Decorating a Family-Friendly Home

Posted on November 15th, 2018 by Hannah.

Gone are the days when homes were formal showpieces. Instead, today’s homeowners want livable spaces where family members can gather. While aiming for comfort with no sacrifice of style can seem like a tall order, we’ve got good news: It is possible. Here’s a closer look at decorating ideas aimed at creating a family-friendly home.  

A Guiding Question

When it comes to decorating your home, one question should guide the process above all else: How will you live in it? Because the reality is that even the world’s most beautiful room will either turn into an unwelcoming no-go zone or end up destroyed if it won’t hold up to the demands of everyday life. Factoring your home’s inhabitants and their habits into your decorating decisions can help you avoid these unfortunate outcomes.

Family-Friendly Home Decorating Tips

Now that you’ve considered how your family will live in your home, these home decor decoration tips can help you bring your vision to life:

1. While many people love the idea of open space, it can sometimes be overwhelming. A simple way to get the feel of open space while also making the most of it? Organize open space into smaller sections. Designer Jae Joo told Goop, “Openness can be really attractive, but I think it’s important for there to be a transitional area. Achieving that can be as simple as adding a chandelier above the dining table or by playing around with different sized rugs.”

2. Optimizing furniture confirmation in your rooms can help you keep function at the forefront. Determining which combinations work best may take some trial and error, but doing so can amp up the livability of any room. Family-friendly designs also put a premium on versatility. Having many seating options, along with the ability to move furniture around on the fly, means you’ll always have room for everyone.  Wondering if you’re missing out on doing more with your space? Check out our handy Room Planner.

3. Clutter is the enemy of good living, but many families suffer from the same problem: Nowhere to put the odds and ends of daily living. Investing in storage solutions can make a huge difference. From armoires and bookshelves to bins and baskets, having a place for everything — and encouraging all members of your family to put things where they belong — minimizes clutter while maximizing a room’s appeal.

4. While you may fantasize about that all-white living room, it’s the opposite of livable — especially if small kids or pets are in the mix. A more realistic approach? Decorating with furniture, textiles paint and floors in a mix of colors, patterns and textures. Not only do these design decisions add up to a dynamic space, but they’re also more forgiving when it comes to camouflaging spills, stains, and other household accidents.

5. Don’t be afraid to invest in indestructibility. Think you should wait until your kids are going up to invest in good furniture? Think again. Buying the best-made furniture that you can afford actually means it will stand up better to everyday wear and tear without losing its shape or falling apart.

6. Speaking of kids, if your goal is to create a truly family-friendly home, carve out space for them in common rooms rather than relegating them to the basements. With the right storage and seating options in place (see above), they’ll gravitate to these space meaning more time together — a win for any busy family.

One last thing to keep in mind? Lest you end up like your Great Aunt Gertrude with her rooms full of sterile, plastic-covered furniture, it’s important to accept that mishaps will happen. But when you stop and think about it — doesn’t expecting the unexpected (and learning to roll with it) go with the territory of being a family?  

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