Home décor can take a bit of a nose-dive after you have kids. Once babies arrive, you suddenly get the feeling that any money you invest in the appearance of your home is going to go to waste unless you kid proof your home.
Believe it or not, there are some families out there who are trying to have it both ways. They want interiors that can cope with children, but they also want properties that look great too.
In this post, we take a look at some of the most innovative and stylish ways to decorate your home that will work with kids.
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Check them out below:
Choose natural materials that can take a lot of wear
Some materials are better at coping with “love” than others. For instance, old leather shoes invariably look better than worn-out modern sneakers.
When choosing interior furnishings, focus on natural materials. While they tend to be less water- and stain-resistant than their synthetic counterparts, they typically age better. A gnarled wooden sideboard, for instance, is much more attractive than chipped MDF.
Add natural elements wherever you can. Put faux fur covers over your kitchen bar stools and use tiles on the floor. Add wood elements to the cabinets and doors, and steer clear of anything that makes your interiors feel overly “cool.”
Use outdoor options indoors
Some parents take things to the extreme when looking for ways to protect their interiors from damage. And that can mean bringing outdoor furniture in.
Outdoor furniture is far more attractive and comfortable today than it ever was in the past. In fact, with the right setup, it is now so good that some parents have seen an opportunity.
First and foremost, outdoor furniture protects against moisture. After all, you can leave it outside in the rain and it won’t degrade.
Second, outdoor furniture is much more robust. So even if kids jump up and down on it, it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t have delicate springs and other internal structures prone to damage, like regular furniture.
Finally, it also looks good. Rattan furniture, in particular, has the same bulkiness of conventional sofas, so it doesn’t always look out of place. Plus, you can pair the frame with outdoor cushions and throws.
Other ideas include putting down outdoor rugs in your interiors. These are particularly helpful in high-traffic areas.
Add framed aphorisms
Aphorisms – or words of wisdom – are a great addition to family interiors. They help you to remain sane in the midst of all chaos.
Phrases like “life isn’t about hiding from the storm, it’s about dancing in the rain” are a great way to keep you strong and focused. Other sayings, such as “love is patient, love is kind” can also be a gentle reminder to maintain your compassion throughout the day, even when you can feel your mood tanking.
Choose frames that accentuate your aphorisms. Don’t be afraid to put them up in your living room, kitchen, dining areas and even bedroom.
Don’t choose light neutral colors
You can probably already guess why choosing light colors for your interiors isn’t the best idea when you have kids. Splatter, spills and scuffs can all make your interiors look grubby and drab.
To avoid this include darker colors. Make heavy use of patterns, as these will disrupt any stains or spills much better than plain material.
Put down hard flooring
When you have kids, hard flooring is the best option – again, for obvious reasons. It is much easier to clean up spills on tiles than it is on carpets.
As discussed above, putting down hard flooring doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll always have to have a solid surface underfoot. Adding rugs and other layers can help elevate your rooms and make them cosier. So, if you don’t want to wear your slippers all the time, you don’t have to.
Add books for décor
Next time you hit the bookstore, stock up on books that you can use as decorative elements in your home. Books have the advantage of being hardier than most home furnishings, such as vases. Plus, they’re not hazardous to children. Put them on your coffee table or mantlepiece to create more charm and homeliness.
Create a play space
If you can create a play space for your kids, you’re already a long way towards your goal of containing their mess. Playrooms let you concentrate all their activities, reducing wear and tear on the rest of the house.
Successful play spaces include multiple elements designed to appeal to children. Naturally, you’ll want to start by adding all their toys so that the playroom is the place that they have to go if they want to use them.
You’ll also want to include other elements that make the space more attractive. TVs, comfortable bean bags and even climbing walls are all good ideas.
Use high-performance fabrics
High-performance fabrics are a great alternative to bringing your outdoor furniture inside. If you’re not keen on that idea, you can get special types of upholstery that looks and feels like the regular version, without being so prone to spills and stains.
Quality fabrics have a higher wear threshold. This means that they can withstand children sliding on and off them hundreds of times, without fraying or becoming loose. Some versions also include hydrophobic coatings. If there’s a spill, water simply beads off onto the floor.
Place wallpaper high up
Who says that you need to start your wallpapering from ground level? Nobody. In fact, many families are now looking to play their wall furnishings high up to get the aesthetics that they want while keeping it out of the reach of children.
If you want to use wallpaper in your home, think about how you can use it as an accent feature. For instance, why not wallpaper the ceiling to give your rooms an entirely different feel? Or how about placing wallpaper above the curtain line, leaving the space below blank paint?
Designate adult-only rooms
Adult-only rooms allow you to keep a part of your home for yourself. For most parents, this is the bedroom and the attached bathroom. But if you have a larger home, there is no reason why you couldn’t make certain common rooms adult only too.
The dining room is a great idea. Kids can eat in the kitchen or living room, while you keep your dining room precisely how you want it for entertaining guests. Children are only allowed on special occasions, such as Christmas.
One less room to kid proof right?
Display recycled objects
Buying brand new wall fittings and furniture for your home when you have kids is a liability. That’s why so many parents temporarily use recycled objects – at least until their children get a little older. This is a. greatidea to help kid proof the spaces that your children are likely to play in
Found items, such as statues, paintings, or vases from flea markets can make all the difference. They give your rooms a unique feel, all the while being more affordable.
Go for a plain wood dining table
Regular polished wood dining tables look great. But, unfortunately, they’re prone to scratching. Most of the time, you need to leave them covered.
A cheap plain wood dining table in the kitchen, though, gives you options. Solid wood can handle all manner of insults, including spills, food and paint. Just make sure that it doesn’t have any sharp edges.
Choose an open floor plan
Lastly, open floor plans are a great renovation idea for families with kids. This way, you can keep an eye on your children while you focus on other activities. You can also spend more quality time together, instead of everyone going to their separate rooms.
We really hope you like these ideas for your loving space, to help with kid-proofing your home.
If you would like to check out the other home ideas on KiddyCharts, take a look here:
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Helen
Helen
Helen is a mum to two, social media consultant, and website editor; and this site is (we think) the only Social Enterprise parenting magazine!Since giving up being a business analyst when juggling travel, work and kids proved too complicated, she founded KiddyCharts so she could be with her kids, and use those grey cells at the same time.KiddyCharts has reach of over 1.1million across social and the site. The blog works with big family brands (including travel) to help promote their services, as well as offering free resources to parents of kids under 10.It gives 51%+ profits to Reverence for Life, who fund a number of important initiatives in Africa, including bringing running water and basic equipment to a school in Tanzania.Helen has worked as a digital marketing consultant (IDM qualified) with various organisations, including Channel Mum, Truprint, Talk to Mums, and Micro Scooters. She loves to be creative in the brand campaigns she works on.Get in touch TODAY!