You finally have your home decorated just so --- or, you are just about to start decorating your dream space -- and you want to create a happy marriage between your child's life and the look of your home. How can you blend the two together? Is it possible to keep you designerly sensibilities and let your kids be kids in the home?
Yes, you can! My Home Ideas gives some great kid-friendly decorating tips and also tips on how to keep your look and home appearing newer, longer:
• Choose durable upholstery that looks better at it ages. Leather is easy to care for and never goes out of fashion.
• Use wipe-clean paint. Grubby hands needn’t be a bother, even on pale walls, if you use a finish, such as eggshell, then most stains can be removed from.
• Go for washable slipcovers -- a must for a family room and perfect when the fun spills over.
• Get a bed with storage baskets as they are perfect for keeping bed linens in -- and toys, so the kids can amuse themselves while you relax.
• Go for practical dining chairs that’ll stay pristine. Leather just needs a quick wipe down to stay looking smart.
• Select smart flooring, such as laminate, that will withstand tricycles as well as dropped food and drink.
• Oilcloth adds a fun touch during the daytime and protects the table from spills.
For more tips, visit the My Home Ideas Web site.
Photos: Mark Scott
© 2010 Apartment Therapy
great bedroom. where is the art and bedding from?
view wtuctuc's profile
Nice ideas. My mom had "no children" rooms in her house which I refuse to have. That art print in the bedroom is really nice too.
view LuminousDreamDesigns's profile
Does anyone know where I can find that coffee table?
view suzupstate's profile
My number one secret is using the garage for messy art and craft projects. For other art and craft projects in the house, I use washable paints and markers.
For toys, I choose pieces of quality wood (think big bead roller coaster maze) or objects like Dado cubes that blend well. I also do not store a lot of toys. If I need bins upon bins, I am doing something wrong and not donating enough.
I keep one room that is mostly free of toys. I say "mostly" because there may be a couple small stragglers, but I try to keep that one room for friend/neighbor visits, meetings, reading, etc.
view stickyricemama's profile
That coffee table is perfect! Does anyone know where it's from?
view keeleyryan's profile
And I would say avoid microfiber--it's great if you spill red wine, but it doesn't hold up to everyday schmutz. We're getting a slipcover for our white microfiber couch, I'm sorry to say.
view TheLittlestChicken's profile
That coffee table IS indeed perfect. Working backwards from the links provided, it seems to be available through the furniture store Dwell in the UK. I wonder if there are any U.S. distributors.
http://dwell.co.uk/102819/Oval-coffee-table-with-four-curved-stools
view Jenifer's profile