Stylish and Family-Friendly Can Co-Exist in Harmony!

Many families hold off on decorating until their children are older, making do with old worn out furniture that’s way past it’s prime because they feel the kids will destroy everything. Children benefit from living among beautiful objects; they grow to appreciate and respect them.

So, check out these spaces the whole family can enjoy!

With their second baby on the way and a 2-year-old already, this family needed a Tweak that was all about family-friendly spaces!

Considering the demands of everyday family life, we chose durable “low-maintenance” fabrics, wipe-able furniture, and items with rounded corners. Creating kid-friendly spaces is more than just choosing indestructible materials and finishes.

Here are some tips we used to create these family-friendly spaces!

MAKE ROOM FOR KIDDOS

It’s important to carve out areas in common rooms for children to do the things they enjoy. After all, part of making your home family-friendly is welcoming kids (and their stuff) into shared spaces instead of relegating them to their bedrooms. We transformed what would have been the traditional dining room into a playroom. This space was chosen because of its proximity to the kitchen and living space making it ideal for keeping an eye on the little ones.

GO FOR CLEAN LINES, VIBRANT COLORS, AND TOUCHABLE TEXTILES

A no muss, no fuss look, is easier to keep up with. Keeping furnishings simple without fussy skirts, fringe, or trinkets is a low-maintenance must. Using color, texture, and patterns helps to camouflage the inevitable spills, fingerprints, and other mishaps. Explore the lighter side of interior design. Instead of stuffing open shelves with “off limits” accessories, stock them with books and toys. Spark some fun by adding the unexpected to your spaces. This is a great way to capture your family’s endearing style.

KEEP SPACES SPARSE

We kept furnishings on the sparse side to reserve space for play. Both Mom & Dad and the kids have plenty of space to hang out. Keeping “indestructible” tchotchkes to a minimal encourages children to touch, and makes them less likely to be tempted to touch the things they’re not supposed to. The walls were kept open leaving room for family photos and the “bestest” masterpieces kiddos are famous for creating.

MAKE STORAGE A DESIGN ELEMENT

Clutter is an unavoidable part of family life, but that doesn’t mean it has to take over your home. We put baskets and attractive boxes into open shelves to keep things organized and accessible. Believe it or not, there are a lot of good things being said about having open shelves, and it doesn’t seem to be showing any signs of slowing down. Check out The Truth About Open Shelving (From People Who Have Them).

Choose Forgiving Materials and Finishes

Their existing tile and wood floors were perfect for cleaning up with a damp mop. The only thing we needed to do was install some area rugs. They soften and warm a space and protect floors from kids — and kids from floors. When they get grungy, flip them over, send them to the cleaners, or simply replace the inexpensive ones. We used wool rugs, they do a great job of repelling moisture and dirt.

For the walls, we chose to go light and bright and used a wipe-able paint with an eggshell finish making clean-ups with a damp sponge a must. White walls, in our book, are never a bad idea. They almost always make a space look bigger, which helps avoid visual clutter when the unavoidable playtime gets out of hand. And besides, white goes with everything! Keep in mind, the less jarring the contrast in your overall color scheme, the more serene and uncluttered it will feel. Color: Sherwin-Williams, Snowbound, SW-7004.

Creating spaces with kids in mind doesn’t have to look institutional or like your first apartment. Stylish, adult spaces can co-exist in harmony with family-friendly living.

Family Friendly Spaces