As much as you might wish otherwise, it can sometimes feel like keeping your home looking stylish with kids is an impossible task.
Crayons on the walls, muddy paw prints, and toys underfoot may be part of daily life, but that doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye to style in your home completely!
With smart material and furniture choices, combined with multifunctional designs, your home can be practical for a busy family while still being beautiful.
Start by trying these eight tips that will let you strike a balance in your home, and create spaces that are functional for your kids while still looking great!
1. Start with Durable and Beautiful Flooring
Flooring is the literal foundation any room’s style, and choosing something durable makes a world of difference in a busy home.
Natural stone tiles from companies like Quorn Stone are perfect for many spaces. The tiles are scratch-resistant, easy to clean, and stylish.
They come in a variety of styles, from limestone to wood-effect porcelain, and have the durability to handle even the toughest foot traffic.
Other family-friendly flooring options include hardwood, vinyl, or even concrete.
2. Choose Furniture with Washable Fabric
Your upholstery needs to survive real life use, not just look attractive in a room.
Look for furniture with machine-washable slipcovers, stain-resistant fabrics, or wipeable leather when choosing your sofas and chairs
Darker colors or subtle patterns can help disguise those inevitable stains from sticky little fingers, while still keeping your space looking coordinated.
3. Look for Stylish Storage That Works Hard
Good storage is the number one key to keeping things tidy and spaces stylish in a home with kids.
Consider a stylish shelf stocked with baskets for toys, a rolling cart for craft supplies, or furniture with hidden storage.
Choose options that blend with your decor, so your home feels organized without sacrificing style.
And, make sure to position your storage so that kids can reach what they need!
4. Use Zones to Create Flow
If your home features the open-plan design that’s become so popular in recent years, you can improve both function and style by creating specific zones within the space.
A comfy chair, lamp, and small table in a corner of the living room creates an instant reading nook, for example.
Or, consider adding a bookshelf or low storage unit to separate the dining area from the sitting room.
Even the simple addition of a rug near your child’s toybox can help define the area as a play space for your little one.
Creating these boundaries in an open space can help give the room better flow, and help make it more comfortable on the busiest of days.
5. Choose Meaningful, Durable Decor
There are all kinds of delicate decor pieces available. But, if you want to minimize your stress, it’s a better idea to save those for when your children are older!
Instead, opt for family-friendly decor that can withstand a few bumps and knocks. After all, accidents can be unavoidable in a house with kids!
Look for decor pieces made of materials like wood, metal, and stone. They can be just as stylish as any glass or ceramic piece, while also being far more durable.
For walls, consider decor that the whole family can appreciate. Think framed kids’ art, travel photos, or a gallery wall of prints you all choose together.
6. Paint Smart
Paint is one of the easiest ways to give your space an instant makeover.
Yet, regardless of the color of the paint you choose, bright and bold or cool and neutral, make your life easier by ensuring you choose a durable, washable finish.
Walls will inevitably have to deal with fingerprints, splashes, and the occasional scuff, so make your life easier by making them easy to clean.
7. Add Personal Touches
As much as we love our kids, it can sometimes feel like they completely take over a home.
Adding a few of your favorite items to different spaces can be an easy way to help you feel like your home is your space, too, rather than a giant play zone.
Whether it’s fresh flowers on the kitchen table, a candle in a favorite scent in the bathroom, or an area dedicated to your favorite hobby, incorporating your own preferences will make your home feel more inviting.
8. Let Go of Perfection
We all might dream of having that picture-perfect house that looks like it belongs in a home decor magazine, but real style isn’t about perfection.
The personality that you and your family bring to the space is what truly gives your home the look and feel that you want it to have.
Rather than striving for an immaculate house with perfectly-planned elements, embrace the charm of a space that feels lived in, loved, and full of energy.
Conclusion
You don’t need to give up on style when you have a house full of kids, you just need to design with real life in mind.
Practical choices in flooring, furniture, paint, storage and decor can help set the stage for a space that’s as beautiful as it is kid-friendly.
Then, by adding a few finishing touches to each room, you’ll be able to enjoy a home that feels like a calm oasis even when you’re dealing with the chaos of parenthood.
After all, the most stylish home is one that truly showcases your family’s heart and soul.