Decorating your home to suit your tastes and lifestyle is often a journey in itself, but once you throw in a significant other and children into the mix, the task can feel a lot more complicated. I personally don’t have children yet, so I called on Consort Design founders Mat Sanders and Brandon Quattrone to find out their take on family-friendly design. They said, “Approach decorating for kids the same way you do for adults: from the viewpoint of creating the chicest room possible. No themes required!” They are responsible for the gorgeous room above, which is home to Ruthie Schulder, her husband, and their boy-girl twins.
Tips for decorating a family-friendly space, from Mat Sanders and Brandon Quattrone of Consort Design:
Choose durable materials – Parents are all about durability, and with good reason. Some of the most common questions we hear are, “How long will this rug last? Are these fabrics machine washable?” We love sourcing antique rugs that are already 150 years old and totally distressed, because they only get better looking with age and use. Or, on the flip side, there’s always the machine washable route, like you’d find with Dash & Albert. Another trick: when making a piece of custom upholstery, have multiple cushion covers made up to keep on hand for life’s inevitable messy moments.
Don’t overlook quick fixes – Paint is the quickest way to freshen up a space; don’t be afraid to go bold with it! Swap out pillows and throws on a seasonal basis. Also, don’t neglect to mix up your floor plan!
Keep storage simple & accessible – If you create storage that’s too complicated or too hard to get to, chances are you’re never going to use it. We find open storage works best for family spaces, so parents (and littles alike) can easily grab and toss on the go. We love the blue modular floating credenza that we designed for this space. It not only adds a dramatic visual pop, but provides an opportunity for longer-term storage inside, while keeping the floors free for child-accessible toy baskets underneath.
Kids’ toys are colorful, don’t fight it – Don’t fight the color! Kid’s toys are what they are, and the best thing you can do is provide a stylish solution for when they’re all put away in their proper places. I’m currently reading Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, so that last tip about giving every item a proper home is resonating with me, no matter what age you’re decorating for.
Photo by Nancy Mitchell for Apartment Therapy, Thanks Come Again print Consort, credenza Consort, midcentury children’s chair Nostalgic Artifacts, wooden children’s chair Belated Designs, children’s table Laura Davidson, rug RUGbyGUR, V cut baskets Consort, rolling storage box Urban Outfitters
