You may have big decorating ideas for your home, but feel that you can’t have anything nice without it getting scuffed or stained by muddy shoes or sticky fingers.
Having kids doesn’t have to mean compromising on style in your home. Here are a few clever and stylish décor options for a home with kids.
1. Table tops
Create a stylish yet indestructible table covering by cutting a piece of oilcloth or coated cotton to fit your table. Scalloped edges add a pretty detail and kids' messes can be wiped clean easily with a damp sponge
2. Smart seating
Consider recovering your dining chairs' seats in a stylish, spill-resistant fabric. Solid-hued coated linen is treated with PVC so stains won't set, but it still looks sophisticated enough for 'grown-up' dinner parties too.
3. Magic walls
Let ‘stains-be-gone’ with this clever decorating idea. Protect walls from grubby hands by painting the lower half of the wall with a medium or dark hue of semi or high-gloss paint. The shiny finishes are easier to clean than flat ones, but can be too shiny to cover a whole room. Use a light and matte paint above to temper the reflective surface below.
4. Lasting art
For kids' spaces, avoid hanging framed pictures that could get knocked down. Instead opt for art that sticks directly to the surface, like wall decals.
5. Tough textiles
Outdoor fabrics are designed to resist more wear and tear than most materials, so work well in a house full of kids. Alternatively, while leather must be dry-cleaned, the majority of spills can be quickly wiped up before stains set in. Another option is vinyl. There's a reason you'll find most restaurant booths upholstered in this synthetic alternative to leather, as it's nearly indestructible.
6. Savvy styling
Instead of working around your kids, why not incorporate their play into your decorating ideas. Consider the "distressed" look for furnishings - like a table that won't show the nicks and marks that kids put on furniture as readily as smooth finishes will. Or, forget vases and style your space with kid-safe accessories like books or even toys.
7. Practical poufs
Placing poufs around your home will not only keep the kids off your good sofa, but are made with easy-to-clean fabrics like vinyl and faux-leather and can be colour and style co-ordinated with each room.
Image via Pinterest.
