Is Harmony and Style possible with Kids?

Posted by Jane Langof on 1 March 2011 | 6 Comments

I've always had great fun decorating my home.  When I was expecting my first child, friends told me that the days of having a beautiful place were over, and that I would be destined to live in a mess of plastic paraphernalia for the next decade.  I wondered whether my stylish pad would turn into Nightmare on Sesame Street.

With some experience under my belt, I think it is possible to keep a stylish home....at least some of the time!  Here are my top tips:

  • Keep toys in your living room, but try to limit the amount, and have a place to put them away when the kids have finished playing. Use stylish storage solutions, such as decorative boxes to suit your décor, or clear out your drawers and cupboards for toy storage.
  • Use gift lists for birthdays and Christmas, and aim to keep gifts reasonably sized so they don't overtake the house.  Have a designated place for bulky items, so they can be put away when the kids have finished playing.
  • Regularly review your stash of toys, throw away anything broken and decide whether your kids' un-loved or unused toys can be donated to a children's charity.

While my own house isn't always perfect, tidying up is manageable and can be done quickly when there's not too much "stuff", and a designated place for everything.  What do you think?

Jane Langof is a Feng Shui master based in Sydney, Australia


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Comments

  • Your web design is very beautiful. I really like your site.

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  • I've made the mistake over the years of trying to reason with such skeptics. The payout is extremely low, but at least you win something right?

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  • Naomi, thanks for sharing your comments! Love the idea of donating to a children's charity. I think 'experiences' are great gifts too and they don't take up any space. We gave our daughter a Kindifarm birthday party last year (baby farm animals) and the kids LOVED it.

    Posted by Jane Langof, 06/05/2009 11:04pm (12 years ago)

  • Jane, completely agree. I have an almost-2 year old boy so the house is often decorated with train tracks, trucks and tractors.

    As you have suggested though, I keep toys to a minimum and make sure they have a space to be packed away at the end of each day. If there isn't a space for them, then something else is moved into storage to make room for them.

    For my son's first birthday, I asked everyone to donate to a children's charity instead of giving him a present. I figured I/he didn't need the extra toys and he wasn't aware that people were coming empty handed.

    I have also changed my perspective on household tidiness. I consider it comforting during the day to have his things about - as it represents learning and development. From a Feng Shui angle I no longer feel this kind of chaos as a "sha qi".

    However, we do have a routine to pack away everything at the end of the night, so that when my husband and I are relaxing it is also "sheng qi" for that too.

    Posted by Naomi, 06/05/2009 5:05pm (12 years ago)

  • Thanks for the feedback Leslie, I'm happy that these Feng Shui tips have been useful to you! Jane :)

    Posted by Jane Langof, 20/04/2009 6:18pm (12 years ago)

  • Love this post. I am a Feng Shui consultant with 4 children and am constantly balancing making our space kid friendly while keeping it organized and beautiful. These are good tips.

    Posted by Leslie Grotenhuis, 05/04/2009 5:53am (12 years ago)

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