How To Choose Family-Friendly Furniture
You may have had one of those rooms in your childhood home that was off-limits to you and your siblings, whose furniture was carefully protected from the games, crumbs, jumps and more that come with active kids. While these rooms can be nice to look at, they aren’t at all practical for everyday use, especially for families with kids or pets. The good news is that it’s totally possible to design a family-friendly home without compromising on style.
From picking the right furniture shapes to the best fabric, these interior design tips will help you choose kid-friendly and pet-friendly furniture that will stand up to all that comes with the territory – crumbs, markers, fur, and all – without breaking the bank.
START WITH THE SHAPE
No matter what piece of furniture you’re starting with – from the sofa to the dining table – there are undoubtedly many different shapes and styles to choose from. When it comes to space, first consider how the piece will be used on a daily basis. For instance, if you’re in the market for a new sofa, consider the size of your family and your use of that room. If your sofa transforms into movie theater seating where the whole family snuggles up, or if your kids love having friends over for big sleepovers in the family room, then you may want to opt for a sectional versus a loveseat.
The second important consideration when it comes to shape is the safety. Especially if you have young kids at home, you’re probably averse to sharp corners on a piece of furniture like the coffee or dining table. Luckily, there are workarounds. Instead of a wooden coffee table, consider substituting with a cocktail ottoman. An all-in-one foot stool and coffee table, the cocktail ottoman is cozy yet sophisticated, customizable, and absent the sharp corners that evoke premonitions of an afternoon at the ER.
CONSIDER CONSTRUCTION
Construction is where some people take a wrong turn when shopping for family-friendly furniture. If you’ll be interacting with this piece on a regular basis, it’s important that you don’t skip on quality of construction; this piece will need to stand up to wear-and-tear. Opt for pieces that promote durability and high-quality construction. How? Look for heavy, solid furnishings that are made of kiln-dried wood, to signal that they’ll stand up to all sorts of trampolining.
Also, consider the construction of the upholstery to ensure that it’s completely safe for your family’s use. Your piece should pass Prop-65, and should explicitly state that it does not contain or emit harmful chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.
DO DOUBLE DUTY
The importance of your furniture working hard for you only increases when you have a family. If you’re going to invest in a piece you love, why not make it multi-purpose? For example, if you’re furnishings an entryway or living room with a few accent pieces, then consider a storage ottoman or storage bench. These pieces look chic and considered, while providing the perfect spot to hide toys, extra blankets, and more in a pinch.
FINALLY, FABRIC
We’re saving the most important for last. If you’re looking for a piece of furniture that will truly hold up to your kids and pets for years to come, then your choice of fabric cannot be underestimated. Some furniture websites (we love The Inside) will allow you to choose your furniture shape and then customize your fabric choice, which allows you to maintain your sense of design and style, while still prioritizing longevity and convenience.
· Performance fabrics: If you’re looking for a solid-colored fabric, like a linen or velvet, make sure it’s a performance variety. A “performance velvet” or “performance linen” means that you’ll still get the fabric texture you’re looking for, but you’ll also get a piece that’s more durable and easier to clean. This is great for a kitchen or dining room chair, and even sofas – if there is food nearby with little hands that are prone to messes, then make sure you’re opting for a performance fabric.
· Outdoor fabrics: Other fabrics that are great for families, aside from fabrics like microfiber, vinyl and ultrasuede, are outdoor fabrics. Similar to performance fabrics, outdoor fabrics are designed to withstand the natural elements, and many people opt to customize outdoor pillows for use in a living room or bedroom.
· Leather: Leather is another fabric that ages with your family. With regular wear, leather develops a rich patina that looks great but is also stain-resistant and resists pet dander. However, if you have a cat that’s prone to scratching or kids who are using this furniture to do crafts or schoolwork (with pointy writing utensils), remember that leather is less forgiving here.
· Slipcovers: For the ultimate peace of mind, invest in washable pieces that have zip-off slipcovers. Nothing beats being able to toss the dirty cover into the wash for effortless clean up.
· Patterned fabrics: Finally, if you’re open to incorporating a little pattern into your furniture, this can be the perfect way to hide tough-to-remove stains and general wear-and-tear. By opting for a fabric that has a darker background (just not white), from a subtle stripe or a bold animal print, both stains and stress are much harder to spot, extending the longevity of your piece.