Hip Design With Kids in Mind

The single mother and daughter who live in this Decatur home outside Atlanta share a pretty space where toys and other kids gear is hidden within the beautiful design. A buffet cleverly hides bins with toys. "This project is a great example of a common request I get from clients with small children, who do not need a formal dining area: how to create a play space without having a room that's completely devoted to kids and toys," " says designer Gina Sims. These clients want a space for their children, but do not want to lose the "adult" feel of the room.

Far from the right use of color, instead this Georgia dining room is a riot of out-of-control toys in bright primary colors. Designer Gina Sims stepped in to bring order where there was formerly design chaos. Her tips for designing with kids in mind are simple. Follow these rules and find your own life-with-kids-design-harmony:

1: Rugs with pattern hide stains.

2: Choose chairs and tables with easily wipeable surfaces.

3: "Real" furniture and rugs can transition to adult spaces when the kids are older.

4: Focus on style that flows easily with the rest of the house. This space shouldn't automatically look like a kid zone, just function like one.

5: Performance fabrics like Revolution or Crypton on upholstered pieces allow for even red wine to roll right off!

The brightly hued children's toys previously dominated this dining room space. It was an example, says designer Gina Sims, of a common problem: how to integrate a child's toys and make them accessible for play without relinquishing design control and focus.

There are many ways to use fabric, color, pattern and other design tricks to make a common room more suitable for children and their toys. Designer Gina Sims recommends first and foremost, "style that flows easily with the rest of the house. This space shouldn't automatically look like a kid zone, just function like one."