Family Friendly Furniture!
Who says your style has to suffer just because you have kids? With today’s fabrics and leather options, it’s more than possible to put together rooms of furniture that can stand up to an active family life and still look fabulous!
First thing to consider is this: don’t wait. Sure, it’s tempting to keep that hand-me-down, tired sofa until the kids pass the Kool-aid stage, but you and your family all deserve a home that you can be proud of. Besides, there’s value in teaching your kids (and some husbands) to appreciate and respect nice things, and the right furnishings will be able to handle some rough treatment.
Here are some things to consider as you think about your family room furniture:
· Consider your family’s lifestyle.How do you most often use the room? Watching TV and movies together? Playing video games? Coloring, crafts, and playing with pets? Enjoying popcorn & drinks? Be realistic about what your family uses the room for, and you’ll be happier with the furniture that goes in it.
· Choose a style that is clean-lined and comfortable.You may love frills and tassels, but that’s not going to be very practical for an active family room with little (often dirty) fingers. And you may have fallen in love with the silk fabric on that accent chair in the showroom, but you’re just setting yourself up for heartbreak. Whatever decorating style you choose, low-maintenance is a must. But low-maintenance doesn’t have to look cheap — think well-made, durable, and easy to clean.
· Choose furniture pieces that work overtime. Think multi-purpose when you shop for furniture — coffee tables with shelves and drawers underneath, or ottomans that open up for storage, and side tables with cabinets that close. For upholstery, leather sometimes seems like a luxury, but it’s actually very durable — it wipes clean and ages beautifully (as long as no permanent markets are involved). For fabrics, you’ll want something that is soft, but also washable. Choose those with a flat weave, which will hold up better than lightweight or looped fabrics. Easy-care, practically stain-proof choices include vinyl, “pleather,” ultrasuede, twill, denim, velvet, wool, felt, and other natural fabrics with a touch of synthetic fiber woven in for added toughness. When purchasing upholstery, be sure to invest in the stain-resistant finish, or consider a sofa with washable slipcovers or zip-off cushion covers.
· Look for patterns that hide stains.For upholstery, look for plaids, floral and paisley fabrics. When it comes to rugs, Oriental-style, patterned or tone on tone rugs and carpets with stain resistant fibers are always a good choice. The patterns will be so busy that they will hide some spills and dirty fingerprints — speaking of which, you may want to check the color of your most frequent stains on your sofa before choosing a hue for the next one.
· Accessorize wisely.High shelves and mantles are great for dressing up a space while keeping little fingers at bay. Keep your nicer accessories up top (but do make sure your bookcases or display shelves are bolted to the wall). Dress up lower shelves with several matching baskets or boxes for papers, colors, DVDs, and games. Use large baskets or bins in an unused corner to serve as a toy storehouse that is both quick access and easy pick-up.
· Prepare for the inevitable. Of course mistakes will happen, so have some clean up materials handy in that room. Keep some clean rags, wet wipes, or paper towels in one of the end tables.
· Buy the best furniture you can afford.It may seem paradoxical, but when you have children it makes sense to buy the best-made furniture you can afford because it will last longer. Look for solidly built furnishings constructed with kiln-dried hardwood that’s been screwed, glued and corner-blocked. Consider upgrading chair and sofa cushions to spring down, which does an excellent job of holding its shape over time. Make it a habit to periodically flip your cushions. Cheap, you-assemble-it furniture may be tempting to make do with, but it will most likely wind up broken, battered, and taking up space in a landfill within a few years — making it no bargain at all.
Life with kids may be messy, but it doesn’t have to turn ugly. Remember these tips and create a beautiful home that you and your family can enjoy for many years to come.