a little bit of decorated calm in the chaos

With 3 kids under the age of 6, I always tell people I am a member of the “4 foot and over” decorating club and that my home is decorated in “early post-modern Little Tyke’s”. It’ s hard when you have mounds of bright plastic and little grabby hands that like to touch, tear and destroy to feel like you can’t have a well decorated home and still keep a safe environment. But, just because you have little kids doesn’t mean you have to shy away from decorating and live in a space with 4 white, rubber walls. So what can you put on those lower spaces?

-Use books themselves as decorations. Decorating books, large hard covers and picture books are a great way to add to a coffee table with out worrying about breakables.

- Baskets. Whether toys go in them or you use smaller ones on top of things, baskets can add richness and depth without sharp edges.

-Select resin or wood picture frames. Either remove the glass entirely or have plexi-glass or plastic sheeting cut to fit.

-Fake flowers and plants work well too as long as they don’t have any small pieces that can be pulled off and could choke a child.

-Never underestimate the power of outdoor resin/plastic garden statuary. The great thing about using items intended for outside is they are not only durable, but fairly kid proof. Don’t like the look, but it has a great shape? Grab your closest bottle of non-toxic acrylic paint and go crazy. Make it your own.

-Fake it till you can make it and get creative. Thank goodness as sweet as they are; kids aren’t little forever and there are simple things we can do to make a house a home and still keep it safe.