As you transition into family life, you’ll have to make some changes but there’s no need to ditch your home style and décor. You may have to put up with occasional mess and chaos, but for the most part, organized people manage to maintain a semblance of a past order.
Design School founder and ex Block contestant, Jenna Dentsen, shows on her Instagram pages how she has compromised and still has a home whose style has survived the occasional chaos brought about by her two children Freddy 3 and Story 1.
She hasn’t been tempted by the trend to buy brightly coloured children’s accessories but has carefully considered the neutral tones that she has used in her home décor.
Many style-conscious parents may find the bright colours and patterns typically used on children’s toys and accessories simply don’t fit in with the rest their home decor. Manufacturers seem to have cottoned onto the need to fit in with the décor in the rest of the home, and now there are many toy and accessory ranges that come in a wide range of colours that exclude garish primary colours.
And if you’re concerned that a lack of bright colours may have a detrimental affect on your child’s development. Don’t worry. Early childhood education lecturer, Dr Wendy Saeme Lee, from the University of Sydney, says that it makes no difference.
Colours can affect the mood and behaviour of children as it does adults. That doesn’t mean that children are necessarily drawn to bright colours. In recent years early childhood development centres, day-care centres and pre-primary schools have been experimenting with the idea of creating environments which are more like the home environment. So, there has been a trend towards neutral shades that create a calm environment.
How to ensure that your child-friendly home is stylish
If you really want to include bright and colourful toys, make sure that there is a place for them. Baskets placed around the house offer a perfect hideaway for those bright toys for when the kids are done playing.
If you’re hoping to keep the children’s toys in one room, you’re fighting a losing battle. Keep a storage space in each room. If you don’t have the cupboard space, baskets are handy, good-looking and cost effective.
Home décor practicalities
It is likely that there are several home décor practicalities that never crossed your mind until you had children. Growing children have developmental requirements. They have to learn to sit, crawl and stand.
For this there must be plenty of space and good solid furniture so that they can pull themselves up. Slippery tiled or painted floors could be hazardous. Flooring made from rough materials such as brick or wood is also not practical for crawling.
When you have children, it is also best to ensure that the materials that you use are washable and durable so that it looks good for years. The walls and floors will get dirty so a regular clean is necessary.
Get rid of those sharp corners
Kids are rough and easily hurt. Get rid of any sharp corners at face or head height. Soft, curvy furniture is so much more inviting.
Glass tops and panes will ensure that you’re always cleaning so bear this in mind when you’re buying furniture.
Shelves are practical
Kids are curious and if anything is close at hand, they will reach for it. Shelves allow you to place your more fragile or sentimental books and ornaments out of reach.
Keep your coffee and side tables free of ornaments.
There is no need to allow chaos to rein just because you have small children in your home. A few small changes and additions will ensure that your home stays comfortable and stylish.How to turn a small dark bathroom into a light and airy space
