INTERIOR TIPS FOR A HOME THAT GROWS WITH YOU

Earlier this week I was excited to have a photographer spend the day with us in the flat, creating beautiful shots of the space we call home. About a month ago I'd been contacted by Style at Home magazine asking if I would take part in an Interiors Feature and I excitedly agreed to the shoot and interview for an autumn edition of the magazine.

While I spent the day fussing around the photographer and styling a few shots, we got chatting about how things evolve once you have children and how your home needs to grow with you. This got me thinking about how I've styled our home and how it has slowly changed as F grows bigger year by year, from creating that first safe baby space which was warm and nurturing to a slightly more independent space that can be enjoyed by a young child and how it might change again as he gets ready to start school.

So I thought I share a few Interior tips that I keep in mind when doing anything to our home. 

1. Declutter

This is one of my key rules and we do this on a monthly basis. Do you really need that mug you got at a work Christmas party raffle three years ago? No? Didn't think so. Let's just take it down to the charity shop shall we and leave a bit of cupboard space for something you really need. Ensuring everything in your home is useful, beautiful and needed, allows you to look after the things you have and create space for things you'll need in the future.

2. Buy Smart

When buying a piece of furniture think about how it will be used. Buy furniture that will grow with your homes needs, will that nursing chair move into the lounge and make a great reading chair later in life? I bought an Eames RAR rocker when F was tiny and spent every night nursing him while rocking him back and forth, now it's in our lounge with new cushions and throws and is a great place to sit with friends.

3. Upcycle

Before you think about buying new furniture is there any way you can modify it to fit your needs? With I bought F's chest of drawers I kept away from the cutesy nursery child colour palettes and opted for a simple oak piece knowing that when the time came I could paint it a dove grey or simple white and change the handles to create a scandi-style inspired storage sideboard for the hallway. 

4.  Consider your colour palette. 

When decorating a home with young children I would always consider neutral tones and add colour through accessories. Whites walls can create a calm and light space which you can add colour to with prints in the lounge or decals in a child's room. With fabrics I tend to gravitate towards greys for sofas and chairs as it hides small marks made by sticky fingers and you can add colour using cushions and throws. As long as the fabric is machine washable or at least dry clean, it's easier to change cushions then it is to change a sofa.

5. Storage 

Using smart storage that allows you to keep bit of adult space in a house is key. Use woven storage baskets with lids around your lounge to keep your child's toys tidy. During the day they can play to their hearts content in a sea of plastic but once evening falls you can reclaim the your space and create a calm and stylish environment by popping the toys away and relax. 

Harvey's Furniture asked me whether I would like to share some tips on creating a home that grows with you, especially for those with young children, as part of their national survey and a chance for you to win a sofa and £500 to update your living room.  

Wild & Grizzly has been shortlisted for the Style Category in the Brilliance in Blogging 2015 awards.  It would be wonderful if you could take a moment to vote for me here. Thanks so much for your continued support. xx 

*this is a collaborative post