How to design a family-friendly living room that grows with your kids
Written by Sophie Clemson
At The Living House we are all about designing family homes to be lived in. Our goal is to create beautiful and practical spaces that evolve with your family through every stage of life. When designing with children in mind, it’s easy to focus too much on their current developmental phase. However, kids grow up quickly, and designing solely for the present can lead to costly mistakes. The living room is a shared space where families come together, making it essential for it to be both functional and long-lasting. Every element should be family-friendly and designed for longevity. Keep reading for our top tips on designing a family-friendly living room that grows with your children.
Choose durable and easy clean materials
When designing our customers' living rooms, we always recommend choosing sofa fabrics that are going to be easy to maintain and clean up well, so when accidents happen you don’t have a sofa that's ruined with drink spillages or a rug that's stained beyond repair. Life happens, and spills are inevitable, especially in a busy family home!
That’s why we would also opt for stain resistant fabrics for sofas and armchairs, this can also be known as Aquaclean with some brands, so that stains can easily be removed with just water! A few brands we love at The Living House that offer family friendly fabrics are Arlo & Jacob, Darlings Of Chelsea and Loaf.
Sofas with slip covers are becoming increasingly more popular, thanks to the transitional interior design style that’s trending right now. Loose slip cover sofas are a great option for family homes, as you can refresh your sofa by simply changing the cover in time, when the sofa starts to look a bit tired. The Austen sofa from The Cotswold Company or the Hyltarp from IKEA are options to take a look at.
When it comes to washable rugs, one brand we absolutely love is Ruggable—they offer a beautiful range of designs and sizes to suit any space. If you're looking for more options, Dunelm, Benuta, and Rugvista also have great selections. The best part about a washable rug is when spills or accidents happen, as we know they do with babies or teenagers, you can simply pop it in the washing machine, making life so much easier without the worry of stains!
Image credit - Arlo & Jacob
Image credit - IKEA
Image credit - Ruggable
Practical furniture and storage is important
A family living room needs practical furniture to support the demands of everyday busy family life. When designing living rooms for our customers, we focus on key pieces that are not only beautiful but, most importantly, practical. Here are a few recommendations:
Storage footstools
Once bedtime is done and it’s time to tidy up, a storage footstool can be the perfect solution for quickly packing away your children's toys. They work well for everything from small toys and books to school supplies, art materials, and even homework essentials as your children grow. Storage footstools are a great piece of furniture to keep things organised while adding a functional touch to your living room. It also means you have an extra seat for when you have guests over - it really is a multifunctional piece of furniture!
Image credit - Loaf
Do you struggle to visualise how your room could look? We can help you, click here.
Built-in storage
In a family living room, can you ever really have enough storage? When designing for our customers, we always ask: “Do you need storage? How much? And what do you need to store?”
It’s easy to get caught up in style over function when making exciting changes to your living room. However, having ample storage ensures your space remains beautiful and organised, with everything in its place.
Built-in storage is a fantastic solution, making the most of awkward spaces or alcoves, such as those beside a fireplace. Customising built-in storage allows you to tailor it to your family's specific needs. A mix of closed storage and open shelving works particularly well. You can display beautiful accessories up high while keeping them out of children's reach to prevent breakages. Media units are another great way to incorporate storage into your family living room. With a bespoke design, you can maximise hidden storage while maintaining a stylish look.
Baskets will be your friend!
Baskets are a simple yet stylish storage solution for your children's toys. Affordable woven rattan options are easy to find—even during your weekly food shop (think Habitat or George Home!). They’re perfect for quick clean ups and keeping toys organised. Place a set of two in a corner for a tidy look, or use them on open shelving to keep toys neatly tucked away while adding a touch of texture to your space. Plus, baskets adapt as your children grow, transitioning from baby toys to gaming devices and even cosy throws for family film nights!
Image credit - Amazon
A family friendly layout
Getting the layout right in any room is important, and a family living room needs to accommodate multiple functions. Not only is it the room where you'll relax, socialise, and watch TV, but it also likely doubles as a playroom. This is where the layout becomes key, as you want to ensure there's plenty of space for your children to play with their toys (we know how they love to get every single toy out during the day!).
Depending on the size and shape of your room, you could create a dedicated play area that doesn’t have to be overly child-like in design, it can still blend seamlessly with the overall style of your living room. When your child outgrows the toy phase, this area can evolve into a homework space, a cosy reading nook, or even a way to create separate zones when the family is together but each person is doing their own thing in the space.
Encourage family interaction
As kids grow into their teenage years, getting them to spend time in the living room as a family can be a challenge! Creating a cosy and inviting space can help, using tactile fabrics, soft throws, and plush bean bags to make the room feel warm and relaxed. By designing a comfortable and welcoming family space, you’ll encourage everyone to gather, unwind, and enjoy time together.
Designing a family-friendly living room is all about creating a space that evolves with your family’s needs - balancing style, practicality, and longevity. By choosing durable fabrics, incorporating clever storage solutions, and carefully planning the layout, you can ensure your living room remains functional and inviting at every stage of family life.
At The Living House, we believe that a family home should be designed to be lived in. A well designed living room should bring your family together, whether it’s for playtime, film nights, or simply unwinding after a long day. By making smart design decisions now, you can create a beautiful and adaptable living room that will grow with your family for years to come.
If you want to avoid costly design mistakes, take a look at our affordable online interior design packages to give you all the help you need. Whether you’re considering a full redesign or a spruce up, we can take the stress away, and give you the confidence to move forward. Our online interior design packages are a flat fee and we can work to any budget large or small, saving you money along the way and ensuring you get the results you want and expect!
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