The epicenter of family activity in a city apartment, the living room, often functions as a makeshift playroom. Accommodating both child and parent can be very tricky, however: Can your favorite furniture and fixtures stand up to kids without leaving a parent in constant cleaning distress? We think so, with a little planning and care. Here are some key factors to keep in mind when creating a livable living room for the whole family.
The Couch
“We almost always recommend slipcovered sofas,” offers Leigh Oshirak, director of Marketing and Public Relations at Pottery Barn and a mother of two. Next time your child spills pasta sauce or apple juice, she suggests a simple way to cut down on cleaning time—and the bill: simply unzip the slipcover and throw it into the washing machine. Jonathan Balthaser, manager of Rico, a Brooklyn-based furniture store, suggests an alternative. “Whenever parents come to our store, we always recommend leather or Ultrasuede as the upholstery,” he says. These materials boast durability and are easy to clean. Rest assured that any child-inflicted stains should not leave permanent damage.%uFFFD
Carpeting
When choosing a carpet for your living room, comfort, maintenance, and aesthetics are all important factors that come into play. “From a health standpoint, wool, cotton, and silk are natural fiber options that are free of any harsh chemicals,” explains Angela Gruszka of ABC Carpet & Home. She recommends these rugs to families with young children or babies, and wool or sheepskin rugs to families with children a bit older, as these rugs are “extremely durable and easily cleanable.” Steven Forrey, sales manager at The Rug Company, agrees, favoring Tibetan wool rugs—particularly for families that are seeking minimal upkeep and maximum décor. Boasting incredibly high-quality wool, these rugs are stain resistant, durable, and natural. As a final precaution, I advise clients to go barefoot in carpeted areas. Leaving your shoes at the door will ultimately shorten your housecleaning by a considerable amount, saving you time and money when it comes to maintaining the space.
Entertainment Systems
Flat-screen televisions no longer make the cut, according to Jeffrey Taylor at Harvey Electronics. Instead, he points parents in the direction of home theatre systems. Putting aside the excellent sound quality that emanates from an average of six speakers, these entertainment centers accommodate high-definition television, video games, music, and the latest hype of Nintendo Wii. Parents can keep an eye on their kids whether they’re watching TV, dancing to music, or rocking out to Guitar Hero. Taylor also nominates wired speakers for best sound production. Speaker placement is up to you (on stands, on the floor, on the wall, in the wall), and most electronics stores offer lots of different styles and color, giving you the option to camouflage them based on the décor of the room. For those parents who want to save space, David John at Door Store Furniture suggests TV stands that have bookcases and a flip-down desk. This multifunctional set suddenly offers a place to pay bills, write letters, and open mail in addition to a TV-watching area.%uFFFD
Seating
“Choose easy-to-clean materials,” offers Kimberly Oliver, of Design Within Reach. She singles out leather, since it does not absorb spills and stains easily. For those families that prefer fabric for their lounge chairs and a permanent stain ensues, she suggests casually positioning a throw over the mark. Your guests will just assume you’re adding to the décor.
Shifting the focus to the little ones, Oshirak lauds child-sized seating, attesting that appropriate-sized seating holds paramount importance for kids. Simply pull in a chair from their room, or buy a few Anywhere Chairs, a Pottery Barn favorite, made of foam and low enough for the child’s feet to reach the ground. She also proposes designating a space for the kids to eat, play, color, or work on puzzles. This way, parents can monitor their kids while simultaneously imbuing them with a sense of independence. Everybody’s a winner here.%uFFFD
Tables
Similarly, a key factor in staying organized is creating zones in each room. I often advise parents to first identify the main activities that will take place in a room, and then divide the space accordingly. Marking a children’s zone in the living room with a table contains their clutter and frees up space for more grown-up furniture. Likewise, Oshirak counsels parents to invest in tables that offer storage or shelving to create less mess and more space, an extravagance especially appreciated among urban dwellers. When it comes to storage, she also suggests buying ottomans with lids for storing throw blankets or toys. As for selecting materials, Oliver points to wood or cork, in particular the Cork Stool and Table, which are stain-proof, have rounded edges, and are eco-friendly too.
Lighting
Oliver cautions parents to avoid floor lighting or unsteady table lamps that can be knocked over. Instead, select pieces with a heavy base that will remain in place. If you’re showcasing family pictures, track lighting is great option, according to Fred Katz, owner of Lightforms Inc., because the lights spotlight select areas on the wall,. Another fixture to consider is an immediate over-the-shoulder light for reading. This works well in situations where one of the kids wants to watch TV, but another prefers reading a book. The overhead light won’t illuminate the room, allowing your kids to stay engaged in the program—and on good terms with each other.%uFFFD
Tips For A Clutter-Free Living Room
Keeping your home—and in particular, your living room—organized when you have kids may seem like a never-ending task, but there are ways to keep the clutter at bay.%uFFFD
Love It or Lose It: Beyond the practical idea of using baskets and boxes, organizing superstars Barbara Hemphill and Maggie Bedrosian suggest adopting the mantra, “Love it or lose it.” Look at everything cluttering your space and ask: “Is it useful? Is it beautiful? Do you love it?” If not, get rid of it. You’ll be surprised to see what you can live without, and just how much you were living with.%uFFFD
Kiddie Clutter: The same approach applies to kids’ toys. Organizational expert Ann Sullivan recommends organizing toys into categories, such as games, dolls, and cars. Then, decide what’s never used, what’s simply broken, and what your kids have long outgrown. Whatever toys you don’t keep, consider donating to charity.%uFFFD
Get Stackin’: To organize toys, Sullivan recommends using clear, stackable pull-out drawers that are available in multiple colors. Label each one according to what’s inside or, if your child can’t read yet, take a picture of the contents and stick it to the container.
Swing Low: For a truly out-of-the-ordinary storage solution, Sullivan says to try a hammock—they’re great for keeping items like stuffed animals visible, yet out of the way.
Get The Kids On Board: Getting kids involved with storage solutions helps, too. Even if it’s just plastering stickers onto the front of a bin—the more fun something is to use, the more likely they’ll be to use it!
Jordana Jaffe is the founder of live ORGANIZED, a professional
organizing firm based in New York City. She loves helping parents
minimize clutter and maximize space. To contact her, e-mail
jordana@liveorganized.com, or visit www.liveorganized.com.
