5 Decorating Don’ts for Homes with Kids

We fill our homes with beautiful furniture that looks great, but with kids at home we have to look a little deeper and make sure we keep safety in mind. For example, these tall cabinets are absolutely gorgeous, but as responsible parents you need to make sure they are securely fastened to the wall so they won’t tip over onto your child. Remember to secure any piece of tall furniture, including bookcases, china cabinets, and armoires. 

Window blinds are another area of concern. Hundred of children have been strangled to death by the cords of blinds. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has recognized these cords as causing imminenet danger and there are new safety standards in place, but not all manufacturers are adhering to the recommendations so it is up to the parents to monitor and avoid any window blinds that are not equiped with the new safety features.

Hinges on storage ottomans and toy boxes are another source of danger. Standard hinges allow the tops to close quickly and can crush little fingers beneath. Make sure any piece of furntirue you get with a lift top has safety hinges that will not close without pressure being applied to them.

Glass tabletops are definitely to be avoided in homes with kids. Most often, the glass is simply resting on a table base, which makes it very easy to tip over and have the glass come crashing down. Another danger is from the sharp corners on square or rectangular tables. 

Electrical cords should be safely hidden behind furniture or in the case of this wall sconce, use a cover to keep the cord safe and out of reach.

Do you have any other safety tips you’d like to share with our readers? Please leave a note in the comments section below.

Barbara Green is the owner of Sensibly Chic Designs for Life and the host of Ask the Design Diva radio show. Her showroom is located at 830 Lamar Avenue and is open by appointment only. Please call 704-608-9424 for your free private consultation.