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Just because you have children at home, it doesn’t mean that you can’t have functional and practical space without it looking like a giant playroom. To design a living room that’s well decorated but is kid-friendly, follow these four tricks and you will have a space that both you and your children love.
1. Use Durable Upholstery Fabrics
When shopping for living room furniture, consider the upholstery. You want a fabric that is durable yet easy to clean since children might spill liquid on the furniture. Some of the best kid-friendly types of fabric include the following:
- Leather: A versatile fabric, leather’s surface makes cleanups easy. However, if you have pets, their claws can leave scratch marks. Scuff-repair solutions are available, and you should condition the leather at least once a year to keep the fabric supple.
- Microfiber: This stain-resistant fabric comes in a variety of textures including some that are smooth like suede while others are dense like corduroy. Use water to clean most microfiber furniture.
- Vinyl: Another fabric that’s as versatile as leather, vinyl is the more affordable option. It’s also easy to clean as you only need to spray it with water and wipe it down.
- Wool: Wool and wool blends are extremely durable and are less prone to snagging and pilling compared to other fabrics. It’s also an easy fabric to spot clean, and you can use a hand-held vacuum attachment for further cleaning.
2. Consider an Open Layout
Most homes have the living room and dining room as the heart of the house. If possible, try to have the two rooms flow into each other as evident with an open layout. Rearranging furniture can open up the area, giving children more space to play. You can also keep an eye on the children easily with an open layout since furniture doesn’t impede your views.
3. Buy Well-Loved Used Furniture
Sure, it would be nice to outfit your living room with brand-new customizable furniture, but sometimes that isn’t a practical option, especially if you have little ones running around. Head to your local furniture outlet store or resale shop, and locate some gently used furniture that already has some scratches. That way, when little hands start finding their way onto the furniture, you won’t mind having a few more blemishes.
4. Place Rugs on the Floor
Living room rugs are a kid-friendly alternative to full carpeting because you can simply take the rug outside and shake out all the debris that accumulates. You can also use replaceable rug pads to keep the rugs feeling plush under your feet without needing to replace the entire room of carpeting. You want a rug that fits the room without feeling too large, so make sure you adhere to the room’s size when selecting one.
Incorporating a few kid-friendly design tricks into your living room can make the room functional without making it feel like a museum. That way your kids can freely play in the area without it resembling a giant playroom.
