Your design dilemmas answered by an interior designer

Interior designer Jessica-Ruth Smith reveals how to resolve common problems when designing family-friendly homes

We asked interior designer Jessica-Ruth Smith the answers to common problems when designing family homes, from how to squeeze in a play space to which trends are actually worth jumping on the bandwagon for…

Is it a myth that open-plan spaces are best for family living?

Project by Herringbone House

Now don’t get me wrong, I love the open-plan concept, but for family living you don’t need me to tell you that it’s all about storage. With the lack of walls that come with open-plan spaces, you’re limited as to where you can factor in built-in storage and to me that’s disastrous! A ‘broken-plan’ space is a much better solution where you can utilise half-height walls, room dividers and built-in furniture including banquette seating or a media wall to help ground your space and create focal points, otherwise furniture can feel like it’s just floating in a large vacant space.

Another potential downside to open-plan spaces is the lack of privacy. I know that might sound strange now if your kids are little, but you’ve got to play the long game when it comes to renovations. Eventually you’ll want to watch different things on TV, or be able to shut yourself off when your children have friends over. It’s nice to be able to be in a different room and not have to go upstairs – just something to consider.

How would you advise squeezing in a playroom or carving out a play space when you don't have one?

Playroom by Willow & Bert Interiors | Photography by Mikey Reed

Zoning and space planning are two key components that can really come into play here. It’s all about enhancing the space for the people living in the home. Personally, I think it’s more than okay to carve out some of the living/dining footprint to incorporate a play area. This doesn’t need to be big if you’re only going to be chilling, watching TV or having dinner, so why not see if you can squeeze in a playroom by stealing some of the space from a living area?

A great option is to look at zoning the living/dining room to allow for different tasks to take place. This could be one end of the room you’ve got a big comfy corner sofa, TV, and accent chair. At the other end, some slim shelving or built-in storage with a rug – if you’re a DIYer, you could explore having somebody design a solution which you then build using Ikea units. You can place a nice rug on the floor for the kids to play on and with storage nearby you can tidy away the toys so you don’t have to look at them all night.

If you have the space for a separate playroom, I would suggest trying to keep it a good enough size for a double bed so you can be flexible as the kids get older and needs change, meaning you could turn it into an office/guest room.

How do you apply trends to a family home without them dating quickly?

I read something recently about the fact that trends are just “things just having their moment again” and I really loved that take on it! Take wainscot panelling, for example – it’s having a moment right now, but it isn’t a trend, it’s been around for hundreds of years, so with that in mind, if you love something, go for it - you won’t regret it, and it won’t date.

Are there any decorating trends that are worth trying?

Strachan Murphy bed from the Belvedere Collection

I love Murphy beds – they are all the rage in the US, and they are America’s answer to the sofa bed and it’s safe to say I’m obsessed!

You might have seen them on Instagram / Pinterest, but they are the ultimate piece of multifunctional furniture. It’s a bed that you fold away, completely hidden and is usually flanked by gorgeous built-in cabinetry. There is even more flexibility as you can have a desk incorporated into the front, which then folds away for when you need to get the bed out. It’s brilliant – so good for UK homes as we have much smaller footprints, so we need our homes to be flexible. So, I’m on a bit of a mission to get rid of the sofa bed!

Another trend I’m keen on right now is colour drenching – I love that you just have to buy one colour, which saves time and faff because you don’t have to be good at cutting in! It’s also brilliant for rooms with a lower ceiling height, because you really don’t notice so much if it’s colour drenched. If you have a snug or a smaller TV room, this can be a brilliant choice if you want a snuggly, immersive space.  

What common mistakes do you see families make the most when it comes to interior design?

I know so many of my friends and family who are approaching their renovations slowly, room by room and sometimes it’s confusing how interior design can support a slower renovation. But so much of interior design is about having a plan before you start any of the work, so you can see how the rooms layouts, colours and fabrics communicate with each other; I’m working on a service to help support slow renovations (so watch this space).

I think another really important factor in planning family homes is thinking about longevity and how your design can support your family now and in the future. A great example of this is children – they’re only small for a few years, playing where you need to watch them. There can be a tendency to focus on the ‘now’ rather than the people they’ll become and what their needs will be as they grow. You should have a long-term view when making big design choices to future-proof your home.