Our main couch is light but we also have a navy blue one in the basement where the kids play. My best tip for keeping the couch looking good is to invest in a good quality upholstery cleaner and don’t skip the protection plan when you’re buying the couch. I get my couch professionally cleaned several times a year and I’ve been given replacement covers for any stains that they couldn’t get out. So now I have a back up of every cover! See her entire living room here!
Soft or hard ottoman/ coffee-table? Did you keep your old coffee table, buy or make a new one, or do without?
We currently have a wood coffee table that was made for us as a wedding gift. It was previously stained but now it’s painted an off-white color. Now that the baby is starting to pull up and walk, we will probably replace it with a soft ottoman or rattan table/ ottoman until I’m confident that he won’t smash his little head on it! But generally, I’m a wood coffee table kind of girl as I’m always drinking tea and like a hard surface to put it down on.
See her fantastic tips on styling coffee tables here!
Patterned or neutral rugs to hide stains?
Patterns all the way!
Where do you stash your kids‘ toys? Do you have a dedicated playroom or another favorite storage trick?
We have an entire finished area of our basement that’s a playroom but toys still make their way upstairs. Finishing that space was the best money we ever spent as it’s the only reason my house ever looks clean, since 95% of the toys live down there! I do also have a few baskets under the console table in our living room where I can quickly pick up toys and throw them in there, as inevitably some of them still make their way upstairs.
What’s your number one tip for kid-friendly decorating?
I honestly don’t buy in to “kid-friendly” decorating. I decorate how I would decorate regardless of kids. Life is too short and I want to enjoy my home now. My three year old is actually very respectful of furniture in our home and we have rules about eating at the table, no drinks on the couch and that sort of thing. I think if you implement those rules at an early age you’ll be surprised as just how much respect for your home your kids will have.
What has been your favorite room to decorate with kids?
I really love my toddler’s room because he helped decorate it with me. He picked out his “big boy” bed and all his bedding when we replaced his crib a few months ago. It was really fun getting his input. But the baby’s nursery is actually my favorite room in the whole house. Before, it was just a storage room but now it’s this wonderfully bright, relaxing space. It gets amazing sunlight all day long and I really enjoy just sitting in the corner with my little guy and taking it all in.
Tilly Lyons says
Your home looks just amazing! I love the colours and the decors that you chose. Great job.