Chic, Family-Friendly Design Ideas For Stylish Family Homes

From how to hide a TV to how to zone an open-plan space, we've found the most stylish family friendly ideas from the Livingetc archives, and spoken to interior design experts on how to nail communal living with the kids.

Storage is key; for example a trunk that can be used as both a coffee table and as a storage piece for hiding away ugly plastic toys. If you have open shelving, use inexpensive baskets as catch-all spaces for paraphernalia. Position them on lower shelves so your children learn where their toys belong – and perhaps even start tidying up after themselves!

Upholstered ottomans are safer in homes with small children than coffee tables; the soft edges of an ottoman make it less likely that someone will get hurt if they take a tumble.

Hard floors are more practical than carpet; young children will subject your flooring to plenty of spills, so it’s more practical to go for easy-to-clean wooden floors, which you can then soften with big rugs.

People often think you can’t use white paint when you have a family, but that’s not true. Opt for a low-gloss paint as it wipes down easily. Got your eye on a pretty wallpaper? The ceiling is often the perfect place. It looks fantastic and you won’t have to keep replacing it because it’s been ripped.

Wondering what to do about the TV dominating a family space? You could divert attention away from your TV by placing an expensive piece of art next to it or surrounding it with colour-coordinated books, or blend it into the background by setting it against a dark wall or surrounding it with pictures to make it part of a gallery display.

Got the budget for something bespoke? Take things to the next level with a sliding bookcase that hides the TV completely.

Read Also: Fun Kids Bedroom Ideas, Stylish Nursery Ideas, Cool Teen Room Ideas, Play Room Ideas And More

An open-plan kitchen, living and dining area is great for a family. An open-plan area means you can spend quality time as a family while also monitoring screen time or helping with homework. Make the space work hard by zoning it. Partitions, curtains and sliding or folding doors give flexibility, allowing for intimate spaces that can be opened up when you want to spend time as a family. Backless shelving can be used to create a partition, but still allows light to pass through (f you have small children, consider screwing down the shelves to prevent any accidents).

Durability and longevity are important factors to consider too. Interior design duo the Novogratz don’t recommend that you buy children’s furniture: 'It’s a waste of money because children grow so quickly. Invest in longevity with adult furniture – just be mindful what you choose. For instance, look out for sofas with washable slip covers or curtains in a durable fabric'.

Choose sofas and chairs with removable covers or stain-guarding upholstery for easy care. You could also go for outdoor fabrics in high-traffic areas – these fabrics tend to be stain resistant and wick spills.

Last but not least, don’t just design for your children. Create a space for the whole family – and that includes you! For a sense of balance, offset each ‘kid thing’ with something fabulous, like an ornate mirror or a high-end piece of art.

And when it comes to lighting, invest in dimmers. That way, once the children are in bed, you can turn down the lights for a more adult atmosphere.

Scroll through our gallery for more functional and stylish design ideas that work for the whole family...

Read Also: Kids Bedroom Ideas, Nursery Ideas, Teen Room Ideas, Play Room Ideas And More

Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass panels separate this family kitchen and living room, a masterclass in broken-plan design. It’s a practical set-up too: the layout retains the flow of natural light without losing the visual connection between the two spaces – essential when you’re keeping an eye on the little ones while cooking. Get the look: Find a sliding glass partition like this, from £1,200sq m, iQ Glass. The cabinetry and dining table were designed by Ofist. Wishbone chairs, from £376 each, Hans J Wegner for Carl Hansen & Søn at Nest. Non Random pendant lights, £613 each, Bertjan Pot for Moooi at Made in Design

Blessed with soaring ceilings? Exploit the height of your room with a mezzanine games area – a great way to add space for family fun without increasing the footprint of your home. Here, a glass balustrade strengthens the connection with the kitchen below. Proportions are important: make sure your mezzanine doesn’t cover more than 50 per cent of the ground floor. Get the look: Design by Rebekah Caudwell. Nuvole al Tramonto wallpaper, £395 a roll, Cole & Son at Wallpaperdirect. The You & Me ping-pong table, £2,850, The Conran Shop, is a good match

In this extension, Beth Dadswell of Imperfect Interiors used a glass wall to welcome in as much light as possible, and pitched the glass roof to gain maximum height. Built-in benches with leather seats and storage underneath are a practical solution and eliminate the need for more chairs. Get the look: Reclaimed wooden dining table, Imperfect Interiors. Find vintage Ercol dining chairs at Vinterior. For a similar pendant light, try the Dexter in Ash Black, £111, Pooky. Astro Pienza wall lights, around £89 each, Ocean Lighting. The floor tiles are from Domus’ Industrial collection. Source reclaimed London stock bricks like these ones from London Reclaimed Brick Merchants

Family dining in the hands of interior designer Jessica Helgerson means a neutral backdrop punctuated by cheerful tones – a brilliant idea if you want to dabble without overdoing it. For the floor-to-ceiling storage, Jessica has harnessed four shades of red that complement but also contrast. Get the look: Shelving in Raspberry Truffle, Million Dollar Red, Vermillion and Arroyo Red, all Benjamin Moore. Vintage Paul McCobb chairs; painted in Aruba Blue, Benjamin Moore. Chandelier, David Weeks Studio. The table was custom-made using bookmatched walnut slabs

Reveal or conceal? That’s the question when incorporating a TV into your space. These homeowners have chosen the latter option, secreting their screen behind a sliding bookcase. If a bespoke approach isn’t for you, aim to divert attention from the TV when it’s not in use. Blend it into the background by setting it against a dark wall or surrounding it with pictures to make it part of a gallery display. Get the look: Media unit, Made. 19th-century stool, Galerie Half; in fabric by Antoinette Poisson. Plant pot by Paula Greif. For similar 3D geometric tiles try Cube from Nick Firth Tiles, £35sq m

Chalkboard paint is not a new idea for encouraging creativity, but using it to cover retractable cupboard doors is an inspired solution for hiding practical areas in a personality-filled way. Stylist Siouxsie Dickens has concealed a small utility room, creating a perfect spot for kids to clean up after arts and crafts. Don’t worry if black isn’t your thing: chalkboard paint comes in a range of colours. Get the look: Try Rust-Oleum’s black matt chalkboard paint, £13 for 750ml, B&Q. The carpet is by Carpetright

Right angle Corner sofas have come back round into style, the perfect fix for family life. It brings everyone together for movie night, then allows parents to stretch out once the kids have gone to bed. Slot it into a corner to maximise space, or position it in the middle of a room to zone an open-plan area. This sofa has removable covers that can be cleaned. Get the look: Adda corner sofa, from £6,543; Giano coffee table, from £2,634.50; Bangkok ottoman, from £2,339.12; Magi bench, from £4,420; Oliver side table, from £873.56, all Flexform

Designers Robert and Cortney Novogratz are big believers in rooms that bring families together but that also let individuals have their own space. The design pair have seven children together, so an open-plan area means that they can spend quality time as a family while also monitoring screen time or helping with homework.

There’s often a triangular-shaped space under the stairs begging to be put to good use. Architect De Rosee Sa has done just that, squeezing in recessed shelves, a cupboard and a utility room. Stack your laundry appliances if you’re stuck for space under the stairs. Put the drier on top: it’s lighter than the washing machine, so easier to lift. Douglas fir flooring runs throughout and a panelled wall visually separates this area from the rest of the room. Get the look: Douglas fir flooring with a soap white finish, Dinesen. Panelling painted in Dulux Trade’s Chiltern White

Don’t just design for your children. Create a space for the whole family – and that includes you! For a sense of balance, offset each ‘kid thing’ with something fabulous, like an ornate mirror or a high-end piece of art.