Last updated : Monday, June 28, 2010

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Decorating Tips for Young Families

It's a common problem for parents of young children everywhere: how do you make your home child-friendly without making it child-centric? Underneath all of the Lincoln Logs, sippy cups, dress up clothes and action figures, it can be difficult to find your own furniture sometimes. With two small children of her own, interior designer Lauren Liess has made this kiddie conundrum the cornerstone of her business. With 70 percent of her clientele being parents, she's always thinking of ways to create functional and comfortable environments for families. We spoke to Lauren about her business, Pure Style Home, and her general design tips for parents of young children.

How would you describe your style?
I would say it's an eclectic mix of modern and traditional with a lot of vintage elements. I create more of an "undesigned look"; rooms feel real. I put comfort and functionality over beauty, because in doing that it makes a room more beautiful. Clean and simple–that's the goal.

How has being a mom influenced your work?
Having kids always makes me think about–"okay, is this comfortable, practical, durable? Is the clean up easy?" Seventy-percent of my clients have kids. So when they ask, "is it kid-friendly?",I've already gone through that.

What are some of your design tips for parents of young children?
It's your life, not your kids'. It still needs to look good. Don't get totally in kid mode. Storage is huge. Toys are always around, so the kids' stuff should be accessible, but hidden. I'm a big fan of hutches with storage underneath for an attractive display of space on top. I like sliding doors over swinging cabinets to avoid fingers getting pinched, plus they are more attractive when open, which is a lot of the time. I use a lot of baskets. I mix kid pieces with adult pieces.

Should parents avoid white?
Don't be afraid of white. White belongs in certain pieces. Not rugs or upholstery, but slipcovers can be white. You can also paint furniture–like tables, dressers. You could do white pillows, too. Don't put white on anything that will require too much time or money to clean.

How can you make a smaller room appear larger?
Sometimes it's best to put fewer larger pieces in a smaller space, but it depends on the function of the room. If it's a sitting room, then yes. If it's a play room, then you'll want as much floor space as possible, so smaller furniture is best. You should bring the curtain rods all the way up to the ceiling. Larger rugs should space 3 to 10 inches away from the walls to make the room look larger.

What are some of your favorite neutral paint colors?
First of all, I always choose paint color last. I will have an idea of the general color I want, but I'll pick the shade last. In terms of colors I like, I love "Beach Pearl," from the Freshaire Choice line of the Home Depot Brand and I also like "Mountain Haze" by Behr, it was my go to neutral color for a while.

If you have money to splurge on certain items, what should you choose?
Lighting is a good place to splurge to get an expensive look. Also, spend money on upholstered pieces. But if you have a $10,000 budget, get Ikea pieces now–like a white Ikea sofa, and then spend more on upholstered chairs and lighting. When you have more money down the road, then buy the expensive sofa.

If you could be any piece of furniture, what would you be and why?
I would be a great chair you could keep reupholstering and have fun with. It would be comfy and cozy and pretty.

For more decorating tips, go to the At Home section. 

 

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