How to design a family friendly home
If you are planning a home renovation and have the chance to change the layout and rooms in your home, there are a few key points worth considering when designing a family friendly home. A family home needs to be practical, in order to withstand the chaos and joy that comes with having children (and pets!). It needs to be practical as well as functionable, with the right flow and storage space.
Layout is key
Open plan spaces are great for sociable, communal living, particularly if you have small children, as you can always keep an eye on them. Consider a layout that has space for a living area/sofa so everyone can be together in one space - it’s also beneficial to have sight lines directly out to the garden, so you can see little ones play.
Image via my.best.laid.plans
Be clever with storage
Whilst open plan living/dining areas have their benefits, it can also become an area that can quickly be filled with clutter if you don’t have clever storage. Sofas with storage are a godsend, as are banquette benches with place to store items underneath. Pretty baskets are also great for hiding toys in a family home.
Images via The Gold Hive and House with Home
Children’s play area
If you are lucky enough and have the space, a separate room for the kids, such as a playroom or snug, is definitely worth considering. This is a room that can evolve as the kids get older and become less interested in toys and more interested in gaming! Think about future-proofing the space, with wiring for a tv/games console and plenty of plug sockets to charge iPads and phones.
Image via Ikea Hackers
Practical entrance
Whilst we’re on the subject of space: having a space to store all the shoes, coats and sports equipment that come with family living is a must. A practical mudroom/bootroom makes a world of difference. Make sure you have plenty of cupboard space, practical tiled flooring that’s easy to clean, and a door that leads directly outside (we didn’t do this, and it’s one of my biggest regrets!).
If you don’t have space, clever storage for shoes, coats and bags will help keep things tidy and streamlined in your hallway - the Ikea Hemnes shoe cabinet is a great slimline shoe storage option, with room for keys and other bits and bobs on top. Peg rails are a pretty but practical solution for hanging coats and bags if your hallway is narrow.
Images via Always, Andreanna and Jade Lisa Interiors
Laundry rooms
Daily washing and drying is part and parcel of having children, and a dedicated laundry room was a must for me when planning our family friendly home. Ideally you want your utility room next to your bootroom, for dirty clothes to go straight to the washing machine if your kids are outdoorsy and always getting covered in mud. Think about drying space too - towel radiators that run off the hot water system are an ideal solution for being able to quickly dry out wet clothes all year round. (You can read about my utility room design here).
A downstairs shower is also something to consider if you have kids that are into sport and are going to get muddy.
Storage is also really important - I find a tidy home makes for a tidy mind! Think carefully about creating storage for every bulky item in your house, such as the vacuum cleaner, mop, ironing board etc.
Image by Jade Lisa Interiors
Bedrooms
Bedrooms don’t need to be big - space for a single or double bed and clothes storage is all you really need. If you can squeeze in a desk, that’s great, but I find my kids end up doing their homework at the kitchen table. If you are short on storage space in bedrooms, then beds with drawers underneath or cabin beds with plenty of room underneath for storing clothes are a great solution.
Images via Pinterest
Hardwearing materials
Think about the practical finishes in your home too, such as having washable paint. I highly recommend Dulux Trade Diamond Matt: it’s scrubbable, so any dirty handprints just wash straight off. When it comes to flooring, anything that is easy to clean is a must - go for a hardwearing floor such as LVT or an ultra hardwearing laminate like Impressive Ultra from Quickstep, that will also be warm underfoot and non-slip.
Pay attention to the types of fabrics you choose for things like sofas and rugs. Look for hard wearing fabrics with a high fabric rub count - anything with a score of over 20,000 is going to be suitable for general household use. Look for fabrics with Aquaclean technology too, an innovative fabric protector that prevents stains from soaking into the fibres of the fabric.
Image via Wood 2U
How do I design a family friendly home?
Overall, when it comes to designing a family friendly home, you need to think about how your life works as a family and how the functionality of your home can help make family life run smoothly. If you need any help with designing a family friendly home, please do get in touch. My interior design services are available in Petersfield, Rowland’s Castle, Havant and beyond, as well as nationwide through virtual consultations.
