Decorating Your Home Even With Small Kids

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I often get comments and questions on my blog about how to decorate your home when you have small kids running around. While there isn’t any “one-size-fits-all” answer to this very good question, I will hopefully address some of these questions, provide you with great practical tips you can use, and maybe even help you see that you can still have a beautiful home with small kids.

kid friendly room

Source: Oorban.com

We all know that kids are very curious and inquisitive – that’s one of the things I enjoyed about my kiddos when they were younger (They are now 17 and 12). I mean let’s face it, they pull stuff off tables, eat stuff they shouldn’t, break stuff, write on walls and furniture (usually with permanent markers) and the list goes on and on.

How do you get your home to look beautifully decorated without limiting your kids and having them feel nervous in their own home?

  • Consider how you really live in your home. A room that is beautifully decorated but doesn’t hold up to the demands of everyday life is either going to end up unused or be destroyed quickly.
  • Consider hiring an Interior Decorator, even just on an hourly consultation basis to help you plan and make the best choices for a family friendly home. A good Interior Decorator will help you make practical and beautiful choices keeping the needs of your small kids in mind
  • I urge my clients to buy things they love as much as possible. But during this season of your life, it is wise to buy things that are not so precious that you cringe when the kids go near them. This season will pass by quickly, because these kids grow up so fast. Then you can invest in the statement pieces you really want. There still needs to be some thought put into these pieces so they will look great and function well
  • Waiting to decorate is not the answer. Living in a beautiful and functional home will enhance your family life. You and your children deserve to live beautifully. They will grow up to respect and appreciate having nice things. You can even get them involved in the decorating process – maybe by picking paint colors for their bedroom or playroom (within reason of course :-) )
  • Set some house rules. Rules don’t have to be rigid. Encourage them not to eat in certain areas of the home, or not to climb on the draperies or jump on the sofa or use markers outside of the playroom. They may still do a little bit every now and again, but most kids will follow clear rules, especially if there is some reward involved
  • Keep things casual and simple. The more formal the furniture, the more you will freak out if your kids so much as breathes on them. Go for low maintenance, easy clean-up. Certain decorating styles like a boho chic look, or a modern vintage look lend themselves nicely to decorating with small kids. This is because these looks already have distressed or rustic elements that only look better with more dings and scratches
  • While the kids are small, it is a great time to decorate with lots of color and texture. Bring in the colored sofa with pillows of varying patterns and textures. They hide spills and messes so much better
  • Accessorize out of their reach. Keep the precious mementos to areas far from their eye level. Avoid breakable pieces, but that doesn’t mean that you should avoid accessorizing altogether. You may not be able to use grandma’s crystal candlesticks just yet, but a nice plastic bowl of fruits might do the trick.
  • Consider the materials you use. If you have the opportunity to choose the finishes for your home, go for more durable finishes even if they cost slightly higher up front. Choose easy clean up flooring like ceramic or porcelain tiles, even a durable hardwood. Go for stain resistant carpet or maybe no carpet at all. Choose a durable countertop like granite in bathrooms. Choose a paint finish for your walls that can be scrubbed easily, like an eggshell finish. Now is the time to invest in a quality sofa especially if your kids are jumpers. Sofas are a big-ticket item and get used a lot. If they are good quality, they will last a lifetime. They can be re-upholstered later as long as they have a durable frame. It’s ok to go a bit cheaper on smaller occasional chairs, those can be replaced a lot easier later.
  • Designate a space for the kids. Even if you live in a really small house, you can carve out a small space designated as the kids’ play area. Making a home family friendly means that kids should have a place where they can really be themselves. Keep the furnishings to a minimum with a lot of floor space for horsing around. Include a table and chair set-up for crafts and games. Add a chalkboard or corkboard where they can draw or paint freely and hang their creations. Make it educational and imaginative – they will want to hang out there. A TV watching area is a must, and there absolutely has to be a ton of storage
  • Expect minor disasters. Kids are little accident prone, dirt magnets. Don’t lose your cool with the inevitable minor mishaps. Give them some freedom, with some guidelines attached. I remember when my kids were young I would have a bottle of “Resolve Carpet Cleaner” in every carpeted room, that way I could quickly clean up spills.

Here is a playroom I recently completed for a client. There are older kids (14 and 12) and very young ones (3, 2 and 3 months old), and even the parents that will be using this space. This room was a nice blend of low end pieces with quality mid-range pieces.

decoratin with small kids at home

Source: Casa Vilora Interiors – Kids’ Playroom

 

Here are some helpful and practical tips to help you get your kid friendly decorating on :-)

  • Try mixing low end pieces with quality mid-range pieces. You can certainly mix the Ikea chairs with the Stanley credenza and still get great results. Things that don’t get used all the time by the kids are a great place to spend money while they are still little.
  • Use slip covered upholstery pieces that can easily be washed or dry cleaned. Avoid pieces with really long skirts. Those can gather dust or become a trip hazard
  • A tailored sofa with attached back cushions would work better than loose back cushions.
  • Use area rugs over wood floors and tile floors. You might even consider an indoor/outdoor rug that can be washed down for serious spills. There are great options available. Check out some options here
  • Use indoor/outdoor fabric on pillows and chairs, especially where kids eat. There is an abundance of beautiful fabrics available on the market today to suit any décor.
  • Keep fabrics and the designs of window treatments simple. Avoid silks and more formal fabrics, especially in rooms where kids play. Cottons and cotton blends are a better way to go. I’m not a big fan of store bought curtains because they rarely fit the windows the right way, but you can still have custom drapery panels on a small budget. Click here to see our selection at No Naked Windows.
  • Keep carpet and upholstery spot cleaners on hand for easy clean up of spills.
  • Most upholstery retailers will have the option to add a stain resistant finish to their pieces. It may be worth spending the extra cash for that feature
  • Incorporate a lot of stylish storage in each room. There are wonderful canvas bins and baskets that will add beautiful color and texture to a room.
  • I may be preaching to the choir on this one, but invest in sippy cups…..even for the husbands :-) That will prevent a lot of spills
  • Opt for wood top tables instead of glass top. While glass top may seem easier to clean, they are also easier to break.
  • Having a few larger pieces on casters will allow you the flexibility of  temporarily rolling them out of the way and opening up floor space for playtime
decorating with kids at home

Source: Casa Vilora Interiors – Toddlers’ Bedroom

The point here is that you can have a beautiful, well decorated home even with small kids just with some careful planning. You really should not give your home over to the kids for them to have free rein with chaos everywhere. I honestly believe you are doing yourself a dis-service by avoiding decorating your home simply because your kids are little. It is ultimately your home and should feel like a grown-up space as well. Your home does not have to look like a pre-school with toys and kids stuff everywhere. You can have the best of both worlds – A beautiful home and happy kids!

At the end of the day, a great family life takes priority – whatever that looks like in your home. That is what truly matters

Hope you are able to accomplish beauty, comfort and function in your home with your lovely families.

Be Inspired!

Casa Vilora Interiors

Veronica Solomon, Casa Vilora Interiors
VeronicaSolomon.com

 

 

81 thoughts on “Decorating Your Home Even With Small Kids”

  2. I can’t wait to have children and design their rooms, it seems like so much fun, especially for someone creative like myself. I like the tips on keeping your home kid friendly especially when they make messes, always having things handy helps a lot.

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  3. I loved designing our girls’ rooms when they were born. Of course now that they’re a little older and more fashion-conscious, they hate it and want it re-done…

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  5. Great tips! With 2 kids in the house, I have completely given up on decorating. We have the essentials in the living room, in the bedroom and kitchen. Everything else? Boxed up. LOL But the last photo makes me want to decorate again!

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  7. These are all really great tips. I’m a big fan of slip covers because they’re easy to wash and you can quickly remove them if company is coming over. Anyone who shows up unannounced has to take what they get lol.

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  14. I agree – it is possible to decorate one’s home and still have it functional with children living there. I like to have an area in each room that is just for the kids, so they know what they can get into! Thanks for these great ideas.

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  16. Very nice ideas– one thing I would suggest though. Lose the couch with all the loose pillows. From experience with that type of couch and little people, I can tell you that those loose pillows will be everywhere but where they should be!

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  19. All your tips apply to our home as grandparents. It is important to have it be kid friendly, adlt charming and a space we enjoy living in. I don’t believe in lettin kids walk on furniture or throwing things. I teach lets pack up and put it away. Keeping space neat and tidy works for all. Great photos.

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  21. I am not sure I will ever have the statement pieces I want, we have kids and animals so it is hard. I go for pictures/photos/prints that way I can hang them up where no one can get to them. I love the idea for the sofa – the different colors will work great for hiding stains.

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  23. Love the tips and pictures. I don’t have kids to decorate for but I do have the challenge of a dog. She’s lovely cuddly and playful, trying to keep things is order can be challenge when she is running around and playing.

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  29. I think we all have a tendency to allow our family life to dictate how we decorate. I know that I have purchases furniture based on owning dogs too. And I have not exactly liked those choices in the end. It is tough because you also want to be able to keep it clean and looking new. There are some great ideas and tips in this post!

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  30. These are fantastic tips. I especially love how you mention that you need to decorate to match your lifestyle. I have had friend’s with the “pretty room no one could use” and it seemed like such a waste. You provide great options to decorate with the idea of scaling because the kids won’t be little forever. Thanks for sharing!

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  31. My children are grown and living on their own. Perhaps one day in the not too distant future, there will be grandchildren and I’ll be invited to share some input on decorating for them! :)

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  33. Sounds great. I have two little ones. It really helps that they are both girls so I can keep the design more on the pink/purple side. I will go for the simplicity aspect.

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  37. I have a son 3 years old and he always do stuff at the living room all day long my wife would love to see this blog. I am so amazed with designs of photo. Thank you for sharing!

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  42. Gorgeous playroom! I know for us, what really worked is that we had our own space to make a mess, color the walls, have our toys, and do whatever we wanted. It gave us the chance to get all our naughty out in the room instead of on the walls or floors of the living room. We never dared make a mess elsewhere!

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  47. What a comprehensive list of things to do that make designing around children easier! I remember how successfully you redid the playroom in the second photo — brilliant. I have “kits” instead of “kids.” Maybe you could do an article on designing around pets? ;-)

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