It’s no secret that having kids changes every aspect of your life. One of the most significant alterations we have to adjust to as parents is modifying our homes. The house we once shared with a partner or pets, or the nest we had all to ourselves takes on a new role. You might assume that functional and practical is the only way when you have children, especially young kids, but there are ways to design a family-friendly home that also looks fabulous. In this guide, we’ll offer some tips to help you cross all of the boxes.
Setting up defined zones
One of the best ways to create a home that works for everyone is to set up defined zones. As a parent, you want to be able to spend quality time with your kids, but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting a haven to retreat to at bedtime or an area that remains free from building blocks and pop-up books. Every home should have distinctive spaces that provide privacy and tranquillity, as well as sociable spaces and zones that encourage creativity. Even if you have a limited number of rooms, you can set aside areas within the same space for different activities. Open-plan kitchens are incredibly popular. If you have a kitchen-diner, you can create a messy area for painting and drawing and playing games, a dining zone for catching up over meals and spending time with friends and family, a chill-out zone with a sofa or a couple of comfortable chairs and a TV and a workspace for cooking and preparing food.
If you are short on space inside, there are options you could explore if you’re willing to take on a project or you want to add value to your home. You could convert an attic or a basement or investigate options like adding a garden room, an orangery, a summer house or a log cabin. External structures have become increasingly popular during the pandemic and they provide a solution for parents that work from home, as well as those who want space for a home gym, a den for older kids or a creative studio.
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Choosing low-maintenance materials
Most parents probably feel like they spend a lot of time cleaning up and rushing to get cloths and towels to mop up spillages and prevent unsightly stains. Dealing with mess is part and parcel of raising kids and pets, but there are ways to make life easier. Choosing low-maintenance materials for your home is a simple, affordable way to make your house more child-friendly and save you time and effort. Consider the example of vinyl flooring in the living room and en suite or swapping ceramic tiles for waterproof panels in the family bathroom. Zero maintenance is one of the benefits of using waterproof PVC shower panels. You don’t have to worry about cleaning the walls regularly and you can simply wipe away traces of bubble bath and shower cream. In the kitchen, a high-traffic area, vinyl flooring and laminate may be preferable to tiles, which trap dirt.
Investing in clever storage solutions
Storage is essential for busy parents who want to keep their homes tidy and clutter-free. Storage isn’t always aesthetically-pleasing, but there are some brilliant ways to keep clothes, books, shoes and toys tidy. Even if you only have a small living room or a bijou nursery, you can use clever solutions to save space and enhance the look of the room. Use storage to create a new focal point or buy furniture that doubles up as storage and offers hidden drawers or cupboard space, for example. You can use open shelving, floating shelves or cubby holes to make a statement with your storage or look for beds with drawers underneath or coffee tables and TV units with pull-out drawers or sliding doors.
Another fantastic idea if you are struggling to find enough space to store belongings is to utilise awkward spaces. If you have an area under the stairs, for example, which is currently empty, why not put a small desk, a side table or a unit there?
Making your living spaces more versatile
Our homes have evolved from places where we rest and spend time with our families to workspaces, social spots and areas where we exercise and entertain ourselves and others. Our living spaces have to cater to different activities and tasks. If you’re preparing to welcome a new addition to your family, or you have kids and you’re hoping to make more of your living room and kitchen, there are several ways to create more versatile rooms.
Think carefully about the furniture you buy for your living spaces. Today, there is an incredible selection of pieces available and many can take on multiple roles. Consider a table that can turn from a desk during the day to a dining table every evening, or a TV unit that looks smart and stylish but also offers practical storage to keep CDs, games consoles and books out of view. You can also maximise space in bedrooms by using day beds, sofa beds or folding beds to turn a study or a home gym or yoga studio into a guest room. You could also explore ideas like adding a breakfast bar or placing stools by your kitchen counter for informal dining. This would allow you to use your dining table for work, homework or playing games together as a family.
When you have children, your home takes on a new role. It might not be possible to design the house of your dreams if you have small kids, but there is no reason why a home can’t look fabulous and be family-friendly too. Take these tips on board to create stylish, beautiful living spaces that will work on a practical level, free up space and make your home more versatile. Create defined areas for different activities, invest in clever storage solutions, choose low-maintenance materials that are durable and easy to clean and consider options like converting loft space or adding a garden room.