With a strategic look at your living room furnishings, it is easy to make sure it is as family-friendly as it is stylish and comfortable. Here are some of our favorite and most implementable tips:
Need to seat a crowd? Look for a sectional. With plenty of configuration options these roomy sofas provide your family the seating space you need to gather together for movie night or snuggle up for storytime.
Lots of choices that work well in a playroom will also provide your kids comfort in the living room.
Consider pint-sized chairs that fit your kiddos or poofs and ottomans that provide cozy close-to-the-ground seating. A few extra oversized floor pillows are handy if your gang likes to spend time together on the floor.
A comfy pet bed or sofa is a great choice if you’ve got a furry friend that likes to curl up or sprawl out on their own.
For busy living rooms that feel like a thoroughfare, many families find that an indoor/outdoor rug provide a perfect compromise offering style, softness and durability. Families spend a lot of time on the floor and having a soft surface to land is a must.
Many indoor/outdoor rugs have a look and feel that would never betray their robust nature. They tend to wipe up easily. And when a vacuuming or spot cleaning won’t do the job, try taking it out back and hosing it down.
Make some space for family fun and games. Oversized coffee tables are great for board games, cards, puzzles or train tracks. Cushioned oversized cocktail ottomans make another great choice. And if you can swing it, opt for storage.
We all know that art and décor add interest, personality and color to your room. Often families find it fun to personalize their living room with photo collections or portraits of their kids. Sometimes your kids will come up with fabulous abstract art that can be framed and put up on the walls. So hand your tots a paintbrush and a smock and let them channel their inner artist. Everyone loves a room that they feel a part of. And it doesn’t get much more personalized than that.
With a house full of kids comes a house full of stuff. There is no end to the number of toys, games, and accessories involved. Look for accent items that have drawers, baskets or bins so that you’ve got places to put things away.
Pick tables and cabinets that have a distressed or weathered finish. They will come with some purposeful nicks and chips already – new dings won’t be as noticeable.
Don’t pack your family room with furniture. Leave some open space. Not only will it give you room to stretch out, play and easily navigate around the room, but kids need space to let their minds explore and create while their bodies move. Extra floor space encourages active play, movement, dancing and even putting on shows.
Creating a living room that works for kids and pets can give you license to have a little fun and not take your decorating too seriously. It’s easy to pull together a room where each member of the family feels comfortable and welcome. And that’s the perfect way to create a space that becomes a backdrop for lasting family memories.
