Despite the rumours, it is possible to have both children and a stylish home. Follow these five top tips to create a sleek home design that is friendly to your little people.
How to mix kids and a stylish home
Kids are a good excuse to bring fun features into your home
© IKEA
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Let them express themselves:
Keep your walls Disney-sticker free and buy some grown up stickers yourself. Look at floral flock wall stickers (£29.99) from Not on the High Street, or car wall stickers (£30) from John Lewis for something playful and vibrant. Let the kids get involved in choosing where they go. -
Hide the multi coloured plastic:
Avoid being taken over by toys, books and colouring equipment with clever storage. The Trofast Storage Box, £3.50 from IKEA, hides a multitude of kids' stuff without compromising the look of your room. Sideboards are also great for board games and computer consoles. Look for one with multiple drawers and cupboards like this Espacio Brilliante sideboard (£638.40). -
Double up:
Dual-purpose furniture works wonders. Look at coffee tables that incorporate hidden storage, like the Akira (£179) from Habitat. It's somewhere to sit and draw and it gives them a place to put away their colouring kit when they’ve finished their masterpiece. Spread out the Tea Time Design plastic table cloth (£24.50) for any messy accidents. -
Make everything washable:
Upholstery can be problem. Leather sofas, like the winslow leather sofa (£2830)from The Conran Shop are easy to wipe clean, but beware of stray felt tips coming into contact. Removable covers are best. Buy two sets so you can use one while the other is cleaned. Most are machine washable but read the manufacturer's instructions to avoid shrinkage, and wash all the covers at the same time to avoid uneven fading. -
Don’t fight sticky fingers:
You may want to put away the designs classics but plenty of options are still available to you. Laminated and plastic furniture are great for kitchens. The Docksta Table (£95) from IKEA may be white, but it’s easy to clean and sturdy, plus IKEA have a great range of stackable chairs. Or try the clear curved back chair, £45 from Dwell. -
Allow for heavy traffic:
Hallways can become a dumping ground for school bags, wet coats and muddy wellies. Keep yours looking good by getting a sturdy console table with drawers for hats and gloves. Opt for a wall mounted coat rack to keep floor space uncluttered. For shoes, try the cedar shoe rack (£32) from Not on the High Street.
