Parenthood has brought new changes to our daily routine and the opportunity to maximize the use of different areas of our home in kid-friendly ways.
Our home style is minimalist modern with boho touches. I focus on a neutral color palette and create warmth throughout with wood grain and cozy accessories. I'd love to pass along the tips that have worked for us when it comes to kid-friendly home decor!
LESS IS MORE
When it comes to decorating with young children in the home, less is definitely more. Decluttering works wonders! Less clutter equals less things to clean and pick up. When you minimize you're also maximizing the use of your space. As the Marie Kondo method suggests "tidy up by category- clothes, books, and sentimental items. Keep only those things that speak to the heart, and discard items that no longer spark joy." This can be applied to all areas of your home but one category that tends to get out of hand are toys. Keep the toys your kids play with the most, this is a great activity to involve them in (donate the ones they've outgrown, I like to do this about twice a year around Christmas and their birthday) that teaches how to be selective and intentional. Bins are an affordable way to categorize toys (balls, wooden toys, puzzles, dress up, etc) this makes it easy for your kids to learn how to organize it themselves.
Keep the toys your kids play with the most, this is a great activity to involve them in (donate the ones they've outgrown, I like to do this about twice a year around Christmas and their birthday) that teaches how to be selective and intentional. Bins are an affordable way to categorize toys (balls, wooden toys, puzzles, dress up, etc) this makes it easy for your kids to learn how to organize it themselves.
MAKE USE OF WHAT YOU HAVE
Time and money can be in short supply once babies come along, before you buy something new, be creative with what you already own. Consider repurposing an item or piece of furniture by moving it to a new space, it may just give you a new appreciation of the items you already have! Want to switch things up? A new coat of paint or simply switching out the knobs on a dresser can make a big impact. If your budget is limited but you need to upgrade to something new and kid-friendly for a nursery, playroom, or dining area for example, try selling off the items you no longer need or want to supplement the purchase of those that you do.
OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND
It’s important to kid-proof your home for safety but also for ease of maintenance. Hide cables, cords, cover outlets and other hazards because babies and toddlers are super sneaky and will find even the most discreet things! A trick we do to avoid our little guy playing with cables is to use a cable management kit to cover exposed cables along the wall (then plug into an extension cord with a flat outlet plug) hidden behind a dresser that is then secured to the wall. Our toddler would grab the shoes left at our entry and scatter them all around the down stairs so we now store them in a plastic cubby drawer system in the coat closet. Consider putting books in a practical but aesthetically pleasing storage solution like a decorative shelf or jute baskets that way they're able to bring them out for play time but effortlessly blend it into your home decor.
IS IT EASY TO CLEAN?
Asking yourself this question when purchasing furniture or home decor accessories will save you from the strain and stress of a high maintenance item when the inevitable spill or accident happens. Removable cushion covers on a couch or throw pillows are very practical for tossing in the wash, metal and wood tables and chairs are easier to wipe down instead of upholstered pieces, and low pile rugs are a lot easier to keep clean then shag rugs. If you'd like to add some greenery but don't want the stress of dirt in the house around your little ones or if you just don't have a green thumb, artificial plants are the answer! They're pretty kid-proof and you don't have to worry about watering them, win-win.
Arleene shares four great tips that we can all use to help simplify your life at home with your little ones. From organization, DIY tricks, storage hacks, and insightful purchases, they are sure to make a difference! Save 15% off all of her top kid-friendly picks with code arleene15.
Hello, my name is Arleene Taylor I'm @mamaandlittle on Instagram. I'm a mom of three, 2 boys ages 6 and 2.5 and a baby sister who is 2 months old. I love interior design, cooking, home organization, art and yoga. My husband and I are originally from Southern California but we moved to Washington state 5 years ago where we've grown our family, we love it here.
I started a business in 2014 shortly after our first child was born, Mama & Little, a line of silicone teething jewelry for the modern mom. For five years my husband and I ran our business and worked from home together so it was crucial to have a home office to maintain a separation in home and work life. As of last year I've retired my business to focus 100% of myself to being a full-time mama.
