Modern Family: Design + Kids Do Mix! By The Other Sarah of Salt & Nectar

I don’t know about you, but I’ve never subscribed to the belief that baby proofing means your house has to look like Romper Room. Rather, I know modern parents and muddy kids can co-exist in a designer, kid friendly space. However, because children—especially active toddlers like my son—can be hard on furniture and are known now and then to have sticky, snotty hands, one doesn’t always want to invest a ton of money in furniture that inevitably will suffer wear and tear and ultimately will be outgrown.

Perhaps this isn’t a concern if you’re lucky enough to have a money tree in your backyard. If that’s the case, then I definitely recommend pint size pieces by Jennifer DeLonge, Ouef, ducduc, and Serena & Lily that will look fab in any room.

But if you’re like me and want stylish and budget-friendly furniture, I highly recommend turning your attention to big box stores like Target and Ikea (their online selections are hot spots for steals). When you set out on your search at these stores, approach it like a look-for-less mission and be open to items that aren’t labeled for children but safely can be adapted for their use. For example, the inexpensive but universally chic Ikea Lack Side Table ($12.99) is perfectly proportioned for toddlers and happens to look exactly like Jennifer DeLonge’s Grace Square Set ($249, with two stools), but at a fraction of the cost!