You’ve got kids and with them came about 44 billion toys and accessories. Your storage space is overflowing and the toys are taking over room by room. Cleaning up is a headache. Your identity outside of a parent feels like it’s floundering as your house loses personality to the child take-over. Sound familiar? Most of the families that contact us are looking for solutions to mix their kids needs with their adult lives (and aesthetics).
As families grow and evolve, so do their needs and desires within their living spaces. Designing a home that not only accommodates children, but maximizes their creativity and streamlines the lives of their parents is key. Homes designed for children and the busy family life should not only enhance comfort and functionality but also promote creativity, safety, and peacefulness. Our Piedmont, California Craftsman home is a perfect test case.
Fostering Creativity and Exploration
Children thrive in environments that stimulate their imagination and allow them to explore their interests. Parents thrive when toys aren’t scattered across every surface of the house. A thoughtfully designed space can significantly enhance of family life, encouraging creativity and play, without sacrificing aesthetics and organization.
Creating Dedicated Play Areas
One of the first steps in designing a family-friendly home is to create dedicated play areas. These spaces should be visually appealing and engaging, featuring colors, textures, and materials that inspire play; they’re for the kids. A vibrant playroom with space to draw or do homework, cozy reading nooks, and interactive play structures can ignite a child’s imagination.
We love flexibility in kid spaces and always select furniture that can grow with the children. Not everything has to be miniature! Spaces for children should easily accommodate adults who may be playing with the kids or keeping a watchful eye on them. Lightweight, movable pieces allow for changing layouts, facilitating various play styles—from quiet reading sessions to energetic playdates to fort-building. Storage is key! Including storage solutions that blend seamlessly with the decor can help keep toys organized and accessible, encouraging children to take ownership of their space and clean it up after play. Our favorite storage solution is also one of the most affordable: the IKEA Kallax line is fantastic at storing toys and comes with endless options for flexible storage.
Spaces for children often need to be incorporated near the main functions of the house so parents can observe their kids at play. This means thinking creatively so play spaces can be within eyeline, but not spilling into the rest of the home. We love to incorporate pocket doors that can slide closed, hiding the mess once the kids are in bed.
Multifunctional Spaces
Incorporating multi-functional areas in your home can further support creativity and everyday life. A family room that serves as a casual play area by day and a cozy movie night spot by evening is an excellent way to maximize space while fostering family bonding.
People often think that their kids will destroy furniture, so why invest in it? Well, yes, your kids will destroy cheaply made furniture, but durable, high-quality furniture can last a lifetime. Consider investing in high-quality furnishings that withstand the rigors of daily use while remaining stylish.
Art corners, crafting stations, and music areas can also inspire creativity. By dedicating a section of a room for artistic endeavors, you encourage children to express themselves freely. Sometimes we tuck a kids corner into an office space predominantly utilized by a parent, so they can “work” together. Keep in mind that children learn through play; a well-designed space can make that learning process both enjoyable and enriching.
Ensuring Safety and Comfort
As much as we want our homes to be beautiful and stylish, the safety of children is always be a top priority. Thoughtful interior design for families can minimize risks and create a comfortable living environment where children can thrive.
Safety-First Design Choices
When we’re designing a family home, we prioritize safety. It is essential to consider materials and layouts and even shapes. Choose flooring that is both comfortable and safe—carpeting or area rugs can soften falls, while slip-resistant tiles in kitchens and bathrooms can reduce the risk of accidents. Use rounded furniture to prevent injuries from sharp edges, and opt for non-toxic finishes and materials. What materials are non-toxic? Oh boy, that’s a hard one to navigate in this environment where microtoxins are so dominant and products are being marketed directly at homeowners. We generally avoid vinyl flooring (including LVP or LVT) which is a known carcinogen. Talk with our designers about how to choose healthy materials for your home.
We love adding built-in safety gates in stairwells and at openings to kitchens (these also double as pet-gates!) to help minimize risks for children. We always secure heavy furniture to walls to prevent tipping. In fact, we usually maximize the use of built-ins over large furniture pieces to avoid this entirely.
Creating Cozy, Comfortable Spaces
Comfort is equally important in family design. Children often need quiet spaces to unwind, read, or simply relax after a busy day. Consider creating cozy corners with plush seating, soft lighting, and calming colors that encourage a sense of security and tranquility. We love window seats for this purpose: add a thick seat cushion and a bunch of pillows and children will be drawn to them naturally.
Kids’ Rooms as Creative Outlets
We love going all out on a kid’s bedroom design. When we get to work directly with our child-clients, it’s even better! Designing bedrooms that reflect each child’s personality fosters comfort and creativity. Allow children to participate in selecting colors, themes, or decor elements to make their rooms feel personal and inviting. Then ensure you’ve included soft bedding, blackout curtains, and thoughtful lighting can create a serene sleeping environment, promoting better rest for the whole family.
We always design our kids rooms as creative outlets for them to explore their own interests and choose multi-use furnishings that can grow with kids as their interests change. We love incorporating items like pinboards and blackboards that can be places to express their creativity and interests. Kids love posters, but we don’t love holes in the wallpaper, so we often choose to frame typically sized posters that express whatever a kid’s current interest is. When that changes, it’s simply a matter of changing out the poster and rehanging the frame.
We add a desk to almost every kid’s room. It’s the perfect place for homework, diary-writing, and art. Plus if they don’t share a room, it’s a great place to tuck supplies that aren’t age appropriate for all members of the household.
Promoting Organization and Harmony
In a bustling family household, organization plays a crucial role in maintaining harmony and reducing stress. Thoughtful design can help families create systems that support everyday routines, making life easier for both parents and children. That means we think through every aspect of your daily life, from how the groceries and sleeping children get inside, to where the school backpacks are going to land, to how to store the ever-growing toy and book collections.
Smart Storage Solutions
Implementing smart storage solutions throughout the home can significantly improve organization. From built-in cabinets to stylish baskets, ensuring there’s a place for everything can help minimize clutter. Designing mudrooms with hooks, benches, and storage for shoes and bags, makes it easy for children to keep their belongings organized as they come and go.
In the kitchen, consider child-friendly storage options that allow young ones to access their snacks and utensils safely. We love refrigerator drawers for this: space for healthy foods and drinks they can access any time they want. This not only encourages independence but also fosters a sense of responsibility.
Routines and Zones
Creating designated zones for different activities—homework, play, relaxation, and family time—can help streamline daily routines. A study nook with organized supplies encourages children to focus on homework, while a family dining area designed for shared meals fosters connection and communication. We particularly love a dining nook or seating area tucked into a kitchen so kids and adults can converse or simply enjoy each others company while someone is cooking.
Additionally, incorporating technology into organization can be beneficial. Smart home devices can assist in managing schedules, reminders, and even setting timers for screen time, making it easier for families to stay on track. The growing number of devices need a place to land, so we often incorporate central storage with outlets for charging so parents can effectively monitor screen time.
Design for Families Creates a Harmonious Life
Designing a home that caters to the needs of children is essential for navigating the complexities of family life. We need a peaceful home to survive the chaos that comes with being a young family. By fostering creativity, ensuring safety and comfort, and promoting organization, families can create harmonious living spaces that enhance their overall quality of life at home.
Investing in thoughtful interior design is not just about aesthetics; it’s about crafting a nurturing environment that supports growth, exploration, and family bonding. Investing in your home often means you’re investing in your family. So sit down and relax, we’ve got your back!
Leave a Reply