Kids And Beautiful Design

You can balance beautiful design and kid friendlism in your decor with these helpful tips and tricks....

Living Room Lowdown

• Choose durable upholstery that looks better at it ages. Leather is easy to care for and never goes out of fashion.
• Create different seating areas.Coffee-table seating is perfect for games and coloring; wide sofas are better for reading.
• 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 forwashable slipcovers -- a must for a family room and perfect when the fun spills over.

Living Room: Kids' Rules

• We want lots of room to play, so make sure you keep all your stuff out of the way. Built-in storage units and shelves keep the floor free for us to play on.
• The floor is for rolling on, eating on, and trying out our train track on. So get a patterned rug as it’s better for hiding crumbs and stains, and can be cleaned more easily than carpet.

Tip: Coffee tables are a great height for kids to play on, so buy one tough enough to withstand everyday knocks.

Cozy Bedroom

• Pick machine-washable bedding.You need to be able to chuck it in the washer if breakfast gets spilt.
• 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.
• Buy a separate headboard so when you want a fresh look, you can replace or repaint it without having to buy a new bed.
• Add soft-cornered storage, such as this upholstered ottoman. The padded lid and rounded edges aren’t going to cause injury if kids bump into them.
• Edge a plain blind with patterned fabric so when little hands grab the bottom of it, no grubby prints will show.
• Find a clever storage unit that will hide away a home office. The computer monitor is great for watching DVDs in bed, too.

Bedroom: Kids’ Rules

• We love to bounce on the beds, so stay clear of white bedding! Pick an easy-care finish and add a splash of color or pattern on pillowcases.
• Best get a slightly patterned carpet. If we spill your breakfast orange juice on the floor, a plain one would show stains.

Tip: Clutter-free surfaces and round-edged furniture mean it’s safe for fun and games.

Durable Dining Room

• Go for practical dining chairs that’ll stay pristine. Leather just needs a quick wipe down to stay looking smart.
• Choose inexpensive curtains.With kids likely to pull or wrap themselves up in them, they’ll need replacing before long.
• Use sleek furniture without protruding handles that children might catch themselves on.
• Select smart flooring, such as laminate, that will withstand tricycles as well as dropped food and drink.

Dining Room: Kids’ Rules

• If you don’t want us to play with your pretty things, keep them out of our reach on a high shelf.
• Keep your china and glass safe in a sideboard.
• We love to play at the table, so choose an aged-wood design, so that marks won’t stand out.

Tip: Oilcloth adds a fun touch during the daytime and protects the table from spills.