The term “interior design” conjures images of high style and beautiful aesthetics. If there are children in your home, you may think living with kids and having a stylish home is a contradiction in terms.  That doesn’t have to be so, but it does mean integrating kid-friendly design solutions.

PHASES and STAGES

Living with children, especially when they first arrive, is a dramatic shift in lifestyle and necessitates changes in design priorities. The infant and toddler stages require obviously design-challenging gear and paraphernalia. These stages also call for close attention to detail.

From infancy to tweens, and ultimately to young adulthood, the needs of children are ever-changing. The spaces in which they live and thrive are ideally outfitted to suit each particular stage in their physical, emotional, and intellectual growth. Incorporating thoughtful, flexible and adjustable features and furnishings can create spaces that maximize longevity and minimize the need to purchase age-specific items.

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

Flexibility and durability are the key considerations when designing spaces with kids in mind. Creating appropriate and item-specific storage is critical to taming potential chaos from the accumulation of toys and other objects over time.

Kids’ rooms can be especially enjoyable to create. Letting kids have a say gives them a feeling of ownership and pride in what is created, and an investment in how they care for it. For design inspiration, start with their favorite activities and hobbies. Let your imagination roam with theirs to add a bit of whimsy, and design in some fun. The interests and likes of children may shift dramatically as they grow, so choose and think of accessories and visuals as temporary and easily changeable.