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For the design inclined, welcoming a baby into the house is both exciting and daunting: the task of decorating a nursery opens up a whole new realm of fun when it comes to fabrics and color combinations, yet the thought of what comes after—baby proofing—can send any Milo Baughman-minded parent into a tailspin.
Luckily, tools to protect your mini come in myriad shapes and sizes these days: gone are the bulky plastic cabinet locks of years past. Below, we spoke to a few parents (who also happen to be top interior designers) for their favorite tips on keeping little ones safe without sacrificing style.
Lay the Right Groundwork
The crucial issue parents often find with their decor once baby arrives is striking the balance between functional and chic. Sarah Lederman, Manhattan-based interior designer and mother to two young girls, has experience in this arena. “I don’t believe in off-limits rooms,” she says. “I personally give my kids free rein to romp through our apartment, but it helps that we decorate with forgiving textiles and rugs—nothing too precious.”
For instance, a large sisal in the front hall (often used for scooting and changing in and out of winter gear) has held up well for a number of years, and Lederman’s wool rugs in other rooms are easily spot-treated. Performance fabrics also come in handy, and mean you don’t have to sacrifice style.
Australian designer and mom of three Tali Roth believes in trusting your kids in their spaces. “I really believe that kids get used to their environment, so I have lots of precious objects around my home—and my [kids] know where to play and where not to,” she says.
Nashville-based designer Becky Nielsen agrees, adding, “[Children] learn to live with nice design,” she says. “[My son’s] room is filled with non-breakables, and things are secured to the walls so he is safe, but our house still has antiques, coffee table books, ceramic bowls, nice lamps, etc. He is used to them being there and knows these are not his things to play with.” However, Nielsen does concede that every fabric and rug in her house is Fiber-Sealed, to help keep things durable and stain-free as much as possible.
Nielsen also recommends incorporating antiques and used items that add depth and layer, and don’t feel “too new or perfect”—an ethos designers follow for many reasons, be it the eco-friendly nature of antiques and vintage (and the quality of the materials used), the patina which wears well in children’s spaces, or the variety of silhouettes available.
Remove Low-Hanging Fruit
“Low lying, easily accessible accessories will be the first things a crawling baby will want to play with,” says interior designer, bestselling author, and mom of two Erin Gates. Wooden and woven bowls or books are safe and stylish options to have on lower shelves. Nix anything porcelain, glass, or sharp-edged in those areas.
Emilie Ghilaga Carlisle, buying director at Over The Moon and mother of a one-year-old boy, knows the importance of this all too well. “Using baskets as objets or storage is not only a safe option when it comes to keeping things out of reach, but they also add texture and a nice, natural touch to your home. Baskets are timeless and never go out of style. To that end, we have an entire wicker section on Over The Moon, dedicated to our many offerings.”
Over The Moon recently launched a baby registry overseen by Ghilaga, and their continued expansion into the children’s and nursery space includes everything from furniture and storage to textiles and toys. As Ghilaga says, “These are the building blocks for a beautiful yet practical interior that meets all of baby s needs and those of even the most aesthetically-minded and discerning of parents.”
Low and Steady Wins the Race
This one might seem obvious, but items that can topple, anything low made out of glass, or pieces with sharp corners are a big no-no with a munchkin running around. The rules can be a little harder to implement if you’ve splurged a few years prior on an unwieldy vintage piece, so invest wisely.
“Consider a swing arm sconce for story time reading as opposed to a lamp,” says interior designer Lauren Pendleton, also a mother of three who shares wonderful tips like this on her Instagram. “There are so many chic plug-in swing arm sconce options these days, and you won’t have to worry about little ones knocking over a floor or table lamp. You can add a beautiful patterned shade to elevate the look and tie it back into your scheme.”
“[I] love a scalloped or rounded edge,” notes Ghilaga. “In addition to being visually appealing, applying this design element to furniture means less hazardous, sharp edges abound when children are learning to walk and run—and then eventually graduate to jumping on the bed.”
Choose Resilient Surfaces
Sticky fingers can ruin a silk mohair in seconds flat. Save yourself the heartache and “pick a luxurious feeling indoor-outdoor fabric for sofas and chairs, to keep from needing to worry so much about things getting ruined,” Gates says.
Patterned fabrics are your friends when it comes to living with littles, says Pendleton. “Imagine getting a massive stain on your newly upholstered glider. A busier patterned fabric would camouflage that stain so much better than a solid linen ever could. And of course, the recommendation all my clients get is to have all of your upholstery and rugs fabric protected by a professional fabric sealer.”
As Roth wisely notes, “glass is the worst with kids; not because of the danger, but the finger marks. To me, baby-proofing is about figuring out how to have a gorgeous space that doesn t look haggard after a couple of years. Surfaces that wipe down easily are way better for family life—otherwise, you will be carrying Windex in your garter belt!”
Celebrated interior designer Paloma Contreras—who is also mom to a toddler daughter—notes, “If a family has young children, I will often use leather on key upholstery pieces such as dining chairs, counter stools, or banquettes. I also love having designer fabrics laminated for those applications. In the end, the client gets the look with all the practicality they could hope for.”
And when in doubt, Contreras says to go bold, in the same vein as Pendleton’s patterned fabric recommendation. “The colorful Missoni fabrics on a Roche Bobois Mah Jong sofa, [for example], are not only fun, but they do a great job of hiding any stains left behind by little fingers,” she says. “The fact that the sofa is modular and can move around depending on what is on the docket for play is an added bonus!”
Play With Rug Patterns
When it comes to floor coverings, just as with fabrics, Gates recommends keeping the same in mind for carpets. “Remember that patterned carpets are your friend. From animal print to Persian styles, they hide spills and stains much better than a solid.”
Contreras agrees, but makes a note about the materials, too. “While I use a lot of natural fiber rugs such as sisal and abaca in my projects, when it comes to heavy traffic areas in homes with children, wool is the way to go. Wool is one of the strongest fibers so it will wear well over time, and it cleans up nicely. That said, I generally have all rugs, upholstery, decorative throw pillows, and even drapery Fibersealed for that extra bit of insurance.”
Keep It Timeless
Finally, Contreras shares a more poignant tip on decorating rooms for kids. “I love designing children’s rooms, but I try to do so with a sense of sophistication,” she says. “Children’s rooms should be comfortable, functional, and of course, age-appropriate, but they shouldn’t scream ‘kids room.’ Ideally, the room’s design will grow along with the child. When it came time to design my own daughter’s nursery, I wanted the space to feel feminine and sweet, but in an elevated way. I selected a beautiful Chinoiserie wallpaper by Iksel. The flowers, butterflies, and birds captivated her imagination which was wonderful to watch. In turn, I loved the palette of cool greens, soft pinks, and warm neutrals. It felt like a timeless version of a little girl’s room.” As a designer and mom myself, I couldn’t agree more.