How to Make Your Living Room Kid-Friendly

Is there really such a thing as a kid-free living room? In most family households, the kids tend to take over and be a part of every room in the house! And why shouldn't they? After all, children are as much a part of the family as the adults, and they should feel just as at home as everyone else. And the good news is that you don't have to compromise your style just to suit the little ones. There are plenty of ways to make your living room both adult and kid-friendly

Round Tables

Eliminating sharp corners is a great way to make a living room (or any room) safer for kids, so when shopping for accent tables consider those that are round. While you may not want all of your tables to be the same shape, consider at least a round coffee table. Since the coffee table is usually in the center of the room it's the one kids are most likely to be injured by.

Tables and Benches with Storage

When you've got kids you can never have too much storage. So slip a little extra into the living room. Look for end tables with drawers, coffee tables with shelves, and even benches that open up. Aside from storing your own things, it's great to have extra space for things the kids use frequently. For instance, if your children have particular toys, books, or crafts that they use daily, they can put them away at the end of the day without having to take them up to the bedroom or down to the den. Kids are more likely to keep their things clean and organized if it's easy to do so.

Area Rugs

Bare floors can look great in some rooms, but in rooms where kids will be playing, it's a good idea to have soft rugs for them to sit and play on. Area rugs are often preferable to carpet, but they're particularly good for rooms where kids will be playing because it's easy to remove them and have them professionally cleaned if necessary. And what's best about area rugs is that there's no end to the color and style choices available.

Comfortable Furniture

No one likes uncomfortable furniture, least of all children. Avoid hard furniture with sharp lines and look for things that are comfortable for people of all sizes. This doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your style, just be sure to test out sofas and chairs before you buy. Also, soft poufs and ottomans that are close to the ground are ideal for kids to lounge on. In fact, with comfy poufs on the floor, they might not want to even use the furniture.

Secure Bookshelves to Walls

Safety is of huge importance when it comes to rooms that kids frequent, and one of the most important things to do is to make sure that tall bookshelves and other large pieces of furniture are safely secured to the wall. Kids have a tendency to climb when they want to reach items, and if a bookshelf or media unit falls on them they could be seriously injured. While you're not likely to encourage your kids to climb on the shelves, if there's even a slight possibility they'll do it, it's well worth the time and effort it will take.

Durable Fabrics

Spills happen. So does dirt. No matter how hard you try to stop it, there's bound to be an accident at some point. So set yourself up for success by choosing durable upholstery fabrics. There's no one specific fabric, but generally speaking, engineered fabrics are better than natural when it comes to wear and tear. The one exception is leather, which can stand up to just about anything. Whatever you decide, before you buy do a little research on the type of fabric you're purchasing to make sure it will survive in your home.

Slipcovers

Another option for protecting upholstered furniture is with slipcovers. Depending on your style you can get loose-fitting or tight-fitting and if they get dirty simply take them off and toss them in the wash. That said, properly fitted and custom slipcovers do not come cheap, so be sure about what you want before you commit.

Minimal Clutter

Too many accessories cluttering up the room are bound to get in the way of lively kids. If you're going for a room that's kid-friendly make sure picture frames, vases, and decorative objects are out of the reach of children.