Family-Friendly Design
Got kids? Then get the low-down on putting together rooms that will stand up to family life — and still look fabulous.
(Continued from Page 7) By Leah Hennen
Special to HGTV.com
DO make space for kids.
Carve out areas in common rooms for children to do the things they enjoy. After all, part of making your home family-friendly is welcoming kids (and their stuff) into shared spaces, instead of relegating them to bedrooms and basements. Keep furnishings on the spare side while your brood is young to preserve space for play. If your family likes games, set up a game table and chairs in a corner of the family room, or opt for a large coffee table that everyone can gather around on game night. "Float furniture off the walls, which helps create distinct spaces for family members to use," Kelly Kole suggests. And don’t forget to customize each space to your children’s temperaments and interests: Leave an open area for your junior gymnast to practice her cartwheels, a cozy nook for your bookworm to curl up with his favorite tome, or a centrally located work table for your chatty budding artist. Make room for children metaphorically, too: "Baskets holding kids’ books send a nice welcoming message to enter an otherwise grown-up room, and photo albums keep kids busy and give them a good feeling about being part of the family," says Leslie Levine , a mother of two in Northbrook, Illinois. Oakland mom Susanne Simas goes one further by keeping a small stock of kids’ things in every room of her house — including the master bedroom, kitchen and dining room. Remember, when there are things children are encouraged to touch, they’ll be less tempted to get into stuff they’re not.
