Kid-Friendly Decorating

Don't wait till your kids are older, to think about decorating your space. It's important to love the space you live in, and here are some creative ways to decorate a space so it's durable AND dazzling!

Mark Scott and My Home Idea

• When painting your walls, choose a satin or eggshell finish. It has a slight sheen, but it's much easier to clean off finger prints and crayon marks than a flat finish paint.

• Use durable fabrics on your sofas and chairs, that will look better with age. Leather is a great option because it's easy to maintain and never goes out of style. Chenille fabric is also durable and wears well over time. Choose a solid color with a small repeat/pattern that can be updated every few years with different pillows.

• Sunbrella, which has a huge selection of indoor / outdoor fabrics, offers beautiful patterns and textures that can be incorporated into your decor, but can withstand the elements and are easily cleanable. Their fabrics are stain resistant and have a sun protection coating. The fabrics used in the above two pictures of the living room and bedroom, are all by Sunbrella.

• If you have a large living room that you'd like to use for multiple purposes, use decorative screens or open divider shelving to create smaller, usable spaces.

• Do you have an old, worn sofa or chair? Don't throw it away, get a slipcover. Slipcovers have come a long way and there are many design options available for any shape and size.

I'm going to expand on ALL of these decorating ideas over the next few blogs....there is a lot more information on each of these topics that I'd like to share. So check back!

Family-Friendly Organization

I'm a mom with young kids, and at times it's challenging to have a nice looking home amongst all the toys of my children. I want them to be able to play with their toys when they want, but at the same time, my home is important to me and especially with being an interior designer, I want to portray that. Designing your interior decor around young kids doesn't have to be a challenge. Kids go through their ages and stages so fast and as they're continually growing and changing, so are the toys they play with. I think the most challenging time when the amount of toys can get overwhelming is when your child(ren) is a baby/toddler. Most of the toys are big, bulky, and bright colored. I've pulled together some strategic organizational tips to design your decor, but at the same time make it kid-friendly.

•  Find baskets/bins that match your decor.  These rattan and wicker baskets are great options to organize your child's toys, and when they get older, you can use them for something else.  I always try to buy something that is multi-funtional and can be used for many purposes.  Also, when your kids are young, organizing their toys by category helps tremendously.  My son is always looking for something that he can't find, but if his toys are in the right bins, it should take seconds to find.

•  Get a large toy chest that complements your decor.  Or another option is to look for a vintage chest that can be used for toys today, but blankets and throws tomorrow.

 

• Use a storage ottoman in place of your glass or wood coffee table, similar to the ottomans above. These options will provide you with plenty of storage, and the leather/fabric will eliminate your concerns of sharp edges.

• Rotate your child's toys.  Keep some toys in your main living space, but store most of them in their rooms. You can keep them organized and by rotating them daily, it'll hold their interest longer. 

• Don't buy a lot of toys in the first place.  Your kids grow up so fast and the amount of toys you can accumulate is often overwhelming.  Try ToySwap.com, where you can borrow, swap, buy, or sell your toys.  They have an extensive list of toys to choose from.  Register on the site, select your toy and a few days later it'll be at your door.  When your child is bored of it, send it back!  There are few options for buying toys that won't break the bank (and in turn you won't mind getting rid of later).  Look for consignment shops in your area, like Cuddle Bugs in Saratoga Springs, NY, who sells a variety of toys and clothes.  Also, check out ebay and Craigslist, as well as local garage sales. 

These are just a few of the many options that I will continue blogging about regarding your home decor with your child in mind!  It's inevitable to have toys throughout your house when you have young kids...embrace it and know that it's only for a short period of time.

(images courtesy of: Coffee Table Ottoman, Ohdeedoh, Storage Ottoman, World Market)