Avoid the parent clutter trap

Having kids and wanting a high-style, clean home doesn't always go together. After all, moms always seem to be too busy picking up after their children and keeping crayon markings and little fingerprints off the walls to worry about the latest in plush pillows and wallpaper patterns.

However, in her new book, “Design Mom: How to Live with Kids: A Room-by-Room Guide” (Artisan, 2015), author and designer Gabrielle Stanley Blair proves that streamlining, organizing and decorating your home can be done while keeping the kids in mind, and the results can be both functional and beautiful.

No matter what room you are looking to change, Blair says the first step should be to assess the situation. “When you're not entertaining the kids, study the kitchen or bathroom and take a really good look at what you might want to change,” Blair says. “Then read books and find beautiful pictures that inspire you.”

Don't expect your home's new look to take shape in a week, though. “The trial-and-error process can take years,” she says. “You'll bring in stools and know they aren't quite right, so you repaint or reupholster them, or just bring them back to the store. You make a mistake, but it's OK to change it and try again.”

Designing isn't a job that needs to be done solo either. If the kids are old enough, it's a good idea to let them help with the design process.

When Blair was a 5-year-old girl, her mother let her pick out her bedroom wallpaper. “She presented me with two options that she liked, but as a 5-year-old I felt like I had ownership of that room,” she explains.

In the kitchen, Blair says the focal point should be the table. It's where the family gathers, meals are shared and homework is done, so a surface that looks better with age and can survive the dings, gouges and stains is perfect for families.

But it's OK to step away from traditional materials and appliances. For example, Blair writes her kitchen table is made of fence posts and covered with a sheet of metal, and she knows parents without microwaves and big refrigerators.

“You can step out of the box with the cabinets, too — remove the front doors and put in your prettiest dishes, ceramics or the wedding china you always wanted to display,” she says. “Line the back with wallpaper or wrapping paper for a pop of color,” Blair says. “It creates a pretty visual and it's totally free.”

In addition, chairs and dishes should be tough and able to grow with your family. She also suggests investing in some quality items that will stand up to frequent use, including sturdy silverware.

“You don't want an ice cream scoop that's going to bend,” she says. “Also, make your kitchen feel fresh by putting things out that you use all the time.”

Don't, however, invest in trends. “Trends are good for dish towels, tablecloths or one big food bowl,” she says. “If, after six months, you get sick of it, you know that wasn't a big investment.”

Redesigning a room also doesn't have to pummel your budget either.

“For example, the best thing is that you can refresh the bathroom by adding new towels, bathmat and hooks for $30,” Blair says. “As the kids age, you can do this over and over, and even if you just change the shower curtain the bathroom is going to look new.”

Most importantly, any design you do should work for the family. For example, Blair says you can cut morning gridlock by assigning towel colors and hooks, moving the grooming area to the bedrooms and teaching kids about a daily two-minute tidy.

For more information on Gabrielle Stanley Blair and her book “Design Mom,” visit designmom.com.