The birth of a child brings its share of adaptation and adjustments to a home. Here are my top tips for creating mall space made simple, streamlined, and playful yet enjoyable and aesthetic for the whole family.
Small but stylish
I grew up in the suburbs, in an era when most families had a playroom in the basement. Today, homes are smaller and condos are on the rise, making it rather difficult to offer children a spacious room to call their own. It’s more and more common to see toys and games spread throughout the home, rather than in one specific room, which I believe is actually better for the child.
It all starts with decluttering
Anyone who’s ever seen my Instagram page knows that I favour a minimalism-inspired approach. Even though my home is never actually as neat and tidy as it looks in my photos, I still try to apply this philosophy to my everyday life.
Like Marie Kondo points out, it all starts with decluttering: sort through everything in your home, ideally right before a move or when unpacking your boxes. Next, decide what items you want to keep, and which you want to get rid of.
One thing that really helped me pare down was asking family and friends to ease up on all the unsolicited gifts for my daughter. Letting your loved ones know that you want to unclutter your home before that big move or the birth of your baby, is essential.
Choosing the right toys
We are very privileged to be living in a time where there is just so much . . . of everything. I am a huge advocate of the philosophy “buy less, buy better.” Be selective when it comes to choosing toys for your children. Avoid impulse buys and don’t over-buy. Opt for a toy that you yourself like, that way you’re more likely to actually play with your children. The toy no longer needs to be florescent and bright. ;)
Personally, I like wooden toys for their durable nature and pleasing aesthetic. Some are so pretty they fit right in with your home décor (I’m thinking of Atelier Bosc, Grimm’s, Raduga Grez, Wooden Story, etc.). Of course, not all toys are Pinterest-perfect. It’s important to plan appropriate storage solutions for such toys even before buying them. That way, each object will have its own “home” and it’ll be easier to encourage your kids to put their toys away when they’re done playing with them.
Choosing the right colours
With the popularity of the Scandinavian trend these past few years, subdued colours are all the rage. They’re ideal for making a room appear larger than it actually is, plus they help create an airy ambience in your home. If you prefer a more eclectic style, you can accentuate your rooms by adding brightly coloured accessories. Some companies market chalkboard paint in a variety of colours, so you can transform your walls into erasable canvases; it’s an original way of letting your kids have fun, all while brightening up your home.
Follow me and I’ll flee, flee me and I’ll follow . . .
As you probably already know, kids generally like to be near their parents, especially when their parents are busy. ;) As a parent, you need to get creative if you want to free yourself long enough to get anything done!
Space permitting, installing a toy kitchen close to your actual kitchen is a great way of encouraging your child to learn through imitation, while giving yourself the time and space to prepare the family meal. A small cupboard at his or her height, filled with fun kitchen accessories is really all it takes.
Try to come up with storage solutions that are both accessible and original: a toy box that you can slide under the couch, puzzles in the coffee table, your child’s favourite books in the TV cabinet, crayons (washable!) in a pretty jar next to a stack of paper on the table, or even a sheet of paper taped directly to the wall.
When planning how to organize everything, consider times when it’s harder for you to get certain tasks done or when you need a little break.
In conclusion, the important thing is to find solutions that work for you and your family. In doing so, you’ll be able to really consider each room’s purpose and organize accordingly.
“If there’s love in a house, it’s a palace for sure.” – Tom Waits
