Decorating a Kid-Friendly Home

Children and a well-decorated home go together as well as fish and ice cream. They just don't mix very well. Kids are always on the go, often messy, and usually pretty rough on furniture. There is no denying that that decorating a home with children can prove challenging, but it isn't impossible. We'll offer a few smart options and simple tips for decorating a kid-friendly home. Keep it safe, keep it simple, but make your home look fabulous!

Paint - A well-decorated home starts with a fresh coat of paint. But not any paint will do when you're decorating a home with kids. Children are notorious for leaving handprints on walls, dirt smudges on stairways, and food splatter on just about everything. Choose a non-toxic washable paint that will hold up under all the chaos kids cause. A satin finish paint is a great choice for a kid-friendly home, as it is durable, washable, and has a nice subtle sheen to it. Be sure to paint baseboards and other trimwork with a semi-gloss paint that is easily wiped clean.

Furnishings - Wood furniture may look nice, but it's not the most logical choice when decorating a kid-friendly home. Wood easily chips, scratches, and becomes damaged by watermarks left by drinking glasses. Instead, choose durable, yet attractive, materials for your home furnishings. Wrought iron based furnishings, marble-topped tables, wicker accents, and the like, are a smart alternative to wood. Be sure to select furnishings with curved corners to keep younger children safe.

Climb-proof your belongings - Immediately after children learn to walk they begin climbing. All children do it, and there's no getting around it. In order to keep your children safe, and your belongings in one piece, anchor them to make them climb-proof. Bookcases, entertainment centers, armoires, desks, can be invisibly anchored to the wall to keep them from tipping over.

Fabrics - Any room is made more attractive when it's filled with a variety of fabrics. Decorative pillows, pretty window treatments, and upholstered furnishings are a great way to bring color and texture to your home. When choosing fabrics for a kid-friendly home steer clear fabrics that are easily ripped or torn, or fabrics that aren't easily laundered. Durable options include canvas, cotton, twill, fabrics designed for outdoor use, or any that are tightly woven.

Area rugs - When you place an area rug in a room, it helps to define the space and give it purpose. As a bonus, it also helps to protect the flooring underneath, which is of utmost importance when decorating a home with kids. When guests come to visit, they'll notice the attractive colors and pattern in the area rug(s), and not give a second thought to its true purpose!

Chair rail molding - A chair rail is a piece of molding that is used to protect the wall. It keeps furniture from rubbing against the wall, and doorknobs from bumping into it. Chair rail molding looks absolutely gorgeous, and it's a smart way to decorate a kid-friendly home. It is easily installed, can be painted any color, and will keep guard your walls from damage.

Lighting - Table lamps can be very dangerous in a home with children. They're heavy, breakable, and have that long cord attached that kids are oddly attracted to. Remove the table lamps and install recessed lighting instead. These lights are installed right into the ceiling and can be dimmed or brightened, according to your needs. If installing new lights aren't an option, have a light kit added to your overhead ceiling fan.

Personal knowledge and experience