Stylish, multifunctional decor for modern kids
Today's families demand stylish, multi-purpose spaces that can evolve as children grow older
Children’s spaces have come a long way since the days of clunky beds and busy wallpaper borders in primary colours.
Companies have awoken to the needs of modern families looking for interesting furniture and decor that is not only stylish, but also multi-functional and free of toxic chemicals.
It’s a shift so strong that it has been highlighted for two years running at the influential Interior Design Show in Toronto.
Parents are “becoming more design-savvy and investing more in their kids’ spaces,” says show organizer Karen Kang.
That view is echoed by Ying Liu, owner of Fab Baby Gear on Wellington Street. Just because you may be starting a family, it doesn’t mean you’ve got to have a “kiddie look” with cartoon characters peeking from every corner of your home, she says.
“You don’t have to turn your house into Disneyland. Parents typically don’t want those characters in their house — they want nice design.”
That translates into cleaner lines and palettes compatible with a couple’s existing furniture, she says. But also they want decor that has lasting power, like the Canadianmade Monte glider, a comfortable high-quality nursery chair that’s equally at home in the baby’s room and the living room.
“Nobody would know that they are actually made for nursing,” Liu says.
Chocolate brown had been the hot neutral colour for a child’s room, but now it’s all about greys, soothing creams and soft pastels, she says.
And while the owl has been a ubiquitous character in recent years, the fox, raccoon and hedgehog are starting to edge out the wide-eyed bird.
“Modern (animal) designs are more silhouettes of animals or objects, and the colours tend to be more pastel, more simple lines.”
Colour co-ordination and decor are key when pulling a baby’s room together, says Pennie Chen, owner of Baby enRoute, a hip children’s store that opened in Westboro last year. But parents should also consider adaptability, because the room should easily morph from a nursery to a child’s space, she says.
Chen carries the Oeuf line of stylish, eco-friendly products, which include a crib with integrated change table that can convert to a stylish toddler bed.
Today’s children also need flexible spaces to accommodate evolving electronics and technology such as videos, games and, of course, homework.
“One of the biggest changes is the demand for furniture that does double duty,” says Challie Stillman, design director for Resource Furniture in Toronto (resourcefurniture.com).
The company specializes in European multi-functional furniture for families who are expanding when their space is not. Bunk beds that include sofas, twin beds with desks and extra storage, or simply bedroom furniture that folds up and out of the way for more play space are popular choices.
Ikea keeps technology in mind when designing new furniture, says spokeswoman Alicia Zoffranieri.
“The reality is that children
Children have more technology options today than they ever did before, and furniture must reflect that. ALICIA Z OFFRANIERI, Ikea spokeswoman
have more technology options today than they ever did before, and furniture must reflect that.” Ikea’s Nordli bedside table, for instance, features a hidden spot for an outlet strip to charge devices.
And when it comes to harmful chemicals in children’s furniture and other products, Liu says the industry has caught up to consumer demand to have sustainable, ecofriendly options that are now not only available at most independent boutiques, but at mainstream box stores, too.
“It’s very competitive,” Liu says of today’s market. “But it’s a good thing because people keep coming up with different features to try to make the lives of parents easier.”