You can have a beautiful home EVEN when you have children. When designing for busy families, practicality and durability are key. As much as we want our homes to look stylish and beautiful, it’s equally important to make sure they can handle the daily wear and tear of family life. I am a trong believe that your home can be beautiful and stylish while still maintaining functionality and it is all about the design materials that you use. As an interior designer, I’ve learned that certain materials, while trendy or elegant, just don’t hold up in homes with active kids, pets, and the hustle and bustle of activities. In this post, I’ll highlight some common design materials to steer clear of if you want a space that stays looking great without constant upkeep.
First on the list is delicate upholstery fabrics like silk, velvet, and linen. While they’re beautiful, they’re not practical for families with young kids. These fabrics stain easily, attract dirt, and can be difficult to clean. Instead, I recommend performance fabrics, which are designed to resist stains, spills, and heavy use. Options like microfiber or treated cotton blends give you the style you want without the stress of worrying about every spill or sticky handprint. Another alternative that I recommend to parents is to reserve these delicate materials for their own private spaces like the master bedroom.
Next, let’s talk about flooring. While high-gloss hardwood or polished marble floors can look stunning, they’re not the best choice for a busy family. They scratch easily, show every speck of dust, and can be dangerously slippery, especially if you have little ones running around. Instead, opt for materials like luxury vinyl planks, which mimic the look of wood while being scratch-resistant and easy to clean, or engineered hardwood with a matte finish that hides imperfections better. These options give you the warmth and elegance of wood without the maintenance headache.
For countertops, steer clear of materials like marble or porous natural stones. While gorgeous, they’re highly prone to staining, etching, and chipping—especially in high-traffic areas like kitchens and bathrooms. If you love the look of stone, quartz is my recommended happy medium alternative. It’s non-porous, making it resistant to stains and bacteria, and it’s durable enough to stand up to everything from cooking experiments to craft projects. It’s a practical choice that still offers the high-end look you want.
Another material to avoid is light-colored carpets or rugs. As cozy as they may feel underfoot, they’re magnets for stains, dirt, and wear—especially in high-traffic areas. Darker rugs with distressed looks can help disguise inevitable messes, but even better are hard surface floors with strategically placed rugs. Area rugs made from durable materials like wool or indoor-outdoor blends offer style and comfort while being much easier to clean and replace as needed.
Yes, your home can be beautiful and stunning no matter what phase of life you are in. Whether you are building your family's forever home or refreshing your current spaces, be sure to understand that designing a family-friendly space is about striking a balance between style and functionality. By avoiding delicate fabrics, high-maintenance flooring, porous countertops, and light carpets, you can create a home that looks beautiful but also stands up to the realities of family life. The good news is that there are so many stylish yet durable alternatives available today, allowing you to achieve the aesthetic you love without sacrificing practicality.
After all, a well-designed space should enhance your family’s lifestyle, not make it harder to enjoy.
Comments