But when we stopped by the home of Joanna Ballentine, the blogger behind Irrelephant, we saw that she kept an effortlessly beautiful house while living with two kids under four and a dog. What’s her secret? As it turns out, designing with the kids in mind and letting them inspire her decor choices helped Joanna create a home that’s as much a sanctuary for her little ones as it is for her and her husband. Here are some easy-to-follow tips to turn your home into a stylish, family-friendly space. “So, for example, I wanted a linen couch,” Joanna explains. But with two young kids and a dog, it just wasn’t in the cards. “So we went with a leather couch.” It’s still a beautiful natural material, but one that’s much more durable than her original plan. “Even if we didn’t have kids, I would probably still want things that have texture,” she says. Choose vintage finds with patina, and you won’t have to worry if something shows a little wear and tear. Most importantly, this will help you create a home that’s as much for you as it is for your children. “I don’t want to create a home where I get frustrated with my kids,” Joanna explains. Small bursts of color pop up all over the home, from the supplies in the “explore” room to the kids’ framed artwork. And she’s added painted pastel circles on the walls of Theo and Alma’s shared bedroom. The result of all of these carefully considered kid-friendly choices is a space both kids and adults will love. “We have a lot of adults come in, we love hosting and having people over, and I want them to feel comfortable and relaxed and feel like this is a little sanctuary for them, too. It’s just a good balance of children and adults, combining and feeling like it’s a retreat.”
