As a parent with small children, it can be a real struggle to design rooms in the house that fit your wants and needs while being child friendly. Often, the two design concepts feel as though they are competing against each other, and you’ll need to make some sacrifices and pick just one. The good news is, that’s not the case; instead, it’s about using a little creativity and being honest about what works for the family. Here’s a look at how you can design a child-friendly living room the whole family can use.
Kids Need Space to Play and Stretch Out
Here’s a tip that may go against what you’re thinking and that is to remove pieces from the living room. Kids need space to stretch out, play, relax and just be kids. If you’ve got too much furniture and not enough open space, then you’re going to find your living room becomes a jungle gym with kids crawling over everything. Oversized furniture and clutter should be removed and put elsewhere, even if that means temporary storage until they are older.
Choose Fabrics That Can Be Cleaned
Rather than fight nature, it’s important to accept the fact that kids are messy – it’s who they are. This means there will be spills in the living room, so be sure to use fabrics and materials that can be cleaned. If you’ve got furniture that can’t be cleaned, opt for slipcovers on the sofa and chairs as these can be thrown into a laundry machine.
Choose the Right Furniture
When you are designing your living room, you need to consider your children with your furniture choices. Some furniture just isn’t ideal for families such as having a white sofa or fabric that can’t be cleaned easily. If you don’t want to spend a lot while you have a young family, it’s certainly worth looking for discount dining room furniture or living room furniture options.
Storage Solutions Will Save You a Lot of Headaches
Kids are also notorious for leaving a mess in every room they visit, so you’ll want to have plenty of storage space for their toys. It’s hard to teach them how to clean up if there is no spot for their stuff. Storage solutions can include shelving, bins, a toy box or even furniture that doubles as storage such as an ottoman with a lift up top or a table with drawers below.
Use Pops of Color – Make the Space Fun for Them
If you have dreams of an all-white living room with elegant fabrics and décor, this may not be the best time in life for your vision. While beautiful, it’s probably not conducive to living with small children. Instead, pick a color palette and design that appeals to everyone, using plenty of fun pops of color. This will make the space feel warm and welcoming while being child friendly.
Hire an Interior Designer to Create the Concept
If you feel like all the above-mentioned tips are just too much work, or you’ll be in over your head, then a professional interior designer is probably an excellent resource to use. An interior designer can work with you to design a space that meets your specific needs and wants while still looking stylish and beautiful. They have seen and done it all, which means they know which layouts work, which materials are best and what the latest trends are. A Bromley Interior Design company can find a way to transform your ideas into a reality.
By using these tips, you’ll discover that designing the perfect living room for the whole family is possible.