How to Design a Beautiful Interior that Your Grandkids Won’t Destroy
Congratulations! You’ve reached that wonderful time in your life where the rooms of your empty nest are now filled with the pitter patter of your grandkids’ little feet.
But chances are that you spend time “un-decorating” and kid-proofing every time the grandkids come to visit, right? What if I told you that it is actually easy to accommodate pets, kids, grandkids, (and all their stuff!) without sacrificing style?
With a few smart strategies and the right materials, your home can stand up to the grandkids and still look beautiful. Here are some easy decorating tips that are simultaneously stylish, grown-up, AND kid-friendly…
Tip 1: Find Fabrics Built for Busy Lives
When designing for active families, we’re always looking for materials that will stand up to heavy use. Here are some of our favorite go-to’s when it comes to beautiful, livable fabrics:
Natural Leather – Durable, classic, elegant, and virtually indestructible!
Crypton – Stain-resistant, odor-resistant, and antimicrobial. Add the fact that it’s made without harmful chemicals, and you have the makings of a perfect kid-friendly fabric.
Performance Velvet – Elegant, durable, soft, warm, and beautiful. What’s not to like?
Outdoor Fabric – The advancements in technology have made outdoor fabric a wonderful choice for indoor spaces as well. It’s one of the most durable, stain-resistant fabrics available. Scrub-able (and often bleach-able!) but still soft to the touch.
Tip 2: Decide on Dark Colors & Thick Textures
Life, with or without pets, kids, and grandkids can get messy. When it comes to hiding dirt and spills, you can’t go wrong with a solid dark-colored fabric with a lot of touchable texture.
But if a solid dark color sounds beyond boring to you, go multi-colored! A busy, abstract pattern? Even better! Go with a print that has an imperfect vibe or a purposefully-aged look.
This guideline holds true for pretty much any textile in a space, from rugs and pillows to blankets and upholstery.
Designer Tip: Whenever you buy pillows, be sure they have a removable, zippered cover for easy laundering!
Tip 3: Choose Weathered Furnishings
Even the best-behaved grandkids can wreak havoc on furniture. Rather than fight the inevitable, consider pieces that look intentionally distressed and well-loved. Just as people with a past are more interesting, so is a piece of furniture that looks as though it’s lived a colorful life. Time adds character!
Tip 4: Opt for Washable Finishes & Furnishings
High-end design that is also practical can seem impossible, but technological advances have made it as easy-as-pie. We always recommend going with wipe-able, washable paints (Benjamin Moore’s Aura line is our fave) and papers (yes, Virginia, there is such a thing as beautiful, washable wallpaper!).
Simple, wipe-able wood blinds paired with Roman shades provide a timeless, elegant look, and is also impervious to jelly finger smears.
Finally, consider incorporating slipcovers. They’ve come a long way from the shabby-chic look of decades past. Today’s slipcovers are tailored, made to measure, utterly stylish, and did we mention washable.
Tip 5: Select Rugs to Serve & Protect
It may seem counter-intuitive to invest in something you’re going to walk on, but a high-quality, handmade rug will age beautifully and last for generations. The same rug that stops tracked-in dirt at the entryway also protects the hardwood floors from puppy dog nails and grand-littles’ soccer cleats. And that very rug that hides crumbs in its’ patterns can still be handed down to those same kids in the future. Quality stands the test of time.
Tip 6: Pick Professional, Quality Craftsmanship
Don’t be afraid to invest in quality craftsmanship when it comes to designing with grandkids in mind. Quite simply, cheap furniture is ultimately going to be more expensive – it falls apart under frequent use, is often uncomfortable, and will not work as well as you need.
Buying quality furniture provides you and your family with pieces that are meant to last – and you simply won’t have to worry about durability or reliability. You can have the confidence that these pieces will continue to look and perform great no matter what the grandkids throw at them.
Tip 7: Let the Littles Help Create the Home
We want our grandkids to come over and stay – and creating an environment where kids and grandkids are excited to come can be a great family activity! Inviting them to participate in the design decisions for a bunk room, playroom, or party barn will make them feel included and welcome for years to come! (Added bonus? They’ll be that much more likely to care for a space they helped to design.)
Here at Peg Kusner Design, we design for real people with pets, kids, grandkids, and active lifestyles. We create spaces that incorporate the best in quality and function with beautiful, durable materials. We believe in design that is comfortable, elegant...and kid-proof. The best of all worlds!
Need help designing a family-friendly space that you love and keeps the kids happy? Let's talk!
Cheers,
Peg
