Guest Blog #168, Entry #644, September 5, 2011
There’s a stubborn mindset out there that thinks if children are living in your home, your style has to suffer. The truth is this: kid-friendly furniture doesn’t mean you have to consider ‘safe’ and boring furniture as opposed to the style, brands, and decor you really love. Here’s how to enjoy your furniture, preserve it from the wear and tear of having busy children in your home and make everyone happy and comfortable.
Kid friendly materials and slipcovers are essential for your home
Image courtesy of Shiny Interior
Focus on Material
There are so many attractive types of material for furniture these days, it’s almost difficult to make a decision. Forget fabric when children are involved as it’s hard to clean, and not as durable as other surfaces. Since spills, leaks and dirt come in as soon as your children enter the house, smooth and/or hard surfaces work best. Consider leather (who wouldn’t love a sleek leather couch?) or a durable wood like a dark cherry oak for your next coffee table or dining room table. They look classy and beautiful and can go with a number of flooring options and wall décor. The best part is, no matter what your children drag in (a worm from outside, a trail of dirt or a leak from their sippy cup) you won’t have to stress about ruined furniture and can instead clean it up with a damp cloth.
As Your Children’s Needs Change, So Does Your Furniture
Your toddler may go through emotional needs that change every month, and with that so does your need for different furniture to compensate for all the changes in your household. As you think about your next furniture purchase such as a hard wood coffee table for instance, think about how versatile that piece can be later on. When your children get older, you may want to switch out that coffee table for a sleek one with a glass top, so when that happens, where can you put the old coffee table? Practical purchases are always a wise investment, and can save you money in the end (while still making your home look fantastic).
Think of furniture that can grow with your child
Dream of a Clutter-Free Home (and You’ll Get It!)
Children can add one dynamic you may not be used to – clutter! Their Legos, stuffed animals, board games, clothes and books can soon spread from their bedroom to every other room in the house. If you don’t think about creative storage options, you may feel like they are taking over your home altogether. Can you make room in your oversized entertainment center to store their Nickelodeon and Disney DVD’s? Try going to garage or liquidation sales in your area for chests or trunks that are great at storing a large abundance of their kick-knacks, or consider buying some plain shelves from a home improvement store and nailing them up to the inside of their closets for their off-season clothes.
Functional kid-friendly furniture that helps them organize
Image courtesy of Ghar Expert
No matter whether you have one child or four, the bottom line is this: your home and how comfortable you feel in it doesn’t have to suffer. You can still have beautiful furniture without feeling like you live in a daycare. Have fun and get creative with your space and style and you can’t go wrong with picking out furniture that lasts and looks great.
Heather J. writes on behalf of Design55, your one-stop-shop for modern living rooms!
For more kids furniture ideas on Stagetecture, click here.
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I like using baskets and plastic tubs to hold all stuff that is played with. Each basket holds a group of items, and can easily be picked up and put away when done.