6 Design Tips for Decorating With Kids
Today’s blog is something that I have years of experience in - both as a Mom decorating my own home, and as a designer working with other families with kids of varying ages. Ready for my 6 best tips for designing a kid-friendly home?
Performance Fabrics are Your Friends
And honestly, they are too good these days not to put them everywhere! Performance fabrics are soft to the touch, come in a variety of fabric styles and colors, repel dirt and liquids, can be cleaned and bleached, and are the best choice for families with kids. Next time you’re in the market for new upholstered items, make sure you’re looking at performance and/or indoor / outdoor.
Toys - put them away but make them accessible
Toy storage is a big one. We all want our home to look nice when its cleaned up but we also understand that childhood = toys. The best solution is I’ve found is to have places for toys to be away that are still accessible for the kids to get to themselves. Credenzas or cabinets with pull out drawers are great! So are bookshelves with bins! It can be fabulous to have a dedicated playroom, but it’s also a good idea to have a toy storage solution in the main living area, because we all know the kids always want to be where we are, and where the little ones go, so do their toys.
Wool, Hand Knotted Rugs or woven rugs can be cleaned professionally
One item I frequently advise my clients to invest in is area rugs. Your area rug can be an item that lasts for decades and even passed down a generation or two. I typically recommend natural fibers, such as wool, as they truly are durable and cleanable. Additionally, hand knotted rugs, rather than a tufted rug, can withstand repeated professional cleanings. This is a great feature for families with kids where cleanability is a necessity!
Choose a low-pile carpet, especially under dining tables
Another rug tip! The lower pile the rug, the less texture there is for things to get caught in them. This especially helpful in areas where food is being consumed and crumbs may fall.
Washable Wall Tips
The rule of thumb with wall paint is the higher the gloss level, the easier it is to clean (without ruining the paint finish). This is true, so for kitchens, kid’s playrooms or other spaces where messes may happen, you may want to go with semi-gloss or even high-gloss walls.
There are also washable matte paints available on the market for those that want the look of flat but the added cleanability that only gloss paints used to offer.
A third option: vinyl wallpapers. There are so many fun textures, colors and patterns and they can all be wiped to clean.
Hardwood Floors vs Engineered
If you’re worried about your floors taking a beating with kids - dirt being tracked in, toys scuffing and scratching you may be wondering what’s best. Engineered wood floors may be slightly more durable in the short term - meaning that depending on the type and brand they can be more resistant to scratching and wear than hardwood floors. However, engineered floors are limited in the amount of times you can refinish them - some can be refinished once, some not at all. The ones that can be refinished will lose any specialty finishes such as distressing when they get refinished. Hardwood floors, on the other hand, can be refinished a multitude of times. So, if kids or teens are especially hard on your floors and you want to refinish before a renovation, once you’re out of a specific phase, or before the sale of a home, you have more options to do so with hardwood than you do with engineered wood floors.
Which tips will you be using in your home? If you need help decorating your space, whether you have kids or not, Abode Virtual Design is here to help! More information can be found on our shop page or you can reach out via email or a comment below!
