I love beautiful things and want to display items that have special meaning to me.
However, with young children it can be challenging to balance beautiful, safe and practical.
Today, I am sharing 4 simple tips for approaching design and decorating. When you have young children living in the home or just visiting frequently, you don’t need to sacrifice aesthetic.
Vantage Point
Think from the vantage point of a toddler. Get down on their eye level and determine what is easy for them to touch and grab. Keep fragile items like glass (also dangerous) out of arms reach.
If you have grandchildren, consider a coffee table tray. You can display your items day-to-day, but when little visitors are coming over, you can easily grab the items all at once. When your young guests leave, putting the tray back takes seconds.
Choose Materials Wisely
Machine washable is your friend. Choose slipcovered sofas and chairs or put them on your existing furniture for quick and carefree cleaning.
Washable rugs or indoor/outdoor grade rugs are ideal in high traffic areas like a kitchen or your mudroom. Even use these in a kid’s bedroom!
Leather is a versatile material and easy to wipe down. Not to mention, a quality leather is very durable.
Sunbrella is another material that is extremely durable and often used in quality outdoor furniture. However, you can find sunbrella sofas and items being used for indoor living too.
Storage Everywhere
Have storage all throughout the home. Don’t just relegate storage to a few key areas.
Have a chest or built-in for your living room, place a credenza in the dining room, and have a console with drawers in your entry. Keep storage solutions all throughout your home and in places where you tend to accumulate things.
Furthermore, think of storage solutions that are portable, like baskets. Placing baskets in strategic places is great for decor and function.
I have a good friend that has a two story home. She keeps a basket by the stairs that is beautiful on its own, but it serves a purpose! As her family tidies up downstairs, they place things that go upstairs in the basket. A few nights a week the basket goes upstairs and her kids put the items back where they go. Brilliant!
Rounded and Soft Edges
My final tip, think about rounded and soft edges. Select furniture with curves or choose an oversized ottoman rather than a coffee table (no promises someone won’t use it as a launching pad). Try to select softer edges and items with more cushion where possible.
Just avoid things that have sharp corners. Children have a tendency to walk without looking.
If you are a parent, you know exactly what I am saying.
Conclusion
You don’t need to wait until your children are older or out of the house to have nice things. I know it does feel like that at times.
Just keep these 4 tips in mind as you decorate and design your home and reveal what’s possible! Have a tip that has worked for you? Share in the comments below.
Want to be featured on Kinsale Home? Let’s connect!
From the time I was a young child, I have loved interior design and beautiful things. Ten-year-old me would create “floor plans” on notebook paper and design the dream homes of my siblings. We would have an initial meeting and after jotting down their wish list, I got to work creating the home of their dreams.
After designing the layout, I would take the Sunday newspaper ads (are those still a thing?) and cut out pictures of furniture, lamps, and accessories to create mood boards for each room in the home. When I was all done, weeks and weeks later, I would showcase my work and pitch my design ideas to a sibling.
If you too enjoy beautiful things and the process of turning a vision into a reality, welcome! If you love watching homes transform, but just don’t know how to start or have the resources to buy everything you like, stick around. I love finding affordable and practical design solutions to give YOU a gorgeous home you can be proud of.
Together, let’s reveal what’s possible.
Kinsale Home is a place to get inspiration and tips for your next project. No matter the size of your budget, design needs to be personal and practical. Join along for beautiful, family-friendly weekly inspiration and design advice.
