When you have children, your primary focus is keeping them safe and making them happy. Being a parent and embracing interior design trends don’t always go hand in hand, but there are ways to inject serious style into a family home. In this guide, we’ll explore some ideas to help you design a house that works on every level.
Storage
Storage is a godsend when you have kids. We all know that little people have a lot of stuff and they can make even the smallest items spread far and wide. Storage isn’t always stylish but you can invest in some incredible systems, design concepts and individual items. If you have a lot of stuff, consider making bookshelves, open cubby holes or wall-mounted shelves a focal point of living rooms, studies and playrooms or look for furniture that boasts built-in storage. Beds that have drawers underneath, TV units with shelves and side tables that double up as storage cupboards are all excellent examples. You can also use freestanding tubs, crates, boxes and racks to make tidying toys away quick and easy.
Flooring and tiles
When you have young children, choosing materials for your home takes on a new meaning. You want your home to look fabulous, but you also don’t want to be fretting every time there’s a spillage or you see your child walking around with a drink or a snack. There are plenty of practical solutions you can employ that will enhance both functionality and style. Vinyl, floor tiles and laminate wood flooring are ideal for hallways, kitchens, cloakrooms and living rooms and they come in a vast array of styles and colours. From patterned tiles for a classic, vintage look to modern monochrome, you can choose flooring to suit the themes you love and your individual requirements. Changing the flooring in your home can also help to make rooms look lighter and brighter. If you’re used to hardwood floors or patterned carpets, for example, choosing a light floor will open the space up creating the illusion of a larger room.
Colour
Adding colours or changing the colour palette in your home can make a dramatic difference to the look and feel of rooms instantly. You can paint walls, use wallpaper to inject colour or add prints and patterns, or use accessories to lift neutral walls. Choose colours to set the tone of the room and channel themes and trends you love. Pastels, neutrals and soothing shades of blue, purple and green are ideal for bedrooms while bright shades and splashes of vibrant colour will work well in kitchens, sociable living spaces and children’s playrooms. If you are getting your brushes and rollers out, always clean and sand the surface first to ensure a smooth finish. Buy enough paint for at least two coats and let the first layer of paint dry before applying the second.
Family homes have to be functional, but they don’t have to be bland or run-of-the-mill. There are myriad ways you can inject style without detracting from the practicality of a house designed to cater to modern family life. Experiment with colour, look for innovative storage solutions to create new focal points and opt for flooring that looks fabulous but is also easy to clean and maintain.
*This is a collaborative post