Anytime I share my home on my Instagram or Facebook pages I get questions about how I keep a light and bright living space with 2 little boys at home.    So today I’m sharing 6 tips for keeping a white living room in collaboration with The Home Depot.

I just came back from the LikeToKnow.It.Home and HGTV magazine block party in NYC and I was super inspired by all the interior designers there.  My personal biggest takeaway was to get over the fear of sharing my own content because I’m comparing myself to design experts with homes triple the size of mine.   Surely a good portion of you have a more modest space like my own!  So in order to get better we must first START!   I am grateful that The Home Depot is taking a chance and collaborating with me to start sharing my home more with all of you!

Tips For Keeping a White Living Room with Kids

If you haven’t been on HomeDepot.com lately, they have added a TON of home decor to their site.   When I say a ton – I’m talking I spent MANY HOURS searching decor and furniture and each time uncovered new gems.    My assistant and family who saw all my Home Depot purchases arriving were shocked to see what cute decor I had discovered there.   Everyone I know, including myself, thought of The Home Depot as a place to buy tile, light bulbs, wood, and other construction materials but they have so much more.   The Home Depot is really a one stop shop for all things home!

Last week I discussed why I like to define my home decor style.    At the end of this month we are closing on a small beach cottage, which is swaying my decor tastes even more toward coastal vibes.   My husband says I might as well put the for sale sign in my yard because he’s convinced I’m mentally already moved to the beach.

So anyway – taking a look at my living room, you can see I staged it with some of the items I grabbed for our beach cottage.    The Home Depot has SO MUCH good coastal home decor.  If our tastes don’t quite align they also have modern decor, rustic decor, and statement making contemporary pieces.  Whatever your tastes, I’m sharing some simple ways to keep your space looking good, even with rowdy kids sharing the space.

Utilize Furniture That Provides Storage

Years ago I attached wheels to my Great Grandmother’s cedar chest and called it a coffee table.   It was great because it provided storage for games and off-season living room decor (like this Fall pillow I grabbed from The Home Depot).   We are moving that coffee table to our beach cottage at the end of the month, so I upgraded to this similar (and affordable) storage trunk that I found on The Home Depot.  Even better, they refer to it as a “cocktail table” on the website – I’ll cheers to that ?.  There are a lot of options for coffee and side tables that provide storage.   Here are some options I like:

Pick Furniture With Washable Slipcovers

While none of my living room furniture is new – it all looks that way!   Both of my chairs (similar here) and the sofa all have washable slipcovers.   When I wash them – I do it on cold.  I haven’t needed to bleach my whites yet but the option is there.  I let my slipcovers dry to damp and then back on the furniture they go while still just a bit soggy so that they stretch more easily back into place.   The Home Depot carries a lot of great furniture with washable slipcovers:

Baskets Are A Great Catch-All

I’m a basket lover!!   I use them for craft supplies, match box cars, and the 891 throw blankets I’ve collected in the last few years.  I grabbed this banana leaf tall basket from The Home Depot and it’s the perfect size to pile in toys (and then hide them under a spare throw blanket if you want to be crafty).   The Home Depot carries a lot of storage baskets that might work in your own home:

Blankets Are Easier To Wash Than Furniture

When we don’t have company I toss my throw blankets overs my sofa and chairs.   Blankets are more affordable and more easily washed than slipcovers.   So if someone has dirty feet or hands – let them rub them on my throw blanket rather than the arm of a chair.   There are a lot of great options for throw blankets below:

Set Boundaries

My kids are not allowed to eat in the living room.   In the Winter I let them eat popcorn on the couch to watch a movie, but otherwise – all food is eaten in the kitchen.    This is probably the biggest reason my house has stayed relatively white – along with asking them to take their shoes off when they come in the house.

Take The Outdoors In

Outdoor furniture and rugs tend to be made of more durable materials than indoor items.   And most  “outdoor rugs” are actually “indoor/outdoor” rugs.   The rug I have is an indoor/outdoor rug and it’s holding up SO MUCH better in terms of wear and stains compared to the other rugs in my home.    While indoor/outdoor rugs may not be quite as plush under your feet, they still feel comfortable to me and their ability to withstand the abuse of pets and children is impressive!   Here are some outdoor rugs that would also work indoors:

SHOP MY COASTAL HOME DECOR

A huge thanks to The Home Depot for sponsoring this post.  I’ll be sharing our bathroom and kitchen renovations on the blog soon.   Sign up for my newsletter to make sure you catch those posts!  Thank you for stopping by.