When designing a family room with kids in mind, it is important to make sure your furniture includes storage space, has functionality for your family, and is durable enough to last through kids at play. Another factor to consider is the safety of the furniture and other design elements. At the same time, you do not have to completely give up on style. There are a lot of ways you can ensure your family room is great for kids and parents at the same time.
Choose Comfortable Furniture with Durable Fabric
Choose chairs and sofas that are comfortable to sink into, rather than modern designs with sharp lines and little padding. If you already own furniture like this, you can fill your seating space with some soft ottomans and poufs for the kids to use. Since spills and messes happen with kids around, choose furniture made of leather or engineered fabrics, preferably in a darker color. Most furniture companies also have stain-resistant fabrics or can apply Scotchguard to your furniture. You can also cover your furniture in slipcovers, which can be removed and washed.
Paint Your Walls with Kid-Friendly Paint
When choosing a paint color for the family room, go with a satin, eggshell or semi-gloss paint. These types of paint are easy to wash with a sponge and some mild soap. Another option is to paint some areas of the room with chalkboard, dry erase or magnetic paint that allows kids to interact with the walls.
Create a Safe Space
Traditional rectangular ottomans can cause injuries if your child falls into it, so choose a round ottoman instead. One of these French Provincial coffee tables with rounded corners is perfect to add a bit of design to your room, as well. If you already own a rectangular coffee table, you can upholster it for a safer option. Another safety precaution to take is to anchor bookshelves and other big pieces of furniture to the walls to prevent them falling on your children.
Choose the Right Flooring
If you want a hard flooring in your family room, choose a washable material such wood, laminate, tile or vinyl. For added comfort, add area rugs made of natural fiber or indoor/outdoor material for easy clean up. If you would rather have carpet, the best option is carpet tiles because you can remove each one to wash it or replace it with a new tile.
Add Kid-Friendly Accessories
Bring your kids into the family room space by creating a gallery wall with their artwork. Place treasured or breakable items high up on shelves or in another room. Choose tables and benches that have built in storage to corral all of the toys.
Designing a family room with kids in mind involves thinking of safety and functionality at all times. Choose washable, comfortable materials and kid-friendly design items to make your life easier and to keep your kids happy.
