Decorating Guides
How to Have a Smart, Stylish Home (Despite Kids)
Yes, you can have little ones and a super-chic space
When you hear the term ‘child-friendly home’ it might send shivers down your spine, as you probably think it involves compromising on your style or forgoing the latest trends. But striking a balance between practical and fashionable is possible. Here’s how to get a chic home with children in tow.
Stay in neutral on walls…
Bold colours and patterns not your thing? You can have an all-white scheme when you’re a parent (promise). The key is to choose a washable wall surface or paint to tackle fingerprints or even your little one’s spontaneous wall mural. Opt for silk or eggshell paint over matt as both are washable. Silk paint has a mid-sheen finish so if you want something a bit more flat, then go for eggshell – it has a tough finish without the shine. Most paint brands also have specialist wipeable and stain-repellent ranges. Invest in magic erasers, too, which make easy work of any doodles on the walls.
Learn how to get an all-white decor right
Bold colours and patterns not your thing? You can have an all-white scheme when you’re a parent (promise). The key is to choose a washable wall surface or paint to tackle fingerprints or even your little one’s spontaneous wall mural. Opt for silk or eggshell paint over matt as both are washable. Silk paint has a mid-sheen finish so if you want something a bit more flat, then go for eggshell – it has a tough finish without the shine. Most paint brands also have specialist wipeable and stain-repellent ranges. Invest in magic erasers, too, which make easy work of any doodles on the walls.
Learn how to get an all-white decor right
…and for furnishings
If you want to keep clear of pattern and colour on furniture and rugs, too, that’s OK. Yes, kids have muddy shoes but there are tactics to get round this. If you think you could enforce a shoes-off-at-the-door policy, that’s one route but you can also choose flooring that will help to make life easier, too: Wood floors are durable and easy to clean without being too hard on little knees or heads; jute rugs (see previous photo), whether over carpets or hard floors, are durable and shake off dirt easily, but wool is another good choice as it’s easy to clean and soft to sit on (remember, you might be sitting for hours playing with building blocks!).
If you want to keep clear of pattern and colour on furniture and rugs, too, that’s OK. Yes, kids have muddy shoes but there are tactics to get round this. If you think you could enforce a shoes-off-at-the-door policy, that’s one route but you can also choose flooring that will help to make life easier, too: Wood floors are durable and easy to clean without being too hard on little knees or heads; jute rugs (see previous photo), whether over carpets or hard floors, are durable and shake off dirt easily, but wool is another good choice as it’s easy to clean and soft to sit on (remember, you might be sitting for hours playing with building blocks!).
And if your heart sinks every time you see your child running towards the sofa at great speed, it might be time to trade it in for a leather one. Wear and tear is easier to mask on this choice of seating. All leather is wipeable, but natural-looking leather (as opposed to black) ages gracefully and a scratch here and there will only add to its character (and makes a secondhand one an appealing option, too). Not a leather fan? Washable loose covers are child-friendly, too. Just think about the durability of the fabric. A heavy twill or cotton is better than something delicate like linen.
Put up their art
A single wall displaying the kids’ paintings and drawings can be beautiful, as this scheme proves. Plus, as a parent, you should treasure your little ones’ creations, right? This mini art gallery has used magnetic blackboard paint as a backdrop so children can continue to be creative (and you can write/pin up your ‘To Do’ lists). And it gets top marks for hanging the art creatively; the use of magnetic bulldog clips is very clever.
Here’s how to display your children’s artworks
A single wall displaying the kids’ paintings and drawings can be beautiful, as this scheme proves. Plus, as a parent, you should treasure your little ones’ creations, right? This mini art gallery has used magnetic blackboard paint as a backdrop so children can continue to be creative (and you can write/pin up your ‘To Do’ lists). And it gets top marks for hanging the art creatively; the use of magnetic bulldog clips is very clever.
Here’s how to display your children’s artworks
If you want a display that’s a little less eclectic, take inspiration from this neat art arrangement. It adds colour and vibrancy to the very classic kitchen.
Think about placement
Instead of packing away all your treasured belongings (hello collection of Murano glass), go for different levels of shelving/display surfaces. Keep everyday items on lower levels and your most valuable pieces at the top away from prying hands. An enclosed unit is probably the best bet for keeping your most precious items safe (and, in here, they will gather less dust).
Instead of packing away all your treasured belongings (hello collection of Murano glass), go for different levels of shelving/display surfaces. Keep everyday items on lower levels and your most valuable pieces at the top away from prying hands. An enclosed unit is probably the best bet for keeping your most precious items safe (and, in here, they will gather less dust).
Consider the raw and rustic look…
Why? Because it’s a look where scratches and even pen marks will usually blend in and it’s pretty classic (hence timeless), too. You have kids and you’re busy, so you don’t want to be decorating/renovating all the time to keep up with the latest trends.
Why? Because it’s a look where scratches and even pen marks will usually blend in and it’s pretty classic (hence timeless), too. You have kids and you’re busy, so you don’t want to be decorating/renovating all the time to keep up with the latest trends.
…or go to the dark side
If you don’t have the budget to revamp your whole house or invest in new pieces to get the raw and rustic look, just go dark with paint. It’s just as forgiving as the battered pieces that are essential to the raw look (and there will be less wiping off marks, like with white walls).
Again, be sure to choose a wipeable paint – otherwise you’ll be plagued by white scuffs instead.
Check out the secrets to using dark paint
If you don’t have the budget to revamp your whole house or invest in new pieces to get the raw and rustic look, just go dark with paint. It’s just as forgiving as the battered pieces that are essential to the raw look (and there will be less wiping off marks, like with white walls).
Again, be sure to choose a wipeable paint – otherwise you’ll be plagued by white scuffs instead.
Check out the secrets to using dark paint
Take it one step further and make all the surfaces dark – the flooring, the banister, skirting boards, mouldings, doorframes…
Sort the storage
What’s the number one decorating mantra for a chic family home? Storage, storage and more storage. Children come with a lot of paraphernalia, so you need plenty of places to put it all away. And why not get creative with your storage to make it a design feature? This shelving unit certainly has the wow factor, plus a mix of closed and open storage for showing off the things you want people to see and hiding less desirable pieces.
What’s the number one decorating mantra for a chic family home? Storage, storage and more storage. Children come with a lot of paraphernalia, so you need plenty of places to put it all away. And why not get creative with your storage to make it a design feature? This shelving unit certainly has the wow factor, plus a mix of closed and open storage for showing off the things you want people to see and hiding less desirable pieces.
Or you could be more subtle by following this room’s example. The storage looks very sophisticated, but it’s also practical. The baskets can be filled up with toys and can also be transported easily to the room where your children want to decamp and play
Take a look at these stylish storage containers
Take a look at these stylish storage containers
Find your inner child
Some of the most stylish homes have quirky features that make them stand out from the crowd. To get into quirky mode, why not tap into your inner child? That way, you will be fearless and might be tempted to try something like this amazing bathroom wallpaper. Go for one of the new vinyl papers that are durable, splashproof and designed specifically for bathrooms or use decorators varnish to protect normal wallpaper from moisture.
Read more:
8 Tips to Teach Kids to Declutter
Tell us:
What are your tricks for having a family-friendly and stylish home? Share your thoughts/photos in the Comments below.
Some of the most stylish homes have quirky features that make them stand out from the crowd. To get into quirky mode, why not tap into your inner child? That way, you will be fearless and might be tempted to try something like this amazing bathroom wallpaper. Go for one of the new vinyl papers that are durable, splashproof and designed specifically for bathrooms or use decorators varnish to protect normal wallpaper from moisture.
Read more:
8 Tips to Teach Kids to Declutter
Tell us:
What are your tricks for having a family-friendly and stylish home? Share your thoughts/photos in the Comments below.
Sponsored
Even without kids, a geometric motif here and a chevron detail there will elevate a scheme that’s lacking in character. But with children, pattern really comes into its own, hiding pesky stains and finger marks. If you don’t want to commit to a patterned sofa, do what the owners have done here and use a washable fabric to cover a neutral sofa.
If you would worry about a glass table like this one, you could replace it with an ottoman, and keep breakable ornaments on higher surfaces (more on that later) but the rug and the fabric on the sofa will hide a multitude of sins.