Incorporate these elements to create a stylish and worry-free environment for you and your family
A child’s laughter can permeate a home and warm the coldest of
hearts. Kids can also create lots of messes, from the living room to the
bathroom and everywhere in between. Here are 12 features that can help
you create a kid-friendly home that’s clean, organized, safe — and fun
for all.
1. Fixed-cushion sofas.
Kids love pulling cushions off the sofa. One of the best things that I
can recommend so that your formal living spaces look orderly, even with
little ones jumping on your furniture, is to buy sofas with fixed
cushions. There won’t be any fort building with this sofa.
2. Vinyl flooring. If
you’re renovating your home, and you don’t want to see your new hardwood
flooring get destroyed by furniture being dragged across it, you may
want to consider a good-quality vinyl floor. Vinyl floors are virtually
impossible to destroy and look incredibly realistic these days. They’re
almost guaranteed to last through the better part of your child’s stay
at your house without your having to replace them.
3. Semigloss paint. Having
a chalkboard for kids is really great, but you don’t need to create one
with chalkboard paint. I like to use semigloss paint when painting
kids’ areas. You can choose any color, and it washes up beautifully.
Marker, crayon and chalk all wash off easily when a semigloss paint is
used. Don’t be afraid to use semigloss on all of your kids’ walls.
4. Carpet tiles. We all
know that children and carpet don’t go well together. But if you really
want carpet, you should consider using carpet tiles instead of
broadloom. If something spills on a carpet tile, it’s easy to lift up
the 18-by-18-inch square and bring it to the dry cleaner for a proper
cleaning. If the stain doesn’t come out, then you need to replace only
that one little square.
5. Area rugs. Generally
speaking, I would recommend not using carpet under the dining table if
you have children. But if you really want a rug under your table, then
use carpet tiles to create an area rug.
6. Tiled walls. If you live
with children, it’s best to go with tiles for your bathroom walls. For
some mysterious reason, toothpaste gets everywhere when kids brush their
teeth. Not to mention, they’re not always so great at locating the
toilet in the middle of the night either.
7. Rounded furniture.
Even if you live in a house with lots of space, your child will find a
corner to bump into. Try to mitigate the damage to your children’s
heads, sides and legs by choosing furniture that is rounded, with no
sharp corners. There are so many great-looking pieces today that will
let you live worry-free for a long time.
8. Closed storage. You
can never have enough storage when you have children, but the best way
to keep toys and stuff from taking over is to create ample closed
storage. Make sure you have a mix of drawer and door storage to
accommodate all the different types of toys.
9. Kids’ counters. If you
want to keep your children from taking over your space, it’s best if you
can create a space of their own, close to yours. Children do like to
remain close to their parents for a considerable amount of time, so
giving them a work and play counter where they can paint and build would
be ideal. Try to use a material that is very durable, like quartz, as a
countertop, as it will get a lot of use and abuse.
10. Coat hooks. Children
love coat hooks, and are especially good at hanging up their coats when
the hooks are mounted at a height they can reach. When creating a space
for coats, don’t forget about creating a space for their backpacks and
boots too.
11. Floating vanities. Not
everyone loves the look of a floating vanity, but they really do make
sense for many years when your children need to use a stool to reach the
faucets. It’s so great to be able to tuck those stools under the vanity
and get them out of the way so no one stubs a toe.
No comments:
Post a Comment