes can turn into one giant playroom with toys taking up space everywhere. So, first things first – designate a playroom. Even if kid goodies seep out of the room for play in different areas, there will always be a space to which they return so the rest of the house can stay organized and toy free.
Hang Tight
Safety is one of the biggest issues when it comes to kids and décor. Tip-over accidents are the cause of far too many traumas and even fatalities. Top-heavy furniture, tall bookshelves, and flat-screen TVs are all dangerous elements in a home with children. That doesn’t mean, however, that you cannot have them in your home. All furniture in danger of tipping over should be securely attached to the wall. The idea of drilling holes in your wall to secure furniture might make you cringe but it’s nothing that can’t be fixed with a patch job later if the room’s purpose or design changes. You’ll be protecting your curious, climbing children from accidents and give yourself peace of mind that they’re safe in every room of your home. “Worst” case scenario, finally splurge on those built-ins you’ve always wanted!
Go Short
Populate your home with low, kid-friendly furniture too, like long seats that offer basket storage underneath, ottomans that double as toy boxes. Your children will love having furniture that’s easy for them to get on and off of independently, and you won’t have to worry about tip-over accidents. There is also plenty of child-sized furniture that isn’t emblazoned with a licensed cartoon character that will still make them feel like part of the “grown up” rooms. You can find tiny leather chairs to match your family room furniture, even recliners. Beanbags scream college, so opt for a cocktail ottoman or poufs instead, delightful décor additions that are just the right size for kid seating.
Blocked Out
Baby gates are a necessity, particularly if you have tall staircases. These aren’t permanent as eventually your children will master the stairs – or simply learn how to scale the gates at which point the gates become a hazard themselves! Custom-built baby gates are certainly a solution to the functional-only and not-so-easy-on-the-eyes baby gates currently on the market. You can commission gates embellished to look like a choo-choo train or the door to a castle, but that veers in kid direction. For a useful yet adult looking interior design option, you could install only the lower half of a Dutch door, or seek out custom-made mini barn doors. To get past the baby gate conundrum, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll need a talented iron or wood worker to craft a safe and beautiful option.
What’s Underfoot
Carpets are hard to keep in good condition, especially with the littlest of children wreaking their own special kind of havoc. Hardwood or laminate floors are beautiful and easy to clean, but they’re not exactly easy on little crawlers’ knees or the noggins of new walkers. Area rugs can do their job over carpet or hardwood. Outdoor rugs used indoors can handle most any disaster, as well as sisal rugs, all attractive and durable. Carpet tiles are the indecisive decorator’s best option as they can be configured and reconfigured (and easily replaced in case of spills or damage) as many times as you like in hallways, kitchens, family rooms, or any living area.
Nix the Accessories
You may be a collector, or you may enjoy displaying a lot of knick-knacks, but when kids enter the home, a more minimalist aesthetic will serve you best. Put away the dust collectors (which will make your home easier to clean anyway) and if you must accessorize then do it out of the kids’ reach. You’ll be forced to be more thoughtful about your décor, and this will enable you to create just the kind of living space you want.
Family Friendly Fabric
Choose your fabrics wisely. If you’re in the market for a new sofa, think leather, which is far easier to clean and won’t absorb spills like other materials. Don’t believe, however, that having kids in your home means you’re limited to dark-colored furniture. You shouldn’t opt for pastel silk, of course, but a vibrant color in a stain-treated fabric, even one with a pattern or texture, can camouflage the inevitable mishaps. This goes for curtain fabrics as well – one area where you just might be better off investing in cordless blinds so no one trips on, hides behind, or is tempted to tug on those long-hanging pieces of material.
Make an Investment
It may seem like buying top-of-the-line furniture is ridiculous when you know your children are going to use all of it as trampolines or jumping-off points. But heavy, solid furniture and tightly upholstered pieces will look good and enhance your décor while also being able to handle the abuse. They won’t disintegrate in the middle of a superhero leap either, whereas cheap furniture will get broken quickly, and you’ll just be wasting your money. So get the best you can afford, and look for rounded corners and the most child-friendly options possible.
There is no shortage of alternatives to typical décor options so that you can keep a home just as you want it, even if children rule the roost. Consult with Decor & You in Denver, CO, to get a personalized DecorPlan and discover the design tips that will help you create a comfortable and beautiful living space for your family.
Source:: decorandyouhr.com
Child-Friendly Decor Updates
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