Embarking on your dream renovation journey requires careful consideration, especially if you’re planning to expand your family in the foreseeable future. The energetic nature of children, bustling through every nook and cranny of your home, can result in a quicker deterioration of specific areas.
However, the task of incorporating child-friendly design elements in your renovation plan is less daunting than it seems. Youngsters can be a real storm for homes. So, what’s the trick to transitioning from a neat, sophisticated ‘no kids’ home to a chic yet resilient space that can handle little playful hands and the inevitable spills and splatters? It all comes down to forward-thinking and deciding based on aesthetics and utility.
Luckily, Vuly offers aesthetic monkey bars, trampolines, and other child-safe play equipment that can be an excellent addition to your backyard. You can also count on a variety of customisable options to match the style and colour scheme of your home.
The Family-Centric Kitchen
Managing the cleanliness of a kitchen, the core of a home can be an uphill battle, especially when in the throes of a busy morning routine with children. However, certain measures can be instituted to keep your culinary space tidy and functional. One possible solution is to install a butler’s pantry or cupboard where morning essential items, like the toaster or kettle, can be easily stored, keeping your area clutter-free.
While natural stone and marble countertops may appear tempting, they sadly don’t fare well under the enthusiastic activities of children due to their stain-prone nature. Instead, turn your attention to composite stones like Caesarstone, Smartstone, or Essastone. These substances, composed of quartz and resin, display impressive durability and resilience.
When planning your kitchen layout, ensure it allows for the incessant movement of little feet. A walk-around island bench or a double-entry galley kitchen layout can facilitate a smooth flow of foot traffic. Also, consider installing push-to-open drawers and cabinets to keep curious little hands at bay.
The Multifunctional Living Space
Inevitably, your living area will become a bustling hub for your children’s 1.3 million toys. For households without the luxury of a separate playroom, strategic planning is key to maintaining some semblance of order. Opt for multifunctional furniture pieces to stow away toys neatly. Consider a storage ottoman or a couch with a concealed storage area, or even allocate a few compartments of your entertainment unit for all things ‘Peppa Pig’ and the infinite collection of books.
Your dream of owning a lavish velvet or linen lounge may have to be postponed. The onslaught of regurgitated food, mashed avocados, and squashed blueberries can wreak havoc on even the most durable fabric-covered couches. Therefore, leather becomes a compelling choice. However, steer clear of the lighter shades and clean them frequently as per guidelines. Although leather might seem somewhat cold, you can enhance its coziness by adorning your couch with plush cushions and an abundance of textures. If you’re investing in a new sofa, it’s worth paying a little extra for that ‘no questions asked’ warranty. Trust us, you WILL need it.
Children’s heads have an uncanny knack for finding sharp corners or rigid edges, so choose furniture that will ‘soften the blow’ occasionally. A round coffee table, a sofa with padded arms, and cabinetry that extends to the walls can minimize the risk of bumps and bruises.
The Child-Proof Bathroom
Bath time can often feel like navigating through a minefield for parents. It either escalates into a full-blown Battle Royale at the mere mention of soap and water, or you find yourself in a small-scale reenactment of Noah’s Ark, surrounded by an ocean of bathwater and a deluge of rubber ducks. Though we can’t entirely eliminate these scenarios, intelligent bathroom design can certainly alleviate the chaos.
Optimising your bathroom layout is the first step towards harmonising the disorder. A designated ‘wet zone’ can be a significant boon, localizing all aquatic antics to one area and ensuring dry land when you brush your teeth at bedtime. A shower-bath enclosure adjacent to the bathtub, separated by a glass partition, can be an ideal solution. Large-format tiles help minimize grout lines, which attract dirt, freeing up your weekends for more enjoyable activities like dance recitals or soccer practice – a definite win!
Moreover, it may be wise to bid farewell to the conventional shower-bath integration. Not only does it lack aesthetic appeal, but it also poses safety risks for both young children and the elderly. If room permits, a detached shower and bathtub setup can offer a more visually pleasing, functional, and safe alternative for your bustling family.
Also, replacing swinging glass doors, a potential hazard for slippery little hands and feet, with fixed glass panels can bring you peace of mind while saving you the headache of cleaning hinged areas. Finally, consider opting for a dark grout for the floor tiles in your bathroom. It can effectively camouflage dirt and grime far better than its lighter counterparts. For a more long-term solution, switch to epoxy grout, a resin-based alternative to cement-based grout, which is aptly durable and offers a cleaner look for longer.
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