6 Ways to Kid-Proof Your Home Without Forgoing Style

From brand new furniture to a fresh coat of paint, renovations have the power to completely transform a space, giving it a new lease of life. However, if you are a parent, it takes a keen eye to figure out how to create a space that's both sophisticated and kid-friendly.

Don’t despair! With these design tips, you can create a safe environment for your little ones without having to compromise style. More so, you can rest assured that these tips will last far beyond the tumultuous toddler years.

1. Choose fuss-free fabrics

Choosing the right fabrics is the key to creating a stylish yet kid-friendly home. You don’t want to be on edge and stressed every time your kids approach the sofa with sticky fingers. Leather, for example, is a great option for those seeking both style and sturdiness. It will age gracefully, developing a well-loved patina that adds warmth and character to a room plus, it is extremely easy to clean.

Besides leather, canvas or outdoor fabrics are popular for families because they’re durable, stain-resistant and require minimal care. Outdoor fabrics are made of a wide variety of fibres including polyester and acrylic, and usually undergo protective treatments for harsh weather conditions usage, so even the most active kids won’t be able to wreak havoc with these durable fabrics.

2. Choose multi-purpose furniture

Keeping any home pristine is challenging, especially if you have kids. To create a tidier looking home, introduce dual-purpose furniture that not only looks good but can also be used as a storage solution. For example, a double-tiered coffee table that can hold toy baskets on the bottom shelf or a coffee table with drawers that can hide away your kid’s toys and games when they are not in use.

Take design inspiration from this 5-bedroom landed home by Pocket Square that features several built-in benches throughout the home that double as a chic hidden storage space.

3. Opt for hard-wearing materials

When selecting materials and finishes for your home, choose hard-wearing materials that are scratch-resistant, stain-resistant, chip-resistant and easy to maintain.

Wood, for example, is one of those durable materials that offer the best of both worlds. From deep, dark grains in an elegant dining room to friendly light tones throughout the living room and bedrooms, wood has the power to provide your home with the personality and charm we all crave. But even better, wood is also extremely hard-wearing. It’s resistant to stains and is super easy to wipe down, meaning you won’t have the stress of panicking after every spill.

PS: If you still can’t part with the dream of introducing a dash of marble into your home, try incorporating it in an adults’ zone, such as a marble bathroom counter in the master bathroom, rather than in shared or children's areas.

4. Choose furniture with round edges or made of soft materials

Kids love to run around. While you can’t stop their alarming sprints, you can make the space safer by choosing furniture with round edges or corners to save plenty of bumps on the heads of your little ones.

A soft fabric sofa set as pictured in this living room, or soft-edged ottoman or pouffes are also excellent seating options if you have kids. They'll make your home feel more grounded and laidback while keeping your home safer for small children.

5. Opt for built-in furniture

Kids are drawn to climbing to reach higher-placed items. This can cause furniture or storage units that aren’t fixed to a wall to tip over and injure the child. To prevent this, try incorporating as many built-ins as possible when renovating your home. The more furniture you can secure in place, whether tables, TV consoles, cabinets and wardrobes, or even benches, the safer and more put-together your home will be.

6. Avoid light-coloured furniture

It goes without saying that light colours are far less forgiving than dark. They reveal dirt, spit-ups, and spills more vividly compared to darker colours.

When renovating your home, choose dark-coloured fabrics for any upholstered chairs or sofas to help cover stains. If you absolutely must have light colours, choose fabrics with busy prints or patterns which will help cover any unavoidable stains or dirt.

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