5 Considerations for Family-Friendly Design

In parenthood, there’s this notion that you have to wait until the kids are older to invest in quality furnishings or even to have a beautiful home. Lately, our studio has received so many inquiries related to whether or not the design services we offer are family-friendly. As a mom myself, I understand where this thought process comes from, but I’d like to dispel the myth that families and interior design don’t mix.

We believe that having small children does not disqualify you from designing a home you love. In fact, most young families spend a significant amount of time at home, so it’s essential to create a space that works for your lifestyle—not the other way around. Do we have to consider how to invest in furnishings more carefully? Yes. Are creative workarounds involved? Always. But that’s where our industry expertise comes into play. Here are a few things we do to consider families in our projects, resulting in environments that work for children of every age.

*Design by Yond Interiors, Photography by* *Amanda Birnie*

Stain Resistant Fabrics

You know we love custom furnishings, and when we’re working with families, going custom is often the most practical choice. Rest assured, there are a whole host of performance fabrics specifically made for active families, but it doesn’t stop there. We also consider highly durable fabrics like mohair and wool. We find that these fabrics are naturally stain-resistant and perform VERY well over time. We are of the belief that you should enjoy every aspect of your home and all it takes is a little extra planning to ensure that the form can meet the function.

More to Read: Trade vs. Custom vs. Retail

Designated Family Zones

Before we begin any preliminary design work, we have our clients walk us through how they use their home. We want families to really think about which spaces get the most day-to-day use (often living rooms, kitchens, and mudrooms), and those are the places we prioritize family-friendly selections. At the same time, this exercise also gives us insight into low-traffic rooms like primary suites, offices, or secondary living rooms where we don't need to shy away from more precious materials.

“We believe that having small children does not disqualify you from designing a home you love.”

High-Quality Furnishings

While it may seem counterintuitive to invest in quality furnishings with young kids at home, we find that well-made pieces can better withstand heavy day-to-day use. For example, we often opt for solid wood dining room tables rather than veneers, especially when our clients have children. Whether the table is used for homework, crafts, lego towers, and daily meals, we know a solid wood table will last (and look great) forever.

More to Read: What Goes into a Design Presentation

Dual Purpose Pieces

Every parent knows how precious floor space at home becomes when you’re sharing it with children and their toys. We love the challenge of sourcing several functional accessories like ottomans, poufs, and coffee tables that offer our clients flexibility in use—and sometimes, even double as clever toy storage. By prioritizing dual-purpose pieces, we allow all pieces to remain relevant, no matter how they are used on a given day.

Realistic Expectations

Our last point on family-friendly design is simple but essential. While we try to consider all of the options as we create our design plans, it really comes down to how well the furnishings are cared for over time. No matter the fabric or material, nothing is entirely bulletproof, so we really encourage families to set realistic expectations for the longevity of their pieces.

If you would like to connect with our studio for your family-friendly design project, we would love to hear from you. You can connect directly by filling out our contact form.

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