A magazine-worthy home with virtually no clutter is every adult’s ideal abode, but children have other ideas. And, letting children explore their early childhood creativity and activities are just as important for a beautiful family home. However, there’s no need to sacrifice elegance for comfort. So, we decided to share our design expertise and experience for a family friendly. A house with children can be both stylish and sensible.
Flooring
Hardwood is a popular option, making it more child-friendly and practical. It also adds a luxe touch that gives a boost to your house value. Falls and tumbles on a wooden floor have softer landings than tiles. You can always use washable rugs to deter spillages and scratches. And, if real wood is not what you’re after, vinyl and laminate make the best alternatives. Vinyl is easy to clean, resistant to spillages, scratches, and works well with moisture. Laminate flooring too is easy to clean, however less effective with scratches and moisture. It has a closer resemblance to wood.
Multipurpose Storage
Less-is-more is not applicable when you have children. You will instantly notice how much stuff you accumulate over the years. Toys, clothes, shoes, and books take over any spare space in the house. Multipurpose storage makes life so much easier for you. Double-tiered coffee tables with a bottom shelf, built-in cupboards, wicker baskets, and cubbies are practical solutions for a living room and bedroom. Large, plush ottomans with storage inside for toys are easy to use anywhere in the house and make functional home decorations.
Open floor plan
When you are a parent, you will soon grow to appreciate being able to keep an eye on your children whilst doing your work. Open floor plans are a great choice for this. 54% of UK homeowners consider the kitchen to be the “heart of the home.” It is where more and more families spend time. An open-plan kitchen with a dining room and lounge space amalgamated creates a child-friendly area. Parents can cook while kids play and eat together in a more intimate setting.
Sturdy Furniture
Go for clean, round, and smooth edges when picking out furniture. Sharp edges, glass corners, and fragile furniture can be unsafe and short-lived. There’s no reason to fill your home with bright coloured or Peppa Pig furniture. Children grow up fast. Look for quality. Sturdier the furniture better. That doesn’t mean you have to stick with plain designs. Make sure the cushions and fabrics are washable. Leather is wipeable. Look for sofas with sturdier frames that withstand trampolining your kids will use them for. The chairs and tables should have robust legs instead of thin and less-supportive ones. Kids will be climbing all the time. These should not break under their weight. Upholstery, box-shaped side tables/stools (with storage capability), high shelves or floor to wall shelves with no crawl space beneath, and in-built or stud wall anchored cupboards and shelves that do not topple are child-friendly choices.
Invest in performance fabrics
Everything in your house will get your little one’s sticky finger treatment. Performance fabrics ensure that your sofas, cushions, and chair upholstery are resilient. They are easy to clean, resist snagging, and are stain-resistant.
Outdoor Renovations
Child-friendly home improvement projects should not be limited to indoors. Kids love playing in the garden, and it should be an equally safe place. Make sure that you have weeded out poisonous, thorny, and prickly bushes and plants. Eliminate uneven turfs, large rocks, and jagged surfaces. The fence around the garden should be free of gaps and holes. If you are installing a swing, make sure it is safe and positioned in an object-free area.
Considerations and tips when renovating a home with children
- Believe it or not, the season matters. Spring and summer are the best seasons to refresh home designs. With school holidays, you will be less busy, and the children’s routine will not be disturbed. There are plenty of opportunities for ice lollies, outdoor barbequing, dips in the pool, and sleeping well into the day.
- Do not settle just for the present needs. Plan ahead. Children grow fast. Tiny beds, tables, chairs, and spaces will not last long. Leave a bit more room for their growth, so you don’t have to replace everything or redo designs each year. A growing family might also look forward to more children in the future. Make sure nurseries and children’s bedrooms can accommodate bunk beds, twin beds, and play space.
- There’s an interior designer in your child too, let them decide the colour and personality of their room. There’s no need to splash out on high-end products; children come up with new favourites all the time.
- Get them involved in the work. If a wall is getting stripped of its paper, let them have fun drawing on it. Give them a paintbrush to try a few brush strokes. If a wall is coming down, hand them a kid-friendly hammer to break some off.
Good home designs bring happiness to families when everyone’s needs are met. GS Brown Construction homes are built for generations with family-friendly design at its heart. Build or buy your home with GS Brown who can match style with quality.
