Quarantine can put a beating on your house, can’t it? In the past week, my lovable but slightly chaotic five-year-old has dropped his milk on the rug in the living room, spilled soggy cereal on the rug in dining room and drawn on the rug in my office. Not brilliant (especially if you’re a rug). But it could have been worse had the coverings not been somewhat kid-proof. Since becoming a mum seven-and-a-half years ago, I’ve been on a quest to find fabrics and furnishings that can handle whatever a child can throw / spill / draw on them – while still looking stylish to grown-ups. I’m excited to share the findings with you in this blog, lest your décor need defending against confined kids, dogs or other messy housemates too!

1. Stain-resistant rugs

vintage vinyl floor cloth - spicher and company

Rugs under dining room tables do many lovely things. They define the space, add visual interest and make things feel harmonious. What they rarely do is ease clean-up. That’s why Vintage Vinyl Floor Cloths are a bit of a revelation. They do all the things rugs do but can be wiped down with a wet cloth and some dish soap. Ours has been deflecting dinner spills for almost a decade and remains unscathed.

washable rug - ruggable, bed frame - pottery barn kids

houndstooth rug - houzz, kente pillow cover and cotton throw - ETSY

For rooms where coziness counts – say a kids’ bedroom – a washable rug can bring warmth and protection from pens. Ruggable offers an entire collection of floor coverings that combine a nonslip pad with a lightweight cover to create one machine-washable rug. An interior designer friend, Jodie of Jodie Shields Interiors, uses one as a doormat. Ours are in our sons’ bedrooms - ready for whatever may come at them.

Or you can choose a stain- and water-repellent rug fabric, like wool or polypropylene. That’s why I didn’t cry (too much) over the spilled milk in the living room.

2. Durable dining and coffee tables

Kid-proof decor wipeable faux leather nailhead chair

modern-twist WASHABLE silicone placemat - AMAZON

When is a dining table just a dining table? Probably never for most of us! As well as being a place to eat, ours is a homework station, art studio, and battleground for Iceman and Lava Guy. To avoid anxiety over errant coloring or stabbing by wood sword – while still enjoying the warmth of wood – one option is to add a custom glass tabletop. This makes clean-up a breeze, especially when paired with washable silicone table mats and wipeable dining chairs. Ours are faux leather, but wood, plastic and metal are equally practical.

round elm coffee table - similar on amazon

You could also invest in a tough hardwood like walnut (used to make airplane propellers in World War 1), maple (used for flooring in bowling alleys and bowling pins) or elm (used to make hockey sticks). Our whitewashed elm coffee table looks the same as the day we bought it despite being scratched, jumped across and drawn on daily. One wipe with some Pledge and all is forgotten.

3. Family-friendly couches and chairs

synthetic velvet couch - room & board (similar)

A few years ago, I spotted ‘the couch’ in Room & Board. It had elegant retro modern lines yet was built to withstand part-time work as a trampoline. The only problem was it was natural velvet – not the most durable fabric and apparently a magnet for pet hair. So, the nice people at the store came up with a solution: have it upholstered in synthetic velvet. They described this dupe as “bulletproof” – and they were correct. Not fort-building nor food spills nor dragging around the house can these cushions hurt.

banquette and banquette seat cushions - ballard designs

For a lighter, airier look, slipcovers are a proven choice for hard-knock homes and are, thank goodness, fashionable. You can also find Sunbrella or washable cotton cushions for high-use upholstery, like kitchen banquettes. It gives a little more peace of mind to know that a dropped popsicle or errant marker isn’t fatal.

4. Throwable throw pillows

Kid-proof decor child playing in child-friendly pillows

The physicality of little boys’ play is astonishing. Isn’t someone going to get hurt - possibly me?! Pillow fights are a family fave - perfect for letting off steam and reconnecting, not so perfect for posh pillows. That’s why we heed Jodie’s interior design advice (see also Upgrade your living room one pillow at a time) and avoid cushions that make you “cringe when they become forts,” in her words. Washable- (or at least dry clean-able) cottons, linens and polys are fort-friendly. “Spot clean only” or the dreaded “do not wash” not so much.

5. Cover-ups for precious pieces

african mud cloth throw blanket - etsy (similar)

Finally, if you do have precious pieces, like our pre-kids white velvet bedroom ottoman, you can cover them up with something washable, like an African mudcloth throw. That way, when your furniture becomes islands in the pit of lava, it don’t end up looking like it’s actually covered in ash.

I hope these tips are helpful and can help your home feel ready for whatever your quarantined kids / dog / cat / roommate may bring! Please let us know your secrets for keeping your home stylish and livable during these unusual times with a comment. And do stay healthy and safe.