Spot-On Family Friendly Design

Spot-On Family-Friendly Decor and Decluttering

by Ask Winston

Hi! It’s Winston. I thought that was a clever title since some of my friends are named Spot. As I mentioned in my last blog, I talked about how to make your home family friendly through regular vacuuming, bathing, optimal fabrics, flooring and paint as well as designating a space for your pets and children. The hardest part of keeping a beautiful home is where to put the clutter (toys, leashes, backpacks, balls, mail) so it looks and feels organized. Again, family-friendly design and decor doesn’t mean chaos and clutter. Let’s think about it so you can live your best life. 

ENTRYWAY CATCH-ALL

The entryway to many homes, especially with kids and dogs, has shoes, backpacks, leashes, balls and bags. It’s where the day begins and the day ends. Having an organized area will keep your mind organized. And of course, have a specific place for your keys, so you can leave your home in peace.

Enter your home with a designated place for your stuff.

ORGANIZED PANTRY

This area can become a quick mess unless you have a system. Keep likes together. That can mean something different for everyone. Do you make a lot of soup? Keep your soup items in one area so you know if you are out of something before you are up to your elbows in onion and thyme. Do you eat a lot of cereal? Put them in air-tight containers so they don’t go stale on you. Whatever makes sense to you is the way to do it.

If you feel overwhelmed by this, just start making piles that make sense to you. If that means all of the pastas together, great. If you’d rather do it by favorite dinner ingredients so it’s all in one place, right on. Whatever makes sense to you, just start. Hello Container Store.

BUILT-IN DOG FOOD AREA

Critters love dog food, so put it in a large tupperware container instead of leaving it in the bag. Better yet, designate a large drawer in your kitchen and have it seal-proofed. Not only is that efficient, it gets rid of the big bag of food that is always in the way.

GALVANIZED STEEL MAGNET WALL

I happened to see this idea come to fruition when there was some flashing left over from a roofing job. My owner saw that it was magnetic, had the corners rounded and holes drilled, and voila – a magnet wall for artwork, calendars and everything a busy household needs to have at their fingertips. Look up where to get galvanized steel and measure your space. There aren’t enough magnets for a refrigerator and keeping it on a wall instead of on a door keeps frustration away from things falling off.

Remember to get the corners rounded. This stuff is sharp!

DESIGNATED HOMEWORK AREA

This is another scenario where everyone is different. It’s nice to have your kids around while they are doing homework in case they have questions or if you just want to make sure they do it! Having a separate table somewhere or a large kitchen island is ideal, but not all of us have the space. A simple sofa table with stools underneath can work beautifully.

If you have a spare corner, this a great use for optimal efficiency.

STORAGE FURNITURE

The reality of life with animals and children means a lot of stuff. Even people without animals and children still have jackets, mail, bags, and – well – a lot of stuff. Have one wall in your home that is designated shelving for baskets. Get a storage coffee table. Have one of your end tables by your sofa have your dog bed in it. There are plenty of ways to declutter to live your best life!

End table and dog area combined.

Storage coffee table.

A great way to display your beautiful collections and stay organized.

PERSONALIZED ARTWORK

One thing that I see over and over again is a lot of photos that are framed on a table or in a bookcase and the walls are blank all around. A solution that is so much fun?

There are a lot of photo art apps around. Take a photo from your gallery and make it into art. Research to see which app looks like the best fit for you. Download the finished product on any website that does canvas art and make your own originals, whatever size you want (very reasonable – framing is where it gets expensive, but wrap-around canvas looks really cool if you are on a budget). If this is too much for you, reach out to us and we will do it for you!

A splash of color of your family in original art that enhances the colors of the room. And yes, that’s me! (and my Aunt with her awesome boyfriend).

Your home is a self-reflection of who you are as a person. Color and texture are not things to be afraid of. Your pets and your children shouldn’t be, either. Stay organized. Stay positive. And remember, live your best life. – Winston

Find us at megmorrisoninteriors.net or call 772-529-1009.