Rachael Zarda

A while back, I posted a question box on Instagram stories asking for what you’d be interested in me writing about here. I got a few repeat requests for discussing how to keep your style present while having a kid-friendly home.

I have so many thoughts on this! Working in the interior realm, this is a challenge I see come up for people with kids. So many people feel like they can’t have nice things or have to change their home once kids come along. There are a handful of ways to address this, but in general, I strongly believe you don’t have to sacrifice your style just because you have children.

PERFORMANCE FABRICS
First and foremost, there are incredible materials now that are performance based and will stand up to spills and stains. When in doubt, choose these hard-working fabrics for your most used spaces and items like a family room sofa.

AGE APPROPRIATE CURATING
Okay, I will admit, before Gemma was walking I didn’t think I’d need to edit down what would one day be within reach for her. Now that she is crawling and pulling herself up onto tables, chairs etc., I’ve found that if I want my coffee table books, vases, floral arrangements to stay intact, it’s best if I put them up a little higher until she’s at an age they are no longer tempting. There’s something to be said about letting them get used to nice things within reach, but if it’s a constant struggle to get them to lose interest in something delicate, just find a new home for that item until they’re at the right age to coexist.

SAFETY FIRST
You can still have the pretty console table and oversized floor mirror, just anchor them to the walls first. We use earthquake straps and heavy-duty wall anchors for anything that could potentially tip over.

DARK, LOW-PILE RUGS
A low-pile rug is going to be so much easier to get messes out of than something thick and shaggy. A dark or heavily patterned wool rug will always hide things better than a white one will, obviously. Just think about these details when searching for your textiles. Our vintage oushak has held us so nicely thus far. You do not have to compromise on a beautiful (or expensive) rug when it comes to kids!

BASKETS & STORAGE
My home is almost never completely clean, picked up, or void of primary colors. Gemma has a handful of toys that live in our main spaces on days that we are hanging at home and it can look like a tornado went through the house at the end of the day. I have a handful of baskets that I use to store the smaller items. And then if we have company or I’m just really needing a specific room to feel clean, the larger ones can go in another space.

LET IT GO
Being a mom is the greatest blessing and there’s not much about it I don’t love. But the consistent messes have been a mental hurdle I’ve struggled to get over. It’s just not possible, especially with multiple kids at home I’d imagine, to always have a clean home, laundry and dishes washed etc. And no one puts that expectation on you except for yourself. We are our toughest critics.

I’ve learned that the most important thing is to be mentally and physically present for them. Making memories and helping them learn and develop and connect is all the matters at the end of the day. It’s a total mindset shift, but can do wonders for your sanity.

My home is an extension of me, it’s what brings my soul joy and it’s what I do for a living. I want to be able to express that love and pass it on to Gemma. I want her to be able to appreciate nice things and be surrounded by beauty. It’s all about making smart design choices and embracing the everyday moments as well as the messes.