Decorating When You Have Children

I have been thinking about this for a long time. I don’t have a show home, but I like my house to look nice and be tidy. Then, I had children. Cue the toys strewn all over the floor, food stuck down the side of the sofa, grubby finger prints on the glass, the list goes on. But, do you know what? I wouldn’t have it any other way. I wasn’t always like this, at first I stressed and put all those toys back each night. Then as my children grew, I realised they won’t play with toys forever, they might still stuff food down the sofa, but it’s nice to watch them play, play with them and enjoy them being children for as long as I can let them. That doesn’t mean I still don’t have a space for the toys, tidy them up and my house is definitely clean, but it’s not spotless. And that’s ok.

However, I’d like to re-decorate the living room. I keep looking at my friend Karen’s blog The White Approach and seeing her beautiful white rooms. I’ve admired her impeccable sense of style for years now. She has three boys, but I feel I can only dream. I got the walls done last year and I like them. They are off white on three walls and a feature wall of off white and silvery trees on it. You’ll see in the pictures. I love this paper. It was difficult to get it done with the kids, but I did it when they were sleeping. This seemed easiest. A bit at a time. I did get someone in to do the feature wall. They did it in two evenings which was great. 

The one thing I want to change is the flooring. I currently have laminate flooring, which I love. But, it’s past it’s best and I want something less cold under foot in the Winter months. I’ve been eyeing up this fantastic Oak Laminate flooring. It looks just what I am looking for. I love the colour and would go perfectly. What I like about having laminate is that kids spill things, they do, with this you can wipe it up, no stain, no mess, it’s perfect. It looks just like wooden flooring, but without the extra expense so I don’t mind too much that the boys are driving their cars up and down it.

Then there is the sofa. I loathed leather suites until I had children. I hated the smell of them, the feel and how you’d stick to them in the Summer and freeze in the Winter. Now, I’ve grown to like them, not love, but like. They can be wiped clean of spills and sticky messes. I know this isn’t everyone’s choice and there are many stain proof, etc sofa’s out there, but for now with a young family, a leather suite would be my choice.

I have been eyeing up a site called Homify for some inspiration on living room spaces. They have some gorgeous ideas. As you can see in the pictures my sofa is a brown leather suite. I am thinking of sticking with a dark colour, but not sure which. What to do you think?

My favourite space in the living room when I am not sat on the sofa cuddling with my babies, is my little writing space. This will not change, although I am looking for some ideas to stop me sliding off the seat. Cushions make it worse. Anyone? I really need help with this. And I love my tropical fish tank. On the walls are photographs of my family and the kids. Everything else will stay the same, but I am just not sure about the sofa’s.

The next dilemma will be lighting and cushions and throws. Oh goodness, I feel stressed already. I am just not sure I am cut out for this interior design business. It is so much easier when kids aren’t thrown into the mix, but as I said, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I have taken into account their needs of flooring they can still play football on and Aria can still push her prams on, plus any mishaps can be quickly cleaned up. I may lose myself over on my pintrest boards for ideas. Where do you get your ideas from? Can you help me? How do you decorate when you have children? Help?

Disclaimer:- This is a featured post, but the dilemma and words are all mine.