With our hearts still swooning over Valentine's day and our eyes looking ahead to Love your Pet Day (February 20th for those of you who don't know!), we can’t help but feel all the love for our families this time of year. It just makes us want to orchestrate the perfect opportunities for creating even more precious moments with them. Especially with a three day weekend just on the horizon for President's Day!
So to round out the month, we thought we'd put together our favorite ideas for making your home the perfect place for impromptu family get-togethers. Yes, that means creating the perfect haven for your fur babies too!
1. Pet Friendly Rugs
When we say family, we mean the whole gang! To both ease your mind and to make sure your babies and fur babies feel as free at home as possible, we recommend opting for washable rugs like NuLoom. Dirty paws, spilled juice boxes and paints, muddy boots - no problem! A living room with a washable rug welcomes all of the little monsters to come and play.
2. Pattern Play
Speaking of play, we recommend adding vibrant patterns to accent chairs, curtains, and rugs alike to add a dose of playfulness into your family room.
3. Games & Globes
Styled shelves can go a long way in amping up the fun. You don't have to stick to the trending vase, stacked book, and candle motif - although we love those too!
Instead, try adding colorful games to the shelves like Sorry!, Trouble, and Candyland for added color. Or use stimulating toys like globes, airplane models, and books. Keep the curious minds of your kids running into the living room so that they can indulge in these interactive decor items with the whole family.
Heck, you could even go the distance and turn the family room into an eclectic game room by adding a ping pong, pool, or foosball table in place of a dining room table like our client Melanie did during the peak of the pandemic. Take that stay-at-home lockdown!
4. Cheeto-proof Surfaces
Stop worrying about Cheeto fingers and spilled coffee. Sturdy surfaces like leather and lacquer mean you can indulge in white furniture and pets on the sofa anxiety-free.
5. Soft Throws and Blows
Everyone knows soft throw blankets make a space cozy and inviting. But don't forget the magic of soft shaggy rugs or even upholstered furniture to make it especially kid friendly. If you have kids running around or play-wrestling brothers as part of your pack, trust us when we say a fabric-covered ottoman with a tray on top is much more family-friendly than a glass coffee table with sharp corners. It can be child-proof and upscale if you use a mix of classic and playful prints, traditional pieces, and unexpected colors, like Nick Olsen does below.
6. Hang a Chair
Nothing ramps up the fun like a playful odes to the swing set. We love a good hanging egg chair! But we say take it a bold step further and mount an actual swing into the living room for that stylish conversation starter and family room focal point.
7. Custom Nooks and Crannies
With custom floating shelves built into the walls for your cats to jump and leap onto until their little hearts' content, it's both elevated, design-savvy, and very pet-friendly. Or think about adding custom doggie doors for their night time cubbies beneath a built-in windowsill bench. There's no better way to make your fur babies feel like they own the place than with customizable nooks and crannies.
8. Spotlight the instruments
If Selena y Los Dinos can do it, so can your family! Use family instruments as decor items and get the family together for real life jam sessions throughout the week. Take advice from our client Rio, who stylishly and conveniently displayed his guitars for those impromptu strums.
