Practical yet stylish: kid-friendly design inspiration from Irish homes
From hallways to bedrooms, designing the spaces kids use most can be tricky, so we’re taking note from these Irish homes that have shown exactly how to do it.
The rooms that children use the most can be difficult to get right in your home. You want them to feel fun and appropriate, but don’t want to have to spend a fortune in a few years redecorating.
You also want them to be able to use the spaces well. If kids can hang up their own coat, that’s one less thing for you to do. So, how to strike this tricky balance? We’re turning to the stylish Irish homes for inspiration.
Look for adaptable options
Sure, as your kids grow, certain things will need to be updated, but this Galway home is a great example of choosing designs that will have a long life. In both these bedrooms the colour palette is bright without being overly childish, and although the bed might be swapped out in a few years, this built-in desk will always be useful, whether as a dressing table or a homework space.
The same principle applies in the rest of the house. This cork wall is currently used to display the children’s art, but even if it was unadorned, it still adds warmth and texture to the space.
Keep surfaces neutral, but accessories fun
This Dublin home has concrete and wooden flooring, plywood storage and panelling on the walls painted in neutral hues that provide a simple backdrop for cute accessories, art and toys. While the decorative elements are easy to swap out when the kids are older, the simple backdrop would look just as good with more grown-up flourishes.
Photography: Ruth Maria Murphy
Incorporate the kids into the whole house
Don’t just think about kids’ bedrooms – it’s their home too, after all. This Belfast house makes clear that kids live there too with fun elements in the living space and hallway. The storage in both spaces is also key to avoiding clutter, giving toys and books a place to live in multiple spaces.
Work at their level
Kids love independence, and having things at their level helps to facilitate this as much as possible. This Derry home has everything from coat hooks in the hallway to clothes rails and bookshelves that kids can use themselves. If pieces need to be replaced when kids get older, re-selling is a sustainable and cost-effective way to do so.
These homes originally appeared in IMAGE Interiors. Have you thought about becoming a subscriber? Find out more, and sign up here, or pick up the Spring/Summer 2024 issue, on shelves now.
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