Child-Friendly Coffee Table Styling
Saying ‘no’, ‘don’t touch’, and 'be careful with that' isn’t fun for you or your children. So, when I started creating the content for our 'Creating a Stylish Toddler-Friendly Home' talk, I curated a selection of decor that is both beautiful and child-friendly. (Product links can be found on our Pinterest board.) While it may be tempting to remove everything below 3 feet for a few years, that wouldn’t bring you much joy when you sit down to relax in the evening. We focus on creating homes that reflect your style and are family-friendly without making you feel like you live in a nursery environment.
When I later discussed this with a family wellness specialist, I learned that the impact of a family-friendly home ran far deeper than I had realized. She explained the importance of creating an environment that enables young children to have autonomy. 'They have very little control over their lives, so if they are constantly told what to do, we often see this bubble over in the outbursts they have at the end of the day.' Janine went on to explain that often an action 'we perceive as misbehavior is actually the child showing a lack of information. Perhaps they don’t know that this is something that can break or hurt them, so it’s important to educate the child about the things they live around.'
I found it fascinating that the objects we choose to bring into our homes could impact our children's behaviour.
Start with your larger pieces; trays made from metal, wood or natural fibers and coffee table books. Then layer decorative ornaments on top. Oversized wooden balls, brass ornaments and textured items like tassels can be great filler pieces. Sturdy games, such as large dice or wooden toddler puzzles can also make for fun additions.
To create a flexible space, design your dressing to sit within a tray that can be easily removed. Opt for artificial or dried flowers instead of fresh ones, and consider removing glass from low-level photo frames for added safety.
Here’s a selection of our favourite child-friendly coffee table styling inspiration images.
