Do you buy furniture and have children? Here are some must-have pieces of furniture that you must buy!
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Let's face it: if your family has kids in it, all of your pre-childhood home dreams may have to fall out the window for a while. A towering bookcase? Not a good idea. That sweet smelling candle that you used to leave on the coffee table? Either stand high or give it to a friend. A presentation of delicate vases? Vases? For real?
A bright white sofa? … You can not be serious. But hey – it's not all bad. You can still have a home that feels cozy, warm, and well-equipped. It's just going to take a little more thought. Most of all, you may need to invest in some new pieces of furniture to make your home more functional and efficient. But don't worry, we have some tips for you to keep things as stylish and nifty as possible.
Without further ado, here are 5 pieces of indoor furniture to invest in if you have kids around the house.
1. A coat and hat stand for the entrance area
Without a doubt, the entryway to a house is probably the messiest. Okay, except for the nursery … and maybe the kitchen. Seriously, entrances can get messy! Help Keep your family in the loop With their hats, coats, scarves, backpacks, purses and more, invest in an entrance gown and hat rack. While a closet in the entryway can certainly help organize your belongings as well, closets tend to be like black holes that family members simply throw things into. Having an entrance organizer outdoors not only makes it easier to see what's there, but you're also more likely to keep it organized and tidy.
2. Easy to wash carpets.
Even dark carpets and carpets with busy designs that are best at hiding stains should be washable with children. For a long time that was hardly possible – especially with larger carpets. While you could usually find small throw rugs that could be tossed into a larger washing machine (or taken to the laundromat for their industrial size machines), finding a large washable rug wasn't easy. Now new companies are coming onto the market with 5 x 7 and even 6 x 9 carpets that you can pad together and put in your own washing machine. These are essential for households with children.
3. A washable couch (yes, you read that right).
When it comes to your home high quality indoor furniture is always best. And for children that means washable. Of course, most of the furniture is at least partially washable. You can usually clean a couch or chair regardless of the fabric. Even so, success is not always guaranteed, and as we all know, children usually don't spill water. You spill grape juice. It is for this reason that you should be on the lookout for one of the new “washable sofas” that are available now. No, you cannot put the entire couch in the washing machine (we wish). But you can remove the covers from pillows, armrests, couch backs, etc. and throw them in the laundry. While these types of sofas tend to have a slightly higher price tag, we think the washability is still worth the cost.
4. Low bookshelves.
When children are very young, not only do they love books, they also love climbing things. This makes tall bookcases a no-go for kid-friendly areas. While higher shelves can certainly be attached to the wall Anti-tip kits, they are still a hazard as objects on them could fall and hit children in the head. And even if a bookcase is anchored to the wall, you don't want your kids to be able to climb on it. For this reason, it's better to always invest in short bookcases – as well as other floor-standing furniture – where your kids can play and hang out.
5. A family store with a cubby for each family member
Who Said "80% of Parents Are Picking Up Toys"? No one? Hm … well, anyway. That is about the essentials. If you haven't learned this lesson yet, learn it now, while you still have the time, go online and order an OU with bins for all of your family members. You will want a shelf or trash can for each child and one for you and one for your partner as well. If you tidy up at the end of each day (and 10,000 times a day), a storage unit like this gives you a handy little space to store everyone's belongings.
Any family with kids knows that all the Legos walked in, the crayon-covered walls, and the stained pillows are absolutely worth it. At the same time, if you want to keep at least a little bit of sanity, cleanliness, and style to yourself, you're not crazy.
Use the tips above to do just that – then spend your time enjoying your kids no matter how old they are. After all, they won't be so small and adorable forever.
