8 Tips for Creating a Beautiful Home with Kids

As a mother of 2 little kids, I get how messy and careless kids can be. From the crumbs to the toy buildup to the crayon art on the walls, having a nice home with littles can seem like an impossible dream. But don’t give up just yet! You don’t need to wait until your kids move out to have a stylish home. Read on for designer approved tips on how to have a beautiful home with small children. 

1. Get Patterned Rugs

When dirt or food gets tracked on your patterned rug (and it most definitely will!), it will blend in so much better than on a solid rug. For more tips on choosing a rug, click here. If your rug is really dirty and needs a deep clean, click here for tips on how to do that. Also, try to go a little darker with your rug when possible. Dark colors are usually more forgiving than lighter ones. 

2. Kid-friendly Coffee tables

Sharp corners are never a good idea with kids around. Avoid the issue by either getting a round coffee table or an ottoman. An ottoman with storage can also be a handy spot to corral toys and other clutter that come along with kids. Which brings me to my next tip. 

3. Make Use of Your Storage

Once you have kids, the amount of items you own will instantly double. Invest in storage items that are functional and pretty so that you can stash away the clutter and make it look beautiful in one fell swoop. 

4. Wipeable Dining Chairs

For both the kitchen and dining room, please choose chairs that are easily wipeable and/or hide stains well. Why would you want to constantly have to be checking to see if your toddler spilled juice onto your white linen dining chairs? Make your life easier and just get chairs that are simple to clean. There are so many beautiful and wipeable options, there is absolutely no reason to buy delicate ones. 

5. Choosing the Right Fabrics

Aside from dining chairs, make sure you are choosing fabrics wisely for the rest of your home as well. Leather, outdoor fabrics or darker fabrics will generally be better in terms of stain resistance. For more on couch fabrics, click here.

6. Choosing the Right Materials

Make sure you choose kid-proof materials. This includes materials like vinyl flooring (which is virtually indestructible), rugs instead of carpet (they can be easily replaced) and durable countertops (see here for a full rundown.)

7. Create Kid-Friendly Spaces 

In my experience, it is really hard to keep a space off-limits to kids if it doesn’t have a door. A main bedroom or an office are a lot more practical to make off limits to kids than a formal living room. So instead of buying white linen couches for your living room, spend the money on a performance fabric sofa. This way, you won’t need to worry if your kids end up in the room. It makes your life way easier!

8. Embrace the Imperfection

Follow all these tips but accept that with little kids underfoot, there will always be things that get ruined. Make sure you don’t own anything too precious and that everything is easily replaceable.

At the end of the day, your kids matter more than all your furniture. Enjoy them!