Room Redo

Kid-Friendly and Parent-Pleasing: rooms that accommodate children don’t have to be exactly where they play full-time. Therefore, kid-friendly can still look nice for mom, dad and guests. For example, patterned or heavily textured fabrics and leather can look good and still wear well. In the actual play areas, outdoor fabrics perform well and are easy to maintain. Again, patterns and darker colors tend to hide more than light, airy materials.

Add a Punch Where is Doesn’t Hurt: go for excitement in spots that don’t get traffic. For example, a really cool light fixture, fancy ceiling fan or wall sconces usually don’t get in the way of play (unless it’s an indoor ball game.) Art on the walls is another way to add big drama in a spot that doesn’t get floor traffic.

Safety First: For rooms where very small children will be, consider a big, upholstered ottoman instead of a coffee table. This way you can be comfortable and have a nice surface in front of your sofa, but avoid the hazards of hard furniture and sharp edges. If it provides storage inside, all the better, just toss toys and blankets in there when tidying up.