You love your kids and furry friends, but they can oftentimes clash with your interior design. And when it comes to decorating your home, it may feel like you have to sacrifice achieving the look you want for the sake of expense and functionality. And while you could always opt to keep certain areas of the house off-limits to pets and kids, you may find that these rules are often ignored. Instead, you should consider purchasing kid-friendly furniture based on material, color, and construction. Keep reading to learn more about how to shop for sensible and stylish options that will be a great addition for all of your home’s inhabitants. 

Durability Hacks

There are lots of ways that you can help conceal, prevent, or clean wear and tear from children and pets. Check out some of our tips and tricks to keep your furniture in tip-top shape while allowing your children and pets to use it.  

Durable Upholstery and Materials 

• The most important thing you should look for when shopping for furniture that will withstand the test of time is durable fabrics and materials. Even if certain fabrics look similar, you’ll find that they yield different results. Fabrics like velvet and wool are seeing an increase in popularity because of the unique texture they can add to a room; however, they aren’t a good idea if you have children and pets in your house. Not only are they not stain-resistant or easily cleaned, but you may find that pet hair is more likely to get caught in the fibers. Instead, you need to look for durable, scratch and stain resistant fabrics like microfiber. If you have the cash to spare, leather furniture that has been finished with protective wax can also be an easy to clean option.

Color Matching 

• It may seem like a no-brainer, but it isn’t wise to have a white-haired pet and black furniture. If you know that you’ll be getting a black labrador retriever in the near future, it would be wise to avoid getting a light-colored couch. Even if you don’t have pets, stains can be more easily hidden on a darker-colored couch. This will help keep your home kid-friendly!

Shop for Furniture with Zippers

• We can give you every tip under the sun for maintaining the look of furniture, but nothing keeps furniture clean like washing it. Many newer sofas have zippers that allow you to remove the cushion inserts and place the washable slipcovers in the washing machines. But keep in mind that not all fabrics are created equal; check the fine print to make sure you are washing your items correctly.

How to Maintain High-traffic Areas 

Certain areas of your home are more prone to wear and tear than others. If there is a specific room in your home where everyone tends to congregate, like the kitchen or family room, take care to keep these high-traffic areas looking great. If these rooms currently have carpet, you may want to look into upgrading to hardwood flooring. Carpets can be hard to keep clean, especially with pets and kids. Conversely, hardwood and tile flooring is far easier to clean. You should also make sure that any coffee tables, dining tables, and living room furniture are all made of a material that wipes clean easily. 

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