If you’re a first-time parent, it can be overwhelming to think about what changes you need to make for your home to be a safe space for your children. For those who are artistically inclined, welcoming a new child into the house opens up new possibilities for fun fabrics and playful colour combinations, but the idea of childproofing can get pretty daunting.
Thankfully, tools to keep your kids safe come in a variety of shapes and sizes these days. Good news for new parents who already have a dream home interior design aesthetic in mind: your home doesn’t need to resemble a full-blown nursery. With these kid-friendly home décor tips, it will ease the process of brainstorming renovation ideas for your home!
1. Push-to-open and soft-close cabinets that will not slam shut
Even if you don’t plan on letting your child into the kitchen or home office, it’s important to childproof cabinets and drawers that could contain dangerous objects or that an inquisitive toddler could get into. Kids are naturally curious, and they seem to get their hands on everything in their sight or within their reach when you’re not looking. This is where the use of handless cabinets and soft-closing hinges will add an additional layer of safety while maintaining a clean appearance in your home interior design. Cabinet doors with push-to-open mechanisms are designed to have a gap between them and the cabinet. In order to completely close it, you’ll have to push it further, making it safer than cabinets with handles.
Talk to your interior designer about how you can best organise your spaces in a kid-friendly manner when planning renovation ideas. Cabinets with child-friendly items should be within easy reach for your kids, while dangerous items should be kept out of reach.
2. Eliminate sharp corners with curved furnishings
If you have active kids, eliminating or covering sharp corners in your house is a great baby-proofing tip. An adjustment or two in your furniture could relieve your worries considerably, without sacrificing your home aesthetics by installing unsightly foam bumpers. By focusing on the importance of simplicity and curated pieces, you can incorporate curved furnishings into your current home interior design with ease. However, be sure not to go overboard with it. When choosing your curved furniture pieces, we recommend sticking to statement pieces like your sofa and coffee table to avoid getting carried away. This feature adds subtle variation and dimension to your angular home. For those who aren’t ready to give up their current furniture, transparent corner bumpers are a better option than flashy, vivid-coloured ones.
3. Install minimalist safety gates
Whether you’re thinking about a condo renovation or a BTO, installing safety gates is an important feature to add to your home, especially if you have energetic toddlers. Put these child-safe gates up to prevent your kids from wandering off to injury-prone areas in the home, such as the kitchen. Generally, most child-safe gates offered by retailers are chunky and made of plastic. However, there are a few that are made of elegant materials like dark wood and full aluminium, or that are powder-coated black. The minimalistic-looking ones are now in trend and can go with any type of home interior, without compromising on function! For additional safety, playpens in neutral colours like grey or white are a great choice because they will blend seamlessly into a room.
4. Choose resilient surfaces
Consider easy-to-clean surfaces when choosing home tables. Glass surfaces leave finger marks, so try to avoid them as much as possible. To keep from worrying about getting your carpet and upholstery getting ruined, protect it with Fiber Seal. Using Fiber Seal on fabric, carpet and rugs can repel liquids and ensure that you will be prepared for any spills that might occur. Sticky fingers are inevitable with kids!
5. Avoid wall scribbles with display chalkboards
With kids who love to hone their creativity, they are bound to use whatever they can find at home as their canvas. To avoid this, simply designate areas where your crayon-wielding children can get creative without accidentally vandalising your furniture. Doodle-friendly items such as placemats, chalkboards and whiteboards can be a great way to get your children to be creative while still protecting your furniture.
Childproofing Your Home
Home aesthetics contribute greatly to the quality of life for many families, and parents who centre their lives around their kids don’t necessarily have to compromise on this. With these child-friendly home interior design tips, you’ll be able to transform your existing home or create a chic, practical and safe space for your kids.
With ProjectGuru, you can plan home renovation ideas that can endure the relentless energy of your little ones without compromising on style. You can count on our designers to customise their solutions based on your specific needs. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with our designers!