Buy a recycled plastic rug and more ways to design a family-friendly home

By Jennifer Laing | September 16, 2014 - 3:59PM

Upon relocating from Australia to England, writer, photographer and graphic designer Kate Paillat of the blog Maurice & King decorated her London rental with her two small sons—ages 4 and 2—in mind. It's not New York City, but it does show how you can live beautifully even with young children at home. Here, via Design*Sponge, are a few of her tips for creating a family-friendly abode:

Choose items that last: Give the kids the run of the house by filling it with furniture and furnishings that will withstand their abuse. In the boys' room, a Danish teak tall boy can be used for blankets and baby clothes now and grown up items for decades to come. Meanwhile, a rug in the same room is made of recycled plastic (and actually meant for use outdoors), so it’s practically indestructible.

Think open space: Kids need room to play. In the boys’ room, the beds are pushed up against the wall to allow for a generous play area in the center of the room. To keep the room neat, toy clutter is contained in colorful woven baskets.

Accessorize with artwork: A single, oversized, brightly colored and boldly patterned piece is all you need to set the tone in a room. While living in Sydney, Paillat had accumulated numerous works of Australian aboriginal art. Now, such works function as design centerpieces in several rooms of her London home .

Take your time: Seek out things you adore and will have forever. Two of Paillat's most prized pieces—a 1950s velvet chair and an original Ercol table with a set of stacking chairs—were discovered after extensive searches on eBay.

NYC's 10 best names for young families (including 5 you may not have heard of)

I'm buying a co-op. Will the board want to interview my children?

How to find a family-friendly building in the Financial District, and beyond

Brick Underground articles occasionally include the expertise of, or information about, advertising partners when relevant to the story. We will never promote an advertiser's product without making the relationship clear to our readers.