Kid-Friendly Design Tips That Prove Practicality Doesn’t Mean Boring

Designing for kids can feel very limiting, but it’s so important to love the final look — it’s your home, too!” says Havenly designer Toussaint Derby. Opting to be a bit more practical doesn’t mean you have to design rooms that are totally devoid of personality; in fact, it’s the exact opposite. View is at a fun design challenge instead of an obstacle. 

Bring in bench seating

“Children and upholstered dining chairs don’t exactly go hand in hand,” Toussaint says. Luckily, wood bench seating looks great and is easier to clean up. While you’ll love how much a dining bench makes meal time messes more manageable, the kids will also enjoy how much it creates a fun, restaurant-like feeling – in your own home.

No matter how much decluttering you do, kids just have a lot of stuff—games, art supplies, toys, you name it. While perfectly styled open shelving can look beautiful, in common areas, accent cabinets and credenzas are the best kid-friendly home design options to keep clutter out of sight.