Decorating your home in a stylish and kid-friendly fashion takes a bit of work.
In many ways, style seems to be very non-kid-friendly (think small glass collectibles, delicate and very breakable decor, and white surfaces perfect for cake smears).
But with a smidge of inspiration, you can absolutely embrace stylish home decor while still being a confident parent. Your child will finally roam free — through the living room, kitchen, dining room, and everywhere in between.
Let’s break it down into seven decorating tips for parents who also desperately want a stylish abode wherein they feel at home.
This is where it starts.
1. Start With The Basics – Safety
Getting rid of anything that isn’t childproof is going to be the first step. Style is important, but child safety is first and foremost.
You should always prioritize the basic necessities in your home where there’s a child or toddler present, which include:
- Anchoring heavy furniture to the wall
- Securing cabinet doors
- Making sure that toxic or poisonous cleaning supplies are up and out of reach
- Keeping chokable items away from the grasping hands of your little ones
With all of that being said, many parents struggle with the balance between childproofing and decorating.
Sometimes, it feels like you can either have a stylish home or a childproof home.
But the truth is that you can combine both of these elements to create a home that you love that’s also safe and nurturing for your child.
So feel encouraged! There’s hope!
2. Choose Forgiving Colors & Textures
Sometimes it may seem your job is wiping up messes and personally preventing crayon and washable marker spots.
But unless you plan to follow your toddler around all day, you’re going to want to think proactively about your decor choices.
Some colors and textures will be challenging for you later on, while others will be forgiving.
For decor at ground level (the toddler destruction zone), consider choosing textures, colors, and surfaces that won’t show wear and tear. It helps if they’re also easy to clean.
Buy coffee tables, lamps, and other items that are sturdy, easy to wash, and colored in such a way that hand-prints won’t show up as easily.
One great example of this is to buy a rustic, hardwood kitchen table. Unlike glass, it won’t show smudges. And unlike veneer, it’ll take a beating and still look great.
3. Protect Important Surfaces By Making Smart, Preventative Decor Choices
You must be proactive to prevent decor disasters.
Do so by making smart decisions, like:
- Using washable throw rugs
- Choosing a cabinet style and texture that’s easy to clean
- Ensuring that you’re okay with juice and cracker spills on every single piece of furniture you do choose
Scotchgard Fabric and Upholstery Protector is a great product that can help you accomplish this.
Another fantastic method for protecting your furniture from toddler destruction is to use protective coverings.
A lot of people wouldn’t think to do this, because generally speaking, we purchase couches, chairs, and recliners to place and enjoy as is.
But here’s the thing:
Buying expensive furniture is an investment that’s supposed to last you for years to come.
And, your child won’t be a toddler forever.
Cover up your furniture while your children are young. Then, remove the covers after they’ve matured enough to know that dumping chocolate milk on the white Davenport isn’t the best idea.
This will save you loads of energy, money, and frustration as a parent.
Plus, you could easily buy attractive covers and make your furniture look great.
Or better yet, if you’re a do-it-yourselfer, sew some covers together yourself for complete customization.
4. Frame Your Child’s Art
One of the unique things about kids is that they come with a ton of built-in creativity.
So, why not leverage this to get some fantastic wall art out of the deal?
You could go the direct route and frame the actual art pieces themselves.
Or, you could take them to a print shop and have them scanned, enlarged, and even touched up by a Photoshop professional.
This is a brilliant way to preserve your child’s art long-term. These pieces could even make wonderful graduation or wedding gifts for your children down the road.
And in the meantime, they’ll make wonderful artwork for your home as well.
5. Showcase Your Child’s Picture Books Like Art Objects
Stacks of children’s picture books can be an eyesore.
But consider this:
Every single one of those books has designer cover art specifically chosen to look incredible on a store bookshelf.
So why not make use of all of that artwork, and display it with the cover facing outward?
Do this on shelving, on a mantel, and dresser tops.
It’s just a great way to store books while also double-utilizing them as decor pieces.
6. Embrace A More ‘Open’ Floor Plan – One That Facilitates Creative Freedom Of Movement
Kids love to run around.
This means that they need lots of open space.
But incidentally, open space is also synonymous with an open floor plan, which is a staple effect for many interior home decor styles.
Consider blending these two things to get the best of both worlds.
You’ll get an open floor plan that lends itself to interior decorating freedom. Plus, your child will enjoy safe spaces to run around in without hurtling towards furniture and obstacles.
It’s a win-win scenario!
7. Display Sturdy Items That Can’t Be Damaged
Displaying remarkable rocks, rustic sourced artwork, garden statues, and carved wooden models can give you impressive decorative options. Sturdy pieces stand the test of time, even after getting knocked over or banged around.
Plus, these types of options will still facilitate a stylish living space that’ll make your home beautiful and unique.
You can even get creative with this. Visit flea markets, garage sales, thrift stores, or specialty shops to find weird, engaging, and unique one-off objects to use as decor items.
Filter your results to look for objects that will be sturdy. They must deal with the veritable hurricane of toddler energy you have contained within your house.
And you’ll be that much more likely to find the perfect blend of ‘aesthetic’ and ‘childproof’ you’ve been looking for.
Conclusion
Who said that a childproof home couldn’t be stylish?
As it turns out, it absolutely can. Simply follow these seven decorating tips for a stylish, kid-friendly home.
Author Bio
Caitlin Sinclair is the property manager at The Beverly. With five years of property management experience and many more in customer service, she has a passion for her community and loves making The Beverly the place to call home.
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